Low-lying mists in Tarr Inlet, Glacier Bay, encircle both mountains and icebergs, giving a subtle sense of timelessness to this raw land that has emerged from the ice only in the last few decades.
Calling to mind a Japanese painting, the shifting mists are a vision of ambiguous illusion and mystery.
Right and below:
Through the mists emerged a floating city—the Star Princess of Princess Cruise Lines. A giant icebreaker, it made travel easier for the relatively tiny Delphinus. Here, the giant ship tarries at Margerie Glacier. [Hint: a special filter was used in the photo at the right to warm the blue tones on this cloudy day.]
As we motored south from Glacier Bay proper, the clouds lingered, intertwining themselves in the rugged peaks above Johns Hopkins Inlet.
Soon after, the clouds parted, giving us this Hawaii-like sunset. In the summer night-time comes only briefly, so sunsets lingered on until after 10 a.m.
A short walk at the head of one of the arms of Dundas Bay offered these pristine vistas. Although this area was not recently covered by glaciers, the massive Brady Icefield, about 50 miles in diameter, is only about five miles away. Rugged mountains protect the peaceful bay from the grinding ice.
In the Hoonah harbor on a deliciously lingering summer night, sturdy work boats dock next to luxury vessels from Washington State and ports beyond.
On our last Alaska night before heading south, this incredible Hoonah sunset bid us adieu.
