“This air we breathe is precious, and the glaciers helped me understand that and stay focused on that.” –James Balog
So, we just spent two days doing the coolest/coldest/ most Alaskan thing we could think of: glacier kayaking.
How’d we get here?
From Anchorage we drove about 1.5 to Whittier. (Be mindful there is a tunnel right before Whittier that only has one direction of traffic going at a time. Check the schedule here.)
We were constantly checking the weather to make sure we had good conditions for the days we set aside to go on this adventure but the forecast was cold and rainy. We were torn between the two common sayings, “it’s always prettier in Whittier” and “the weather is sh*ttier in Whittier.” Clearly they were contradicting so we decided to just go for it and hope for the best.
After the 40 minute water taxi, we arrived to the beautiful Blackstone Bay.
When we arrived it was misting, overcast and cold. We were the only ones on the little peninsula in the middle of the bay. (Keep in mind there are no amenities, so pack food and resources accordingly.) We set up our tents and then embarked to explore the nearby glaciers.
This was my first time glacier kayaking (obviously I’m from New Orleans where my kayak experiences are limited to swamps and bayous). Before we arrived, our equipment rental and transport company, Lazy Otter Charters lent us waterproof pants and jackets to wear over our clothes, neoprene mittens to attach to the paddles to place our hands and kayak skirts to wrap around the hole of the kayak so no water entered. We looked pretty intense.
There we were, just the four of us on icy, still water surrounded by glaciers and the constant roar of ice cracking into the water. Oh and tons of seals sleeping on icebergs and curious otters following us around!!
This was a super amazing opportunity because with global warming comes the dramatic melt of these Alaskan glaciers. The thinning and retreating of these glaciers over the years makes you wonder how long glaciers will even be around in the future. In this case I won’t say it’s never to late! Instead go out there and glacier kayak your heart out! “Future generations are not going to ask us what political party were you in. They are going to ask what did you do about it, when you knew the glaciers were melting.” – Martin Sheen
Over the two days spent in solitude in Blackstone Bay, we probably kayaked around 14 miles. Thankful to enjoy our beautiful mother earth and yes, I’m currently still defrosting.
Recommendations
Kayak Rental & Water Taxi
Lazy Otter Charters. www.lazyottercharters.com
