|
 Columbia Glacier - Prince William Sound, Alaska Posted by:  DougK
N 60° 59.316 W 147° 05.562
6V E 494984 N 6761521
Columbia Glacier flows out of the Chugach Mountains into Columbia Harbor of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Waymark Code: WMBKM0
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 05/30/2011
Views: 3
Click on any picture to see larger images.
Click the blue links for more information and other waymarks.
|
Columbia Glacier flows out of the Chugach Mountains into Columbia Harbor of Prince William Sound, Alaska. It is one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world, and has been retreating since the early 1980s.
The best way to view this glacier is by ferry or charter boat. We took the ferry MV Bartlett out of Valdez, Alaska (Aug, 1980). The ferry navigated into Columbia Bay where ice floes had broken off the glacier and harbor seals were resting on them. The ferry pulled up to within a few hundred yards of the towering glacier face. The captain was able to get a couple of small sections of the glacier to calve off with a toot of its horn.
Wikipedia tells a story of amazingly fast retreat since our visit, so these pictures may not look the same as the glacier does today.
|
| Columbia Glacier, Left Side
|
Columbia Glacier, Right Side
|
Mountain / landmass name: Chugach Mountains
Glacier type: ice
Parking / trail head / boat launch:
North Harbor Drive
Valdez, AK USA
99686
Travel time (approximate): 1:00 AM
Final access method: Boat / ship
Safe viewing location: N 60° 59.316 W 147° 05.562
Photograph submitted: yes
Park name (if any): Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To log an existing waymark, you must post a photograph of you and the glacier [TAKEN FROM A SAFE LOCATION], and describe briefly how you arrived there.
|