We entered the Glacier Bay National Park and picked up the US Forest Service Rangers at around 6:30 am. That was before we got up. So, we ate breakfast as we headed into the reserve. Just like the city of Juneau, there's no road access to this amazing wilderness.
Because it is now September, we were treated to a really close-up view of Johns Hopkins tidewater glacier. This area is closed off during most of the summer as it's a birthing area for seals. There are around 1000 glaciers within the US National Park, but few are as impressive as the view of this mile-wide terminus. Our cruise ship was able to pull up within a quarter of a mile of the still-growing, active glacier and spent a full hour alongside it. As the day was warm, we saw a large number of calvings.
Our day in the park came to a close. It was the second Holland America Lines Gala Night. Fine dining at the completion of an awesome day was perfect! I feel so lucky to have spent the day as we have.
