Capturing the Moment

  My hiking group, feeling accomplished, after hiking to the face of Meares Glacier, here in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Meares Glacier is a beautiful, yet mysterious glacier at the head of Unakwik Inlet in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Unlike nearly all of the other glaciers around here, Meares glacier is advancing. It has steadily moved forward since it was first described in 1905. As it pushes a mound of earth in front of it, the glacier bulldozes through old growth forest, upending trees with abandon. Today this is the wild area that we were exploring on our expedition cruise. Even though it was late May, it felt like winter in Alaska has hung on a bit too long. That didn't dampen our spirits, in fact, after our morning adventure we all took a refreshing dip in the waters of the fjord. But first it was adventure time, and we could choose between kayaking, skiff tours, or a bushwhack hike through the forest, to the face of the glacier. The winter rains and snow melt made our f...

  A US Geological Survey marker signals the top of our hike. A beautiful view of Lake Eyak and the surrounding mountains unfolds before us. It felt like we were high in the Swiss Alps, with alpine lakes and snow capped peaks all around. Cordova, Alaska is a town that is off the beaten path. Way off. There are no roads that connect it to the rest of Alaska. Many of the 2,400 folks that live here like it that way. But that means there are only two way to get here; by little plane (either landing on the lake or a small airstrip known as Mudhole Airport), or by boat. We are cruising in Prince William Sound this week aboard the expedition ship Safari Explorer, so this was our ticket to one of the most remote coastal towns here. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I woke up this morning. There was not a cloud in the sky. Prince William Sound, being immersed in a temperate rainforest, does not usually provide weather like this. I had to go dig my sunglasses out of the bottom of my bag....