Dawe's Glacier and Ford's Terror
Dawe's Glacier south end of Endicott Arm
Cap't Bill and Shane, up at 5 as promised, convinced the Catalyst's cranky pistons to begin their undulating calisthenics so as to be on our way. She grumbled and groaned but soon enough, still cozy in our bunks, we felt the gentle surge as she moved forward.
The smell of coffee at 6 was enough to propel us out of bed, and after breakfast we were greeted by this stunning sight.
Dawe's is a tide water glacier, because the ice meets the sea which leads to calving events.
While we waited for the glacier to perform...
we spotted this nannie mountain goat and her kid climbing and running all over the steep mountain terraces.
We heard gun shots and cannon booms.
The calving didn't happen immediately. We waited on the deck for quite some time, listening to the sound of ice cracking which reminded me of rifle shots in an open field. The sound was exciting, and we were on the ready with cameras.
Multiple explosions and icy chaos!
When the calving did occur, the sound was like a cannon boom, loud and thunderous.
After multiple sprays....
the confusion of ice settled, and the sea became peaceful once more.
This photo puts the prodigious glacier into perspective.
Does MASSIVE adequately describe this ice formation?? If she calves again, these boaters might be in for frigid shower . With the wind whipping down off the glacier, it was by far, the chilliest day of our trip.
Seals on an iceberg
Not the greatest shot but a classic....something I've always wanted to see.
Beautiful colors
The iron deposits in the rock create the kaleidoscope seen here.
Ice bergs and glacier water
contributed to the scenery as we traveled through Endicott Arm.
One of many interesting waterfalls....
feeding Endicott Arm from high mountain streams.
Ford's Terror 1 minute video 150803
Video of our hike at Ford's Terror, so aptly named for an explorer who, in 1889, paddled his boat into Ford's Terror at low tide and was caught by surprise a short time later by the rapid incoming tidal surge. He was quoted as saying"it was a most terrifying 6 hours".
Pretty View of the Catalyst
Sitting in the bay of Tracy Arm -Ford's Terror Wilderness
