Sunday June 22, 2014

Over the years the Alaska Railroad has been beefing up the number and variety of day-time trips and excursions. Terry and I had taken the Spencer Iceberg and Placer River Float trip several years ago and loved it so this time out we decided to sample the 26 Glacier Cruise. We signed up for the 13.5 hour trip which included:

• Round-trip rail from Anchorage or Girdwood to Whittier on the Glacier Discovery Train
• Wildlife and glacier cruise in Prince William Sound
• Reserved seating in heated cabin
• Narration by Chugach National Forest Service Ranger
• Lunch

Trip Advisor rated it the number one tour out of Whittier and gave glowing reviews. Terry and I definitely agreed! The entire excursion was phenomenal and without a doubt one of is the highlights of our trip! The scenery was breathtaking, and we had the opportunity to view lots of sea life as well. The glaciers were absolutely amazing and the captain brought the boat in as close as possible. The lunch consisted of cod or chicken, chips, coleslaw, applesauce, and a chocolate chip cookie. Water, tea, and coffee were complimentary. Below is a photo commentary of our excursion.

The train left the Anchorage depot at 9:45 AM sharp. "Tickets, please!" Yup, he punched a hole in it.	We got a top level seat on the Chugach Explorer! Number 751 is a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) built in part by the now defunct Colorado Railcar.	Our conductor was the legendary Harry Ross the number one seniority conductor on the railroad. "All aboard!"

For some reason my weather karma had flipped the opposite direction and we had fantastic atmospheric conditions along Turnagain Arm.	One very happy foamer!	When the waters of Cook Inlet recede they expose mud flats. Their beauty can be deceptive as hikers can become trapped in their quick sand-like nature and drown by the incoming tide.
The forward view through the front window of the DMU	Beautiful Alaskan scenery near Portage

The Klondike Express is the most luxurious catamaran in Alaska. It seats 338 people and comes with a "No Seasickness Guarantee".	The five hour cruise leaves from the docks in Whittier and heads deep into Prince William Sound. A U.S. Forest Service Ranger gave commentary throughout.	Our view of Whittier from the stern of the catamaran. Maynard Mountain at 13,300 feet looms in the background.
Me and the Mrs.	The Klondike Express is the fastest, largest, and most luxurious high-speed catamaran in Alaska. We were impressed by the cleanliness of the boat and friendliness of every crew member.	Glaciers begin to form when snow remains in the same area year-round, where enough snow accumulates to transform into ice. Each year, new layers of snow bury and compress the previous layers. This compression forces the snow to re-crystallize, forming grains similar in size and shape to grains of sugar. - NSIDC
A floating "maternity ward". At top is a female sea otter on her back with babies resting on her stomach. Below is another sea otter peering out over the ice.	Some of the large floating hunks of ice from the glacier hold harbor seals and sea otters.	Bring binoculars if you have them-but if you don't, the boat crew will lend them to you at no charge.
As we approached this glacier we were buzzed by a military cargo airplane out on maneuvers.	While I was up on the top deck taking photos of mountains Terry was near the bow talking to Dall's porpoises.	Harbor seals getting ready to sing their number one song "Kiss From a Rose".
Harvard Glacier	Our captain carefully navigated the catamaran and us to within 1,000 feet of the glacier.	The Klondike's crew actually scooped glacier ice over the side and bought it up for us to touch.
With a resounding crack a ginormous hunk of ice calved from the glacier into the water below. It was amazing listening to this crack as it bounced off the surrounding mountainsides.	Me and the Mrs at Harvard Glacier. It was moments such as this that made me glad to be alive.	Glacier number twenty-six! I don't remember how many waterfalls, bald eagles and sea otters we spotted, but it was a bunch.
Thousands of kittiwakes roost around several of the dozens of waterfalls on our trip. As we headed back to the dock the crew passed out freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

Chugach Explorer #751	Coach #200 was built by Pullman Standard for the Union Pacific railroad in 1950. It holds 60 passengers. The Alaska Railroad acquired it in 1971.	Baggage car #111 was built by Pacific Car and Foundry in for the Southern pacific Railroad. It holds 0 passengers. At one time the railroad had placed it on "pending retirement" status.
GP40-2 #3007 was acquired new by the Alaska Railroad in 1976. It was later repainted in the "Baby Mac" paint scheme.	It is not GP40 #3015, but it will have to do.	It was pretty cool getting to talk with locomotive engineer and Railroad Alaska star Mr. Bill Bivens.
At 5:30 PM sharp we boarded the train and headed out of Whittier. Matthew, an Eagle Scout, was our tour guide.	Let the common folk wait in line for the tunnel while we elitist foamer types highball it outta here.	Heading into the tunnel.
I love both of Terry's photos here. The one above is an incredibly sharp and well lit photo of tunnel and train.	This photo shows an awesome mix of tunnel and train with Terry, myself and the interior of #751.	Terry ran to the back of #751 and snapped this very cool photo out the rear window.
The perfect ending to a wonderful day.	After getting off the train we raced to the new Hard Rock Cafe before it closed. Although construction of the restaurant is not yet complete the gift shop was open and we were able to purchase T-shirts.	Terry and I have visited (and purchased T-shirts from) 28 different Hard Rock Cafes in various parts of the world. Friends have sent T-shirts from another 5 locations. And yes we've been to the original Hard Rock in London, England.

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