The Alaska Experience

Alaska is truly a land of unspoiled beauty.

On a recent trip to Alaska with the World Bird Sanctuary's Alaska Cruise group we were awe-struck by the incredible scenery and abundant wildlife in this vast state.

For a photographer this trip is mind boggling!  Scenery to the left (port)!  Scenery to the right (starboard)!  Why did we even bother to get a stateroom?  Most of our time was spent on deck for fear that we might miss something!

Entering Glacier Bay brought passengers racing to the top deck to view the entrance to this magnificent spectacle.

We soon encountered bits and pieces of ice that had broken off from the glacier (bergy bits).  It was just amazing to be standing on the upper deck of the ship and hear a huge "crack", and then another and another and suddenly see part of the glacier break away and slide into the sea (calving).

And then, of course, there's the startling blue color of the ice!  I had always thought the "blue ice" photos I'd seen in magazines were color enhanced.  It turns out the ice really is that blue!

With all that ice it seemed truly strange to find patches of greenery and fireweed growing right next to the ice fields!  The fireweed on this trip was in full bloom and growing everywhere.  If you love to photograph plants and flowers--or even if you just like to enjoy them without the camera--this is a trip you shouldn't miss.  But that's the subject for another post.

The World Bird Sanctuary doesn't currently have another trip planned--yet.  But we'll let you know when one comes up.  It's a trip you shouldn't miss.

Alaska - Glacier Bay - Incredible!

On July 26th, 2009, my husband and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Alaska for our 5th wedding anniversary. We booked a cruise through the World Bird Sanctuary, which meant that not only did we travel with friends and knowledgeable guides, but WBS also got a donation for each person who booked!

Once on the ship, we headed for the great (and huge) state of Alaska. It took a full day of cruising at almost top speed to get there, but the journey itself was fun as we explored the ship.

Our first stop was in Glacier Bay National Park. This park is 3.3 million acres and part of a 25 million acre World Heritage Site - one of the world’s largest protected natural areas!

We spent the entire day cruising through the bay, stopping at Johns Hopkins Glacier, Marjerie Glacier and Grand Pacific Glacier. All throughout the water, near the glaciers, were bits and pieces of the ice that had broken off and were slowly melting in the bay - these are called bergy bits. (Fun name!)

The views were incredible!! At Johns Hopkins Glacier, there was a river of meltwater pouring out of a huge hole in the middle of the glacier. The volume of water was enormous and to give it even better perspective, there was a kayaker right nearby! Wow! It really makes you realize just how big those glaciers are!

The next stop was the Marjerie Glacier, where our Captain stopped the ship for over an hour so that we could just watch the glacier. It was just as huge, and right next to it, at a right angle, was the Grand Pacific Glacier. To look at the two of them, you would never realize that the Grand Pacific was a glacier - it was completely covered with about ½ inch of ‘rock flour’, making it look just like regular land.

While we spent time just watching the glacier and admiring it, we had the chance to hear and see it settle, crack and calve for us! The pieces that broke off weren’t the huge ones that you see on TV, but still impressive enough! And the loud CRACK that the ice made as pieces broke or settled in the warming sun made all of us jump and look excitedly for the next piece to go.

As the Captain made his final turn to leave, he shut down the engines and I could hear the awesome silence of the Bay settle on us. Then I noticed something incredible – the snapping and popping of the bergy bits cracking and melting in the water. It sounded like a bowl of Rice Krispies!

Basically, Glacier Bay is full of incredible sights and sounds, not only the water and ice itself, but the landscape surrounding the bay and the glimpses of the wildlife we spotted. I will never forget it and hope to someday go back. And this magnificence is (if you will forgive a pun) just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the state of Alaska!

Submitted by Laura MacLeod, Education Coordinator, World Bird Sanctuary

It's Not Too Late!!

It's not to late to join the World Bird Sanctuary group on our Alaska Trip!!

I just spoke to our travel agent, and she tells me there are still a few cabins left aboard ship for our July 26th sailing!!  

We'll be departing from Seattle, WA. aboard the m.s. Westerdam on July 26th and returning on August 2nd.  Our itinerary will include a full day of cruising beautiful Glacier Bay, with stops in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C. 

 There are a multitude of shore trips offered for each of these ports--or you are free to explore on your own.

If you've been considering an Alaska cruise and would like to join a fun loving group to explore Alaska's Inside Passage, just call Melissa Garrison at Altair Travel & Cruises at 314-968-9600 or 800-794-9271.  Tell her you would like to join Walter Crawford's World Bird Sanctuary group aboard the m.s. Westerdam on July 26th.

We're Going to Alaska!!!

Bears, and Whales, and Eagles, OH MY!!!  

On July 26, 2009 our small group will board ship in Seattle for a week long cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage with our Executive Director, Walter Crawford, Jr.  Here's the best part--you don't have to be affiliated with The World Bird Sanctuary in any way to come along!!  

The trip is being sponsored by The World Bird Sanctuary, and Walter and several of us who are affiliated with the Sanctuary will be on the trip.  However, anyone who is interested is invited to come cruise with  us.  All you need is a sense of adventure and the desire to explore this amazing area!!  

On July 26 we will leave Seattle's Puget Sound aboard Holland America's ms Westerdam.  As we sail past Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Islands on our way to Glacier Bay National Park, we can spend this first day at sea enjoying the luxurious amenities of our ship, or watching for marine wildlife from one of the many observation decks.  Hopefully, we will sight whales and other marine wildlife along the way.  

Once we reach Glacier Bay, we will spend an entire day cruising this spellbinding area, seeing the glaciers up close, viewing the marine wildlife and land mammals for which this world renowned National Park is famous, and taking in the incredible scenery.  There are no roads to Glacier Bay; you can reach the park only by air and water.  Wildlife viewing possibilities include humpback, Menke, and Killer whales; Dall's porpoises; Stellar sea lions; harbor seals; Puffins; sea otters; black bears; brown bears; moose; wolves; coyotes; marmots; bald eagles; plus a large variety of seabirds, songbirds, terns and jaegers.  For more information and photos of Glacier Bay go to the National Park Service website .

After spending the entire day cruising Glacier Bay, we will then proceed to Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan where we will have the opportunity each day to explore these interesting and historic Alaskan cities on our own, or with land tour groups of our choice.  

On Saturday we will cruise scenic Vancouver Island, making port in Victoria, British Columbia.  There we will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful Canadian city's nightlife.

On Sunday morning, August 2, we debark ship in Seattle in time to catch our return flights for home.

For more information call 314-968-9600, Ext. 251 (Melissa Garrison) or 800-794-9271.  Tell her you are interested in the World Bird Sanctuary cruise to Alaska with Walter Crawford.