Alaska Cruise, Part Six - Tracy Arm and back to San Francisco

We headed south.  Around 6 AM the morning after leaving Skagway we arrived at the entrance to Tracy Arm.  (Earlier in the season they go to Glacier Bay, but by September it has too much ice in the water.)  I bundled up (heavy sweatshirt, one of my winter scarves, rain jacket and gloves) and spent about four hours on deck.

It was around 50°F (10°C) and breezy.  I didn’t feel cold, but the ship was prepared for those who did.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Tracy Arm was carved by Sawyer Glacier.  About 400 years ago the edge was at the mouth.  Now there’s a moraine bar at that point, with a narrow channel.  Once through the channel, the water depth increases to more than 1000 feet.  The ship traveled very slowly through the steep-sided fjord for about two hours.

The water looks green because of the suspended minerals and algae. 

We finally arrived at South Sawyer Glacier about 8 AM.  There were no dramatic calving events while we were there. 

After about a half hour, the skipper turned the ship around and we steamed out, slowly and for several hours. 

In that last picture you can see the ship’s wake.  We returned to the bay at the entrance of Tracy Arm. 

I went inside for some hot cocoa! 

On the way back to San Francisco we encountered rough seas again and I finally got my sea legs.  It had been too calm up until then.   ;-)

And here’s the last sunset at sea for this cruise.  It was a great night to observe the green flash.  But I didn’t see it.

We docked in San Francisco before 6 AM on September 10.  On this cruise I met many nice folks, saw some good shows on board, ate a lot of seafood, and watched the sea go by.  It was fun putting these Alaska blogs together.  I hope you’ve enjoyed them.