Capt. Linda Lewis - www.privateboatinginstruction.com and Capt. David Parker
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20 – Glacier-Bay Fingers Bay - Sea Otters - Reid Inlet Hike (July 23, 2011)
This installment takes us back into Glacier Bay National Park for a second visit. This time we were in Reid Inlet at low tide so we were able to walk right up to the face of Reid Glacier. Melissa and Cassie loved that! We played among the bergy bits that were on the beach.
My best sea otter photo is in this installment. And lots of (mostly fruitless) efforts at crabbing, shrimping, and fishing.
More Glacier Bay glory as well as the charming village of Elfin Cove, then back to Juneau – including the tourist area.
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A stop at Bartlett Cove was not necessary this time into Glacier Bay, so we went directly to a convenient anchorage: Fingers Bay. It turned out to be a wonderfully sunny day, so the screens needed to be put in place. Crew! Action please.
The next morning it was time to check the shrimp pots. It was a gray, rainy, soggy day. Off we went anyway. We were all putting on a brave face. Some were braver than others.
We did have a great sea otter sighting as we went for the pots. There was an entire colony and they were all very interested in us.
Here’s my best photo. I think she’s hugging her baby.
We had a magical experience with the harbor porpoises. The picture doesn’t show it, but they followed our skiff, dipping and diving under us. And Cassie swears one of them was staring her right in the eye as it escorted us along.
OK. Now for the shrimp hauling effort. Are we having fun yet?
The haul? A sea urchin and a mess of snails!
Oh. And a pretty spider crab.
Now for Cassie’s pot. ……
Her take was different. Yep, that’s a red snapper. We put it back but I’m afraid it was too late.
Here’s our return.
Finally we’re seeing a glacier: Reid Glacier. It’s not the most dramatic glacier in the park, but its draw for me is the opportunity to hike to the face and touch the bergy boulders. We’ll anchor and take that low-tide hike this time.
They’re ready!
I thought I saw something different from a week ago. See all the light blue in the center bottom.?
Below is what it looked like only a few weeks ago. It looked ready to fall. Obviously it did.
We are anchored a mile away.
This is what they came for!
Glacier ice. We still have a piece of it two weeks later.
The next day we were off again… This time we’re headed for THREE glaciers.
Glacier Girls.
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