Glacier-cruisin'

Our good friend invited us to Portage to participate in a discounted 2-hour glacier cruise. We jumped at the chance. One should spend as much time as possible around glaciers. Firstly, they smell amazing. They are like the best rain you could ever smell. They also sound deliciously profound. They crack and splash when calving.

We didn't see any calving this time around. But we did hear cracking and saw lots of massive chunks of ice floating in the glacier water, thick with silt. The water is an opaque icy-blue because of how the glacier water absorbs the sun. Here are some pictures.

This is a view from the most dangerous and most beautiful highway in America. Lots of bald eagles, and the occasional dall sheep and beluga whale can be seen. In winter, this highway is deadly. However, it is also the only route to Alyeska where snowboarding fixes can be had. In the winter, you will find people ice-climbing along the mountainous side-walls right along the highway. This time of year, waterfalls line the road and the view is truly spectacular.


Our boat, the Ptarmigan:


Pictures of us and Portage Glacier:




Yes, cheesy I know. Even though it's been almost 3 years, I think we may still qualify as tourists, as evidenced by this picture:


Look at that adorable baby!!




A retired flag, whipped relentlessly by the wind in Portage:




Our silly hams--this was taken at the Boggs-Begich Visitor Center in Portage, a very educational, entertaining, and inexpensive (like, free!) museum of sorts with lots of audio-visual and hands-on learning activities. We always enjoy going.