Our first day in the Gateway to Alaska was an incredible experience, and we were thrilled to get one more morning in this valley of fjords and glaciers.
Early the next morning, after grabbing an essential cup of coffee from Sea Bean Cafe, we headed out to Seward Helicopter Tours to get up close and personal with one of the many glaciers.
Something you should know about me; I’m kind of afraid of heights. And the idea of being in a tiny aircraft flying over water and a glacier was a little intimidating…
Naturally, as we got ready to board the helicopter, they put me in front and all I could think was don’t scream into the microphone! Don’t do it!
As the helicopter lifted up off the ground, my fear melted away as the land spread out around us. Fjords are an uncommon ecosystem found in the world and provide a unique environment for both marine and land species. Most people think of Norway when they think of fjords, so it was an incredible experience to get close to them in North America.
Here’s a little video of our flight up to Hawk Glacier; we flew up over Gideon Glacier and a few of the mountains around Seward. Beautiful, especially from the air, doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Up at Hawk Glacier, we got to be up close and personal with a glacier for the first time. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but being that close to the impossibly blue ice, it feels like being in the presence of something ancient and mighty. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was a humbling feeling.
Naturally, we had to grab a quick sip of glacier water. It was the coldest, purest, best tasting water I’ve ever drank. (Though the scenery probably helped with that!) Our pilot had a little Yeti cup that he said he would refill with glacier water throughout the day on his trips; besides getting to fly everyday, that would be a pretty neat little perk. I wonder if you ever get used to drinking glacier water versus filtered water down below.
Our time on the glacier was far too short, but it was so incredible to see something as ancient as that ice and to experience it up close. Pictures and videos just never quite prepare you for what it’s like to actually be there. Standing on Hawk Glacier and seeing the Aialik Glacier up close has definitely got me thinking a little more about conservation and protecting the environment. It’s one thing to discuss glaciers and rising water levels from the oven, er… the heat… of South Texas; it’s another to be there, feel the chill off the ice, and see with my own eyes just how far it’s receded from years past.
Maybe it’s time to read up a little bit about glaciers.
After we landed on the tarmac, it was time to leave Seward for Kenai City and the beginning of the next leg of our trip.
Seward was an incredible first taste of Alaska. The scenic fjords were breathtaking, the wildlife plentiful, and the town itself was quirky and fun. The unusual mix of important Alaskan history, natural wonder, sportsman’s paradise, and small town charm made it an incredible experience that I’ll never forget.
If you ask my husband, he’ll tell you to prepare for limited to no cellphone service and to be sure to doublecheck that your hotel has private bathrooms in the hotel rooms (rather than a hostel-style community bathroom). I would also add that you should be prepared for an adventure unlike anything you expected.
Next week, we’ll explore Kenai with some good ole Kenai River salmon fishing before I meet up with the ladies of ReelCamo Girl for our ladies trip!
Jess and the Outdoors 