Lakes the color of emeralds or star sapphires dot the coastline, created by glacial melt. The finely ground rock carried with the melted ice looks like glacial flour. Waterfalls that anywhere else would be named landmarks or state parks are anonymous here, like the majority of the hanging and tidewater glaciers, yet spectacular, pouring tons of fresh glacial water thousands of miles down a barren mountainside with a roar that outshouts the ship’s engines at times.
Yet it is not simply the stark physical beauty of the land that transfixes, captivates and mesmerizes. Whales (orca, humpbacks, elusive minkes), sea lions, stellar and harbor seals, and sea otters treat the eyes of careful watchers of the sea, even from a mega ship 
(although shore excursions on small catamarans are better to see the wildlife - and get closer to the glaciers). And if the ship has an on-board, full-time naturalist as ours did, more’s the better; each day he would narrate, ever on the lookout for the tell-tale spouting of a humpback, the six-foot dorsal fin of a male orca, or the lonely silhouette of a bear digging for clams at low tide on a nearby shore.
To quote John Muir, whose explorations of Alaska and knowledge of the land of the glaciers is legendary: “That a man should welcome storms for their exhilarating music and motion, and go forth to see God making landscapes...“
Article comments
1 - Lisa Damian
I travel pretty extensively, but I've yet to experience Alaska. I'll definitely consider going by cruise, thanks to your vivid descriptions and photos. Thank you for sharing your personal vacation imagery.
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Lisa. There really are no words to describe the power and beauty of that land. going by cruise is a great value (Alaska is so expensive to visit). I think I took something like 1500 photos in the week we were there! Thanks for reading.
3 - tink
Captivated by your imagery, I sent a friend to read this piece as he had also taken an Alaskan cruise recently.
His take? That you had come the closest in describing his experience than any other article he'd read.
4 - Barbara Barnett
Thank you, Tink. I appreciate sharing your friend's comments.
5 - Mary K. Williams
Very nice Barbara.
6 - Andy Marsh
I mad my first trip to Alaska last February. Mine was short, only four days, but I did take the time to wander some and it really is an incredible place.
Nice piece!
7 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Mary and Andy,
I can't even imagine Alaska in February. The limited light must make for an extraordinary landscape. I'd love to get up there at a time when the northern lights are visible (it's been too light the two times I've been there).
8 - Andy Marsh
It got light pretty late, around 9, 9:30 and the sun went down pretty early too. I want to say around 4:30.
I was on Kodiak Island, which is part of what they say is actually temperate rain forest, but man it was cold!!! They also had an unusually high snow fall last winter, for the island anyway. It was quite stunning.
I only really had a day and a half to explore, the rest of the time I was either working, or watching the Superbowl, hey look, I'm a Gaint fan, I had to, Alaska or not!
I put up some pics from my trip. I'd love to take one of those inland passage trips. My folks took one years ago and still talk about it! I also want to go back in the summer, whatever two weeks that might be!