Day 415 Up Tracy Arm

We were up early again this morning and set out at 0520 for the top of Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier. All I can say is WOW, what a trip. It had rained through the night and the day started out overcast but changed to partly cloudy and partly sunny through the morning.

We saw waterfall after waterfall all the way up and marveled at the marks on the sheer rock face walls where the glaciers had cut the stone so many centuries ago. Lots of green landscape as well as snow dotted the valleys. If you ever have the chance to see it, don't pass it by. It's an incredible trip. We were passed by the Star Princess cruise ship shortly after we set out as well as a smaller tour boat, Northern Discovery, taking lots of tourists up the Arm. We were later passed by the Golden Princess liner. We pulled over to the side and let each pass as they came by. They sent out VHF calls to let other boaters know that they were coming. The Star Princess made a direct call to us to let us know they were coming up our stern. I bundled up and stood at the bow the entire way up watching for small chunks of ice as we went. The last thing we needed was damage to the hull. Some of the "bergie bits" are just chunks of ice that sit so low in the water it is hard to see them unless you keep a watch out. That was my job for the trip. We almost made it to the end but were stopped by pack ice. A large flow of nothing but bergs blocking our way. If we had had a steel hull, we might have made it but with fiberglass, there was too much chance of damage to not only the hull but the prop also. We made it as far is 57 53.061N 133 15.042W, about three miles from Sawyer Glacier. We called the Star Princess as she was leaving the pack ice to see what it was like farther up. Lots of ice was the reply. They had stopped at Sawyer Island just around the corner from where we had stopped. Not much farther than us and they are a big ship prepared for the channel and ice.

Sadly, we turned around and beat a hasty retreat back the way we came knowing that the Golden Princess would catch up later in the trip. As it turns out, we almost made it back to Tracy Arm Cove by the time they caught us. We made the 41.6 mile trip in just about 7 hours exactly. About 6 knots per hour including stops to just look and listen and of course wait for the big boys to pass us by. Once we get internet, I will be posting some amazing photos of what we have seen. It's like seeing Yosemite Park while on water. Absolutely amazing!!

I changed the oil in the engine this afternoon after our return. It took the last of our oil supplies so I will be buying more in Juneau as I know I will be having to change it again before we get back to PT. Since it has to be changed about every 100 engine hours, that time comes quickly when you are forced to motor every day since the winds are against us. Luckily, we will have some good winds for the trip South next week.

Tomorrow, off for Juneau to restock and refuel before we head back South for Port Townsend. We are going to see if there are any tour boats that could take us to Glacier Bay to see a glacier there since we missed Sawyer Glacier. It took us 10 weeks to get this far and we have about 4 to get back, so we will have to double our normal days milage and make lots fewer stops along the way to get back when we plan. We have more equipment to install and we are not about to miss the "weather window" to head South along the Pacific coast this year like we did last year.

Tomorrow into Juneau.