Daily Life

We crossed the Gulf of Alaska again to see Hubbard Glacier.  On the way, early in the morning, just as every morning, the crew washes everything down to try to get the salt off.  The hoses are stored in those nice benches you see on the left, with the MS Amsterdam carved in relief on the back.

Inside, there was some self-portraiture going on.

At the Buffet there was watermelon carving…no giant butter sculpture like on our first cruise!

Across the Gulf we found ourselves in a long bay that narrowed substantially as you got near the glacier.  You can see where we are heading.

There are three glaciers up Yakutat Bay: on the left is Haenke and Turner Glaciers, forming a very dirty glacier where it meets the water.  On the right, ahead of the Ship, is Hubbard Glacier.  Mount St. Elias, ahead in the clouds, is 18,008 feet high.  The bay turns into Disenchantment Bay in there somewhere, with Russell Fjord off to the right.

(Four photo panorama: click to enlarge; BACK to return!)

As you can see, it was raining.  Of the starboard side is the rest of Hubbard Glacier.  It is still advancing, and a few years ago it hit the promontory there on the right side.  The water filled in Russell Fjord behind it creating a lake.  It seems to come and go a bit.

A map of Hubbard Glacier.

Here is the Amsterdam’s sister ship, the Oosterdam, on a nicer day…

(Holland America photo)

And a four photo panorama of Hubbard Glacier.  Yup.  Still raining!

BTW, if you follow the curve of Hubbard Glacier it is about six miles across the front, and 300 to 400 feet high,  There is that much still under the water where we can’t see it.

Gulls on ice…

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And a few Harbor Seals on the rocks.

And interesting clouds up a side valley.

There is More to Come from Hubbard Glacier!  And to pass the time, here is a short film on approaching the Glacier ion a nicer day than we had.  Stop motion on a Canon G9.

http://vimeo.com/1456878

~Curtis in Alaska! {!-{>