The Hubbard Glacier and an Amazing Day.

Wednesday, June 22nd.

Early Wednesday morning the ships will pass Ocean Cape and continue with a Northerly course on up to Yakutat Bay and then on to the face of the Hubbard Glacier itself. Later the Ship will turn and exit Yakutat Bay and sail back to open sea towards the port town of Juneau the capital City of Alaska.

At about 9am we enter Yakutat Bay and continue up to the Glacier. Today the sun gleams down and passengers crowd on the open upper decks to get a good view of the Glacier. Today is a perfect day to get up close and the ship is able to get the closest it has been able to for several years. The nearer we get to the Glacier face the more chunks of ice we sail through that has broken from the face. Seals with their Pups bask on larger ice floes.

The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent. Standing at 11,000 feet above the sea level the glacier stretches 76 miles from its source in the Yukon to the sea at Yakutat Bay. It has an open calving face of six miles. It has been thickening and advancing towards the Gulf of Alaska since it was first mapped in 1895. Most glaciers during this time have been retreating.

The nearer we edge to the vast 100 metres high face the more amazing it appears. Bands of different icy whites, blues and greens colour the surface area of the ice face. Every so often gasps of amazement and cameras click furiously as a thunderous noise hails the spectacle of large chunks of the jaggered face crashing down into the sea.

Eventually the ship turns and retreats back up the bay to open sea. Our faces and necks are coloured by the sun and wind to day.

Lunch today is in the Grand Dinning room and is the most incredible, amazing buffet you could ever imagine. Every kind of fish, meats vegetables and cheeses you can think of. Raw, stir fried, braised, roasted. Every kind of way. Just too much to take in and certainly too tempting to overeat. restraint is VERY difficult but I do manage to! Just!

Hugh ice scluptures decorate the tables. The array of desserts are just as impressive. Oh so tempting.

Even the flower arrangements are in Ice Vases.

During the evenings entertainment Nancylee and John and others from the audience learn the movements of Michael Jacksons 'Thriller' dance. It's hilarious.