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| "Glacial Grey" |
All season I have been hearing stories about the infamous Baird Glacier. Apparently as recent as two years ago we were able to drop passengers off to go hike up onto the glacial ice. But as the glacier gallops backwards in its retreat, it leaves the terminal moraine buildup with an uncrossable lake between it and the ice.
The first mate on board has been trying to talk me out of schedule excursions at Baird because of the fact that to get people up to the the landing area the small boats have to navigate a flowing glacial river complete with rapids and standing waves. But I was not to be swayed so I used my power to send the ship to Baird glacier on this week's trip.
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| Hiking to Baird Glacier |
Since this was our first time here this season a few of us jumped in a skiff early in the morning to rocket out way up the river and figure our the logistics for the day. We made it to the landing point but just beyond that was a raging class 2 white water rapid that just looked impassable in a motor boat. The river was also flowing at a good 10 knots against us. The hike took us up to the moraine across an almost martian landscape of crypto-biotic soil, boot sucking mud, and other new plants colonizing the recently uncovered area. Arctic terns and Bonaparte gulls flew overhead while seals and a lone humpback fed out in front of the glacier. This was all the confidence we needed to go ahead with hikes, skiff tours, and kayaks with the guest. But the best was yet to come...
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| Inside the Ice |
After dropping off some hikers Ceili and I decided to go take another look at the rapids. With the high tide the standing waves were still big but it looked doable so we gave the little skiff some juice and flew up and over the falls. The led us into a wild, almost mystical ice filled lake. Most of the ice was separate from the main body of the glacier but contained all different kinds of colors and patterns. We were able to get out and walk around on some of the ice mounds. Just driving a boat around this area was a pretty amazing feeling. We were even able to ferry around some of the guest that managed to hike to the end of the moraine.
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| Wild Place to Drive a Boat |
It always feels good to break new ground for yourself and to push the limits of what has been done. Baird is an easy place to do that because it is ever changing. The next time we go back the entire area will be different provided new challenges and opportunities. Until then I'll keep my eyes open here in the Inside Passage.
Since this was our first time here this season a few of us jumped in a skiff early in the morning to rocket out way up the river and figure our the logistics for the day. We made it to the landing point but just beyond that was a raging class 2 white water rapid that just looked impassable in a motor boat. The river was also flowing at a good 10 knots against us. The hike took us up to the moraine across an almost martian landscape of crypto-biotic soil, boot sucking mud, and other new plants colonizing the recently uncovered area. Arctic terns and Bonaparte gulls flew overhead while seals and a lone humpback fed out in front of the glacier. This was all the confidence we needed to go ahead with hikes, skiff tours, and kayaks with the guest. But the best was yet to come...
After dropping off some hikers Ceili and I decided to go take another look at the rapids. With the high tide the standing waves were still big but it looked doable so we gave the little skiff some juice and flew up and over the falls. The led us into a wild, almost mystical ice filled lake. Most of the ice was separate from the main body of the glacier but contained all different kinds of colors and patterns. We were able to get out and walk around on some of the ice mounds. Just driving a boat around this area was a pretty amazing feeling. We were even able to ferry around some of the guest that managed to hike to the end of the moraine. 
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