Alaska - Glacier Bay

Our third day on the boat was action packed. We woke up at Margerie Glacier, the most famous glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. Margerie Glacier is a massive and active tidewater glacier, approximately 21 miles long, 1 mile wide at the terminus and approximately 350 feet tall, including about 100 feet below water level. The glacier is stable, neither growing nor receding; it is located at the extreme northwestern end of the bay and is situated perpendicular to the Grand Pacific Glacier. After viewing the majestic Margerie, we headed to Lamplugh Glacier, where we kayaked for more than two hours. When we returned to the boat, the girls (and several others) did a polar plunge. There are a not a lot people that can say they did a polar plunge in Glacier Bay, that's for sure! That afternoon, we passed by Gloomy Knob and South Marble Island, where we saw pigeon guillemots, goats, puffins, sea lions and scutters.  After dinner, we toured Barlett Cove, another chance to get our feet on the ground.

 

Margerie Glacier

Lamplugh Glacier

Huge cruise ship in the background

Polar Plunge time! We thought that they were kidding when they first mentioned it that morning, but they were not!

The girls were not thrilled with me for making them wear life jackets, but I was very nervous about how their bodies would react to the cold water (and Lee agreed with me, much to their chagrin)

Sheep on Gloomy Knob

Sea lions

Puffin

Walk around Bartlett Cove

Another day, another beautiful rainbow