and
Prince William Sound Blackstone Bay Glacier Cruise
June 24, 2005
Copyright 2005 by
Richard
Elgenson
As usual, the Dall
Sheep were in their ciff environment, so the crew stopped the
train. As a touch of irony, some women who were on the morning rail trip to
Whittier were in a van stopped opposite
the train on the Seward Highway.
Below, late afternoon, correction, mid evening, the Glacier Discovery
wends its way along Turnagain Arm.
Below, the Glacier Discovery nears south Anchorage about 8:40 PM.
The Glacier Discovery
train offers options which are
all worth exercising. I recommend taking the train 3 times to
explore all three trips. I have crossed the Prince William Sound
on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry twice and gone charter
fishing out of Whittier about 4 or 5 times. This was my first
cruise dedicated to viewing glaciers and it was worth every
moment. I took the Glacier Discovery raft trip option in 2003 and
it now has been improved with more time spent on the rafts floating
the river for several more miles after leaving Spencer Lake. Next
year I intend revisit the float trip option and hopefully experience
the Anchorage to Fairbanks GoldStar first class service. Even
though I spent four nights in Anchorage, I did not even see the
GoldStar equipment or the Denali Star train. In conclusion, the
Alaska Railroad Glacier Discovery is an excellent day trip, whichever
option you choose. Word to the wise, the Grandview option is the
best considering the friendly train crews and the beautiful locations
you will visit. If you are starting or finishing an ocean cruise
in Whittier or Seward,
you will see the glaciers anyway!.
There are several day glacier cruise companies in Whittier. I
experienced Major Marine Tours cruise with focus on one bay and its
glaciers. The Phillips Cruises Klondike Express also docks at
Whittier and their focus is to take passengers to 26 different
glaciers. The catamaran Klondike is very fast and covers 135
miles around Prince William Sound.
I would like to thank the friendly professional crews aboard the
Glacier Discovery train and the Emerald Sea for the educational and
relaxing experience.
The final portion of the 2005 Alaska trip was a fishing trip to Anchor
Point. Three nights and 4 days of wild
Alaskan fun. Check back soon here for
fishing trip link.
