82
summer
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fall
a Northwest passage around the North American continent.
When Cook sailed past Icy Bay, he would’ve quickly discovered
that there was no possible entry into the glacier-choked harbor. A lot
has happened since, though. Whatever your views of global warming
are, there is no denying glacier melt across the planet and Icy Bay is no
different. It’s receded at least 15 miles into three smaller glaciers since
Cook journeyed past almost 240 years ago.
Today, Icy Bay fingers off into several fjords leading to the Yahtse,
Guyot, and Tyndall glaciers. Cruise ships are not allowed inside Icy Bay, so
kayaking is the best way to explore this slice of southeast Alaska. Dense
ice floes thwarted any access to the Yahtse and Guyot glaciers where
harbor seals hauled out and long-tailed ducks roosted on the floes. We
vied for the Tyndall Glacier at the rear of the Taan Fjord, which was not
visible from where we camped.
FAR
FLUNG
TRAVEL
