For a moment, I recalled Tolkein’s description of the Mines of Moria as we went through the tunnel into Whittier. Rock faces surrounded us as we drove through what is probably one of the largest tunnels I have ever seen. When we emerged on the Whittier side, a small patch of blue sky greeted us in an otherwise gray expanse. Not to be daunted, we made our way to the Major Marine Tours office to check in for a day cruise.
Our first question to the kindly lady checking us onto our vessel was if we could see the fabled glaciers of Prince William Sound on such a gray day. She told us that because of the geography and water currents around Whittier, most days are cold and cloudy. That weather is what created the glaciers, and in that weather the glaciers shine a bright radiant blue.
Glacier Tours
We soon left the dock and entered the glassy, green waters of the Sound. A small otter frolicked nearby.
The first glacier we saw was a small cirque or spoon glacier high on the mountainside. It was majestic to be sure, but nothing to prepare us for massive Blackstone Glacier. Towering a few hundred feet into the air with jagged blue peaks jutting into the clouds like gothic spires of an ancient cathedral, the glacier stood sentry over us. Sudden crashes brought our gaze down to the water where we watched chunks of ice the size of cars splash and churn into the water. We stayed for only a short time but it felt like an eon.
As the boat headed back to Whittier, we could only sit and ponder the massive river of ice. The sky brightened and sun touched the spray as the boat carved through the sea.