Tag Archives: Alaska

August 1, 2016 · 5:35 am

The Norwegian Sun at the Hubbard Glacier

Hubbard Glacier — Six Miles Wide

This is one destination Ursula and I had never visited in our previous five cruises to Alaska — Disenchantment Bay and the Hubbard Glacier. The Hubbard Glacier wall is actually two glaciers that merge about six miles northeast of the bay. The much smaller and narrower Valerie Glacier is pictured in the image below. The boundary between Valerie and Hubbard is the dark area (moriane) on the right side of the image. The moraine on the left is debris scoured by Valerie’s edge scraping along the valley wall.

Valerie Meets Hubbard

Here’s an false-color aerial view from the Wikipedia article on Hubbard Glacier:

Public Domain, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=479429

You’ll recall that I got some great ice calving shots at Margerie Glacier, but these events were even more spectacular at Hubbard. I’ll be showing you video of one enormous chunk of ice several stories tall crashing intto Disenchantment Bay in an upcoming video I made of the glaciers we visited. Until then, below is an example of the huge pieces of ice that calve off the Hubbard Glacier. Bear in mind when you look at this chunk of blue that the wall of ice behind it is hundreds of feet tall.

Blue iceberg

But don’t just photograph the glacier if you’re lucky enough to find a cruise ship that heads out this way. Capture as well the interesting icebergs dotting the bay.

Icebergs on a smaller scale

Also take time to notice the surrounding landscape.

Disenchantment Bay

We’ll continue our Hubbard tour on Wednesday. Until then, here’s today’s slide show (click and enjoy):

Hubbard Glacier

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Alaska, Alaska cruise, Hubbard Glacier, Norwegian Sun, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

July 29, 2016 · 5:35 am

The Norwegian Sun Cruises Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Margerie Glacier is just one of the glaciers you’ll visit here in Glacier Bay, but it’s also the closest you’ll come to one. After leaving Tarr Inlet the Norwegian Sun turned up the John Hopkins Inlet. Along the way you’ll coast past the Lamplugh Glacier depicted above. We didn’t get very close, but I was able to make good use of my 400mm (35mm equivalent) telephoto to capture some good shots of it.

Lamplugh Glacier

Unfortunately you won’t get very close to John Hopkins Glacier as it’s an important wildlife area this time of the year. Here’s a view of John Hopkins Glacier from a distance:

John Hopkins Glacier

And, yes, you’ll still get great views from the comfort of your balcony, so going up on deck and fighting for railing space is not necessary.

Ursula Enjoying the Balcony View

This area of Glacier Bay is great for seeing the geology of the area, including some very colorful granite. Waterfalls are also abundant here.

Glacier Bay Granite

Waterfall cascading into Glacier Bay

Below is today’s slide show of scenes mostly from the John Hopkins Inlet:

Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Glacier Bay

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Tagged as Alaska, Alaska cruise, Glacier bay, Norwegian Sun, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

July 27, 2016 · 5:35 am

The Norwegian Sun Explores Margerie Glacier

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

The Norwegian Sun spent well over an hour very close to the face of the Margerie Glacier, slowly rotating to give viewers stunning views from both sides of the ship.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

This means that if you have a balcony cabin then there is no need to go above decks to get marvelous views. Just hang out on your balcony and click away.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

Make sure you stand ready to catch ice falling into the waters. This makes for some dramatic photos, and very dramatic video as you’ll see later in this glacier series.