Bjorklund Log: Alaska Trip Day 51

7/6/11

“Special 4 Fathom Anchorage,” Wachusett Inlet, Glacier Bay, AK

Miles Travelled: 34

Since we anchored in N. Sandy Cove last night, we felt it made the most sense to explore the East Arm of the park first. The East arm is not nearly as travelled as the West arm. No cruise ships come up the East Arm, and actually most of the inlets are closed to motorized vessels. Wachusett Inlet is open to motorized vessels during this time frame, so we decided to check it out.

After I cooked breakfast, Tor came down below and fed the boys and I piloted the boat. That means I got to enjoy HOT coffee! What a treat. It was also a treat to behold the scenery around me. We are in a beautiful spot, well worth all the effort to get here. Not only are the glacially carved surroundings spectacular, but then you look up and you see glaciers seemingly everywhere. Stunning.

Tor made bread, which was desperately needed, and we heated water for diapers. Meanwhile I was taking us North, and then West into Wachusett inlet and very much enjoying the scenery.

When the boys were down for their nap we washed diapers while underway. It’s nice to get that chore out of the way during the day so we don’t have to do them in the evening, but somehow it feels a little strange to do it when you are travelling around Glacier Bay. The weather was great though, so we were able to dry the diapers outside.

The glacier in Wachusett inlet is not a tidewater glacier, so we weren’t dodging bergy bits, but it was quite spectacular to behold. At the end of the inlet you see totally barren land that plants haven’t grown on because it was so recently covered with ice. In fact, as you travel up the inlet from Glacier Bay proper, you travel through plant succession in reverse. I loved my forest ecology class in high school, and the concept of plant succession was fascinating to me, now I’m seeing it first hand, from my boat. How cool is that?

We decided to try anchoring in a small 4 fathom shelf near the head of Wachusett inlet. We’ve been following guidebooks for anchorages for the whole trip, so this was the first time we looked at the chart and found a potential anchorage and tried it out. I will say it was quite successful. We were secure for the night, it was a beautiful place to be, and there were no other boats around since everyone else is probably using the same guidebook we are.

We put the kiddos in their life jackets and tried going for a row up the small stream we were anchored by…quite honestly it didn’t last long. The boys were both very interested in not only standing up in the boat, but looking over the side. My nerves couldn’t handle keeping two little boys sitting down next to me, so we were out in the dinghy for about 10 minutes. Oh well, we have to practice.