Friday, June 11, 2010

Mountains

I recently took my second cruise through the Inside Passage in Alaska, a train ride into the Yukon Territory of Canada and a trip to Mt. Rainier in Washington. The mountains and glaciers are so breathtaking I thought I would share some of the many photos I took. On this trip I was able to visit Mt. Rainier for about 8 hours, something I really looked forward to and I wasn't disappointed! The snow was very deep due to a snowstorm the week before we were there.

Mt. Rainier


Endicott Arm Fjord
As we sailed through Endicott Arm Fjord the mountains towered above us and the fjord wound it's way through them. It is truly a breathtaking sight. The closer we got to the glacier the drearier it was, but it wasn't as cold this year.


Dawes Glacier
Endicott Arm Fjord
The glacier is two miles across at it's widest point. The tracks on the left are formed by scaly rock debris  from the mountain face that gets trapped in the ice over hundreds of years. We are probably at least a mile from the glacier.


Skagway, Alaska at sunrise


Along the Klondike Highway


Along the Klondike Highway


Sunrise as we sailed toward Juneau


Mendenhall Glacier Juneau


The entrance to Endicott Arm Fjord


The mountains and glaciers are absolutely breathtaking and pictures can never really capture the splendor that is Alaska.