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$Unique_ID{bob01003}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Glacier Bay
Part I}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{National Park Service}
$Affiliation{National Park Service;U.S. Department Of The Interior}
$Subject{bay
glacier
park
lodge
cove
bartlett
boat
gustavus
summer
whales
see
pictures
see
figures
}
$Date{1983}
$Log{See Map of the Park*0100301.scf
}
Title: Glacier Bay
Book: Part III: Guide And Advisor
Author: National Park Service
Affiliation: National Park Service;U.S. Department Of The Interior
Date: 1983
Part I
Getting to Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve lies west of Juneau and can be
reached only by plane or boat. The only road just connects Gustavus and its
airfield to park headquarters at Bartlett Cove (11 kilometers/7 miles). There
is no link with the Alaska highway system.
Alaska Airlines provides daily jet service from Juneau to Gustavus (about
30 minutes) in the summer season, which runs from mid-May to mid-September.
Passengers are transported between Gustavus and Bartlett Cove - at flight time
only - by bus-limo. Year round air service to Gustavus is available by small
plane but no regular off-season ground transportation runs between Gustavus
and the park. Scenic flights, charters, and air taxi service - including
floatplane service - are offered in summer by a concessioner at Glacier Bay
Lodge, and year-round out of Gustavus, Hoonah, and Juneau. Write the
superintendent for a list of operators.
By Boat or Ship
Daily boat transportation from Juneau to Gustavus and limited tour boat
service from Juneau to Glacier Bay are usually available from May until early
fall, but inquire ahead. Charter boats may be available out of Juneau or
Gustavus: Write to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce. Private boats are welcome:
Write ahead to the park for special regulations. (For boat service at Glacier
Bay, see Trips Up the Bay.)
Write the superintendent for a list of ship companies that offer Alaska
cruises featuring a day in Glacier Bay. On such cruises you will want sun,
wind, and rain protection gear so that you can enjoy being on deck. You'll
want binoculars for both scenery and wildlife.
Weather and Seasons
This is a land of glaciers. Clouds make and perpetuate glaciers, so, for
weeks at a stretch, "good" weather may mean a day of only scant rain. Clear
days rate as blue-sky days and most agree such weather is best. But don't
despair on gray days. Distant views are blocked, but mist hangs wraith-like
above the water, first swaddling, then releasing, nearby peaks. The bay seems
to brood, mysterious. Gray days are typical, although rain usually is light
and intermittent. May and June usually bring the most sunshine and the least
rain, but never trust statistics here. The visitor season runs from mid-May
through mid-September.
Generally, weather runs cool in summer and surprisingly mild in winter,
with abundant rainfall all year. Rainfall generally increases as the summer
progresses into early fall. Bring clothing for possible below-freezing
temperatures, no matter the month. Carry full rain protection for head,
torso, legs, and feet even aboardship, so you can be on deck in all weather.
"Layer" your clothing: Several lightweight shirts and sweaters worn under
a windproof, rainproof parka or jacket offer a range of temperature readiness
while you're outdoors. Attend to protecting wrists, throat, and head against
heat loss with cap, high turtlenecks, and sleeve cuffs. (Hikers and kayakers
please read clothing and gear advice under Enjoying the Backcountry.) The
maritime climate moderates and mutes differences in the change of seasons. In
April bears come out of hibernation. Waterfowl begin coming through.
Seabirds arrive to nest and hummingbirds return. Seals give birth beginning
in late May. The first whales usually arrive at Bartlett Cove in late June,
to begin gorging on the krill - tons of krill - that will sustain them, as
stored fat, through the winter.
Waves of color along the shore tell you what's happening to the calendar.
Green leaves burst from lowland willow and alder in May. Alpine meadows turn
green in July. Fireweed blossoms paint the upper beach rose-purple from July
to mid-August. By late August, cottonwoods glow golden. In late summer and
early fall the snow is gone from the ridges and low peaks. Berries ripen in
abundance and the salmon make their migrations into the rivers. The whales
and summer birds begin to leave. During starry nights the aurora borealis -
northern lights - appear.
Insects, Insects, Insects
Alaska is notorious for the ferocity of its biting insects. Gnats and
flies are worse than mosquitoes here. Aboardship you'll probably not be
troubled. But ashore you may see mountain goats with their muzzles buried in
snow to escape getting bitten. Or you may see a cloud of insects encircling a
bear.
Higher country is generally worse for bugs than the low country. Some
years are plain awful - mosquitoes, deerflies, horseflies, white sox, and
no-see-ums are all out for blood. Most years aren't that bad. But bring
insect repellent and adequate screening for your tent. Beaches often have
enough breeze to hold biting insects to a minimum. Bushes can fairly swarm
with them. (Mosquitoes subsist on plant juices if they have to.)
Naturalist Programs
Park naturalists lead hikes daily in summer from the lodge and they hoard
cruise ships and tour boats to answer your questions and interpret the scenery
and wildlife. Exhibits housed in the lodge portray the parks glacier story,
the return of life as ice retreats, and the marine energy cycle. Exhibits on
the clock treat whales and marine life.
Up-bay, rangers are stationed at Goose Cove in the summer. Look for
their white tents floating offshore on platforms (for protection from bears.
Rangers offer information and help in emergencies. Similar summer ranger
stations usually operate intermittently on Cenotaph Island in Lituya Bay, and
at Graves Harbor or Dundas Bay.
Films about Glacier Bay are shown daily in summer at the lodge.
Naturalists give slide-illustrated talks in the evenings. Schedules are
posted in the lodge.
A naturalist meets the bus that brings jet passengers from the airport to
Bartlett Cove. The naturalist offers a camper orientation talk and will
suggest the best areas to visit during your stay. You will also receive
safety information and have ample opportunity to ask any questions you may
have.
Various publications are available. They deal with such topics as the
humpback whales, bear safety, and intertidal life at Bartlett Cove. The free
park newspaper tells you where to get information about the day's events, and
provides general Glacier Bay information, including safety precautions and
important management regulations.
Accommodations and Services
Glacier Bay Lodge, concession, operates from about mid-May to
mid-September. It is the only hostelry in the park. Rooms are motel-style.
The central unit offers lobby, dining room bar, auditorium and exhibits about
the park. Make room reservations well in advance. Full meal and bar services
and the free park naturalist programs are open to all, not just to lodge
guests. For information and reservations write: Glacier Bay Lodge, Glacier
Bay National Park, Gustavus, AK 99826 during the operating season, or Glacier
Bay Lodge, Inc., 1500 Metropolitan Park Bldg., Seattle, WA 98101 otherwise. A
family operated hotel in Gustavus offers rooms and meals.
[See Map of the Park: Some management regulations for the preserve area - at
upper left on your map - may differ from those normally associated with
National Park Service areas.]
Campground
The National Park Service maintains a forest campground near the lodge in
Bartlett Cove (no reservation or fees required). Facilities include a
bearproof food cache, fire pits, and firewood. Campground stays are limited
to 14 days maximum. B