On June 1st, we headed seaward to Seward to begin our cruise. The 127-mile road from Anchorage begins along Turnagain Arm and took us about 2.5 hours to get to Seward.

The tides in Turnagain Arm can vary up to 38 feet.

The steep verdant hillsides come right down to the water. They are streaked with dramatic blue vertical streams and capped with bald snowy tops. I wish I'd gotten some pictures of the streams; but these aren't so bad.

Here's an old engine used to clear the tracks of snow. It is located at the Chugach State Park headquarters.

The blade is about 15 feet tall. This is back at the beginning of Turnagain Arm just out of Anchorage.

The road hooks around the end of Turnagain Arm and climbs over Turnagain Pass. Here are some shots after that as we slowly descend the other side.

I think this one of my better shots. I believe these mountains are part of the Chugach Mountains.

Here's another view of the same range.

At the end of highway, about 4 miles short of Seward, we turned off the main road to see Exit Galcier seen here in the distance.

Mom and Kathy on the half-mile walk to the glacier.

Note the sign to the right of the path indicating the foot of the glacier in 1951.

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier continued.

Exit glacier is at the end of Harding Icefield.

There's my mother getting in touch with the glacier. Yes, we have pictures of each of us getting in touch with the glacier. :o)

The intense blue of glaciers is attributed to the high energy of blue in the light spectrum.

Only blue has enough energy to be reflected back out.

Here, I've moved more in front of the glacier shooting toward the left side of the face. For perspective, note the gentleman to the left.

We heard a rumble a little further around the glacier. Upon investigation, we saw the results of the glacial calving that had occurred.

The glaciers are melting. Here you can see the runoff emerging from beneath the glacier.

With a last look at our first glacier, we're off to Seward for to see glaciers calving into the water.

We set off on a six-hour boat trip in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. The large ship in the background is our cruise ship finishing up last minute details in preparation for our arrival!

There's Seward nestled to the left end of Resurrection Bay. On our lengthy sail (see map), we saw Orca fins and Humpback blows as well as two species of Puffins and lots of other birds. Unfortunately, no pics of them. I need a bigger lens! (And a stronger stomach.)

Holgate Glacier

Glacier Princess

Here's a video.

There! It's calving!

We spent about an hour watching the glacier in awe. Then it was off to see more on the way back. Unfortunately, some of us were not feeling too well. The seas were high. I was sick.