July 12, 2019 - South Sawyer Glacier

All we can say is what an incredible day.  Motoring up to South Sawyer Glacier was an amazing experience.  As we got closer we had the dance of trying to avoid hitting icebergs.  Some small and some large, ice is hard and could damage our hull or bend a prop of one of the engines.  Steve seems to think we actually did hit one as we have a new vibration, nothing to worry about for this trip though. 

We stayed overnight in Tracy Arm Cove or in actuality unnamed cove as it does not have a name on the nautical charts.  After anchoring the night before for the trip up Tracy Arm, we saw a momma bear and three cubs eating and playing on the shoreline.

Momma bear and three cubs

Two of the cubs playing

A picture is worth a thousand words?  Here is some of what we experienced.

 

Glacier viewing and working out a path forward to get closer

Ayla, Kathy, and Cindy

South Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm 

Hundreds of seals and seal pups on ice bergs

Cindy, Ayla, Bekka

Ayla, Bekka, Cindy, Captain Steve, and Kevin

The kids went out in the kayaks toward the glacier while Steve and I floated and watched.  They asked to go touch the face of the glacier and we squashed that idea.  From afar we were a little perplexed as it seemed there was an issue.  Guess the ice was moving in a current and closed in on them.  A bit scary and we still cringe at what could have happened.  We were a little relieved because there was a small cruise boat up near them.  As they were returning there were several larger calvings on the face of the glacier, with waves heading our way.  Quickly on board all was fine as the waves rolled under us.  

Kevin going to catch up after flying drone

On their way back

The view with the drone