July 25, 2021 - Glacier Bay

July 25, 2021 - Glacier Bay

We started out the morning thinking we wanted to work towards Glacier Bay in case we received another call telling us a waitlist day was available, so we pulled up the anchor and started towards Inian Islands in Icy Strait.  Just as we left the bay, we receive a call from Glacier Bay letting us know we could get a permit for the 25th and 26th (permit #19526).  We decided we better take the opportunity and make the best of it.  And good thing, after we entered the park, we were offered the 27th as well!  We turned up the throttle, traveling the 40 nm to the park entrance for favorable Sitakaday Narrows currents, arriving at 3:00 (averaging 9 kts to the park).

 

Our wildlife spotting’s increased as we travelled Icy Strait.  We left Funter Bay spotting two deer walking along the shore.  As we passed Pleasant Island, we started seeing sea otters.  Then we had whale sightings.  And as we entered the park, we had more sea otters, sea lions, seals, and harbor porpoise.  Nearing South Sandy Cove, we came across a couple of whales feeding along the outside of the cove.  And as we entered North Sandy Cove, we spotted a whale in the shallow passage.  We took the deep-water route to the back of the cove and as we prepared to drop the anchor in 40’ of water a whale surfaced in front of us at the head of the cove – a total surprise!

 

We settled in for the night after watching the seals splash when at 4:00 AM Lois woke to find a whale passing by the boat.  And after breakfast the next morning we had a whale swim by again!

Sea Otters, Icy Strait

Glacier Bay Park


Location: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA

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