STAN STEPHENS GLACIER & WILDLIFE CRUISE - VALDEZ, ALASKA

We got a ton of information from Matthew, the manager at Safeway grocery store.  It all started when we asked him if he had the coupon book for Alaska Tours.  Not only did he sell us the coupon book but he also set us up with a fishing license and gear.  He told us to drive 6.8 miles out of town to Dayville Road and we can stay overnight at any of the turnouts along the road.  I figure he saved us three nights of camping fees, about $120, so we didn't mind spending $58 for our fishing gear. We paid $100 for the Alaska Tour Saver book and it has already saved us $120 for the six-hour Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruise we booked for tomorrow.

Dayville Road is a wide, paved road with a nice bike trail that leads to shoreline picnicking, fishing and scenic views along Port Valdez, a 13-mile long estuary at the head of Valdez Arm.   Matthew also told us that there have been sightings of a grizzly bear and two cubs feeding on the fish near the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.  

We woke up early and spent time cleaning the inside and outside of the coach.  Then we drove into town to fill up the fuel and water, empty the holding tanks and get to the marina before 11:30.  We had reservations for a cruise on the Stan Stephens to explore the fjords and passageways of Prince William Sound.

Aboard the Glacier Spirit

Ready to cruise

We opted for the 6.5 hour cruise to Columbia Glacier.  Columbia Glacier is the second largest tidewater glacier in America and the largest in Prince William Sound.  It is only accessible by cruises or kayak day trips, unless you can afford the helicopter ride.  The glacier is ten miles wide and just spectacular.  We saw Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, sea otters and Tufted Puffin.  The views were absolutely beautiful.  They served a nice hot clam chowder with bagels and cream cheese for lunch.  The sun was shining, the day was nice and warm until we got close to the glacier and then we needed sweaters and wind breakers.  The captain and crew were very excited about today's cruise because this was the closest they've been to the glacier in over three years and because it was calving.

Known as the "Old man of the sea", sea otters are the largest members of the weasel family in North America, males weighing up to 100 pounds.  Love the way they float on their backs.

Sorry, forgot the name of this waterfall, maybe Allison?

Male Steller sea lions average 1,200 pounds.  They eat during the night and sun themselves during the day

Here are a few major historic events you may find interesting about Valdez.  The Gold Rush Stampede was in 1898.  In 1964, a five minute, 9.2 measured earthquake wiped out the town killing 33 people.  The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in 1989 and in 1990, Valdez hosts the first-ever World Extreme Skiing Championships.

I promise you, this isn't a postcard that we took a picture of

We saw pieces of the glacier crack and break off into the water - it's called calving

I love the glacier blue color

Just massive

What a day - just spectacular!