July 3, 2023
This morning Marlene and I spent roughly 2 hours at the face of the Le Conte Bay Glacier. There are experiences in your life you will never forget; lvisiting the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, or walking into Petra. La Conte Glacier was this type of life-changing experience. The sheer grandeur of the Glacier is hard to describe and even harder to take in. Every moment is breathtaking.
We were in a small guide boat that brought us all the way into the glacier. It took the better part of an hour to slowly break through and around the ice to get to the glacier. The photo above is much of what we experienced in the outer bay on the way into the glacier. Below is what we had to transverse through—and back out of—to get to the glacier.
Most people do not take their private boat to this glacier because of the amount and density of the ice in the bay due to frequent glacier calving, which we were able to experience within a 100 yards of the face of the glacier. It was breathtaking. We were more than happy to pay a professional guide to take us in and get us back safely. There are other glaciers in the area that are safe to approach with a private vessel like North Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm. If you are ever interested in visiting the Le Conte Glacier we would highly recommend the guide group: SeekAlaska. Ask for Dan.
The remainder of the day will be spent walking the street fair here in Petersburg seeing the locals engage in pie and hot dog eating contests and watching people get dunked in the baseball toss. Tonight we are having fresh halibut cheeks purchased at the local seafood store. And, oh by the way, it’s 70 degrees and sunny. And a parting note below from several of the locals.
Greg, great decision to tour Le Conte by guided vessel! Hanging glaciers are a signature Alaska experience, so amazing and almost unimaginable to land lubbers in the “lower 48.”
We did Tracy Arm, and boated directly up to North and South Sawyer glaciers. Paddling our kayak and SUP board around large icebergs near the outlet of Tracy Arm also was other-worldly. But they are dangerous: we watched a few suddenly flip over due to underwater melt and sun melt.
Another highlight was Ford’s Terror, which lived up to its name. I’ll spare all the details for later, but upon exiting 3 days later we had to navigate through heavy ice (like your 2nd picture), gently pushing against the tight maze of ice to escape. Longest. Day. Ever.
Such experiences that Alaska affords! Enjoy, and Godspeed!
-Mark
Mark, thanks for your comments. We are toying with the idea of visiting Tracy Arm. As you appropriately write seeing the glaciers is truly “other worldly.” Here in Petersburg we have run into several serious Nordic Tuggers who have been coming to Alaska for years, if not decades. Very humbling. We are going to enjoy the “yesteryear” 4th of July activities here in Petersburg today. We will definitely take in the local parade. Wishing you and your family a very happy 4th of July. (How’s the new Bimini top coming along?).