Cruise to Alaska Day 4: Thursday Sept 11, 2008

Today we woke in Glacier Bay National Park. The map shows where the glaciers were at various stages. About 250 years ago, most of what is now Glacier Bay National Park was covered. The 19th century was not a good precipitation century and all of the glaciers retreated significantly. Today, there are only two glacier not receding.

Marjorie Glacier is consider stable. It gets as much snow on the back end as it drops off the front end as it moves forward. We watched her calve a few times as we sat in this spot for about an hour.


The Grand Pacific Glacier (right next door) is actually getting bigger. I know that sounds like a lie in a time of global warming, but rest assured the remaining dozens of glaciers are receding. This the the Grand Pacific Glacier. It is more like the ice cake with dirt frosting we hiked to in Skagway. If you look closely you can see the ice (it looks white).

Something we learned on the ship is that the glaciers here have advanced and receded about 8 times in the last 8000 years. I think if we can continue to add to our landfills, drive carbon emitting cars, and never recycle, we can break the cycle and keep them back for good. We all need to do our part.

A couple more glaciers:

The Lamplugh Glacier


John Hopkins Glacier (Home to Harbor Seals)