Seward, Alaska...

Wednesday August 21. 19 F.  Sunny with a smoky haze. 

Today was a hike in the local mountains to a Glazier, part of the Harding Ice field. The name is actually Redemption Glacier but got named Exit Glacier as a result of some adventurers who crossed the Harding Ice field and the journalists said they  had crossed the exit glacier, meaning the last one.

There was a heavy smoke haze as a result of a forest fire about 50 miles away. Some folks wore masks and some cancelled rather than go off the ship. The day turned out fine but views of the mountains were non existent.

    The trip to the mountains was about 15 miles on excellent roads and we just started walking. It felt great to get out in the forest again and stretch our legs.

    The hiking group was about 45 which is too big but we soon sorted ourselves out, some returned and it worked out well.

    Back around noon and lunch up top, a short rest and then attended three very interesting talks. Not a bad day all-in-all. 

We still have two ports in Alaska before we hit Russia: My this is indeed a Slow Boat to China!

The US paid about two cents an acre when it bought Alaska from the Russians.

We had a bit of a detour today as a result of a bear and two cubs that has been harassing some visitors, which is unusual.

This is where the front of the glacier was in 1917, as the sign shows. It is several miles from the face today.

The group stretched out as we went up and the trail narrowed.

You can see the glacier in this shot.

Us two. Distances are hard to judge over barren spaces. No vegetation has started here as the glacier was her only several years ago.

Nine years between here and the glacier face.

Down we go on the river bed that is flooded in the spring from snow melt. It is about a mile wide I would guess. No fish are in it as the river is full of till or silt from ground rocks caused by the grinding as the glacier advances. The silt plugs the fish gills.

Fellette was reunited today with her good friend: her Travelling Wallet. We discovered we had left it at home after about 20 minutes into the ride to the ship on departure day with Dave and Alyssa. Wally picked it up and shipped it to the ship's agent in Anchorage. Like having a long-lost friend with you again I imagine.