Latitude 60 North Alaska: Tracy Arm, Sawyer Glacier

Beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord

Steep Rising Granite Cliffs, Tracy Arm

A visit to Sawyer Glacier in beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord is a 45 mile trip from Juneau, located off Stephens Passage. The entrance to the Fjord is called Holkham Bay and is where we previously encountered ice bergs on our way north with Uno. The Delorme track shows our recent trip to Sawyer Glacier in record time, that’s because we were aboard the tour boat Adventure Bound, cruising between 18 and 21knots. Why risk damaging the props on Got d’ Fever or scraping off the bottom paint; it was nice to just relax and let someone else concentrate on being helmsman for a change. Over 30-miles long, Tracy Arm Fjord is very picturesque with steep granite cliffs and cirque valleys with North and South Sawyer Glaciers at its terminus.

South Sawyer Glacier

A Very Large Ice Berg!

South Sawyer Glacier has considerable floating ice ranging from hand-sized pieces to house size pieces, while North Sawyer Glacier is more open for navigation.

Eagle atop the Berg

Calving still occurs at these glaciers; however, they have been retreating so there is less calving due to the narrowed terminus and shallower water. Calving rate is related to water depth and reduced calving helps lead to a more positive mass balance; at the same time, an increased snow line and reduced height of the glacier surface leads to reduced mass balance.

South Sawyer Glacier

Adventure Bound took us to both South and North Sawyer Glaciers, each scenic and unique in their own way.

Seals afloat at South Sawyer

Numerous seals and seal pups were adrift on the ice bergs as we carefully made our way through the clogged ice field for a closer look at South Sawyer Glacier; and scenic North Sawyer Glacier displays deep blue colors and interesting shapes; both glaciers are surrounded by mountain peaks and granite cliffs. Everyone marveled at the walls of ice and thundering sounds as pieces broke off, falling to the sea below.