Glacier Point – Face to Face With Davidson Glacier in Alaska

It was dark and gloomy when our ship pulled at the dock that morning. What a change of scenery from the sunny weather in Juneau the previous day! Trusting the weather will remain good, we had booked an adventurous day trip to Glacier Point.

In my previous posts I probably gave you the impression that Alaska is this beautiful, serene place where the sun shines peacefully over the snow capped mountains and blue glaciers melt slowly into crystal clear lakes.

But there is a more dreadful face of this vast and wild territory shaped by the forces of nature. A face that most visitors may see only briefly and from the shelter of an Alaska cruise ship, or a cozy hotel room. The Last Frontier can be a very inhospitable place at times and we had a little taste of it on our trip to Glacier Point.

Day Trip to Glacier Point

Visiting Glacier Point is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Alaska, so we were very much looking forward to it. The trip seemed very exciting and it had a little bit of everything:  a 50 minute boat trip across the channel, a rain forest hike, and a scenic paddling journey that culminates with a face-to-face view of Davidson Glacier. It would have been a great itinerary for a sunny day, but the weather in Skagway didn’t seem too promising.

We started towards the meeting point as dark clouds were gathering and strong winds were almost blowing us away. The Small Boat Harbor looked quite dismal.  Deep in my heart I was hoping the trip will be cancelled, although there was not much else to do in this small and God-forsaken town.

A Scary Boat Ride to Glacier Point

The boat ride started out innocently enough, but a few minutes later rain began pouring down in torrents. As darkness fell over the channel, a dense fog started rolling in. “You are lucky that we had an early start,” the captain announced. “All the other trips for the day have been canceled due to the bad weather.”

That sounded quite reassuring, but wait a minute! Did he say ‘LUCKY’? As soon as we passed through the channel and went into the open waters, huge waves began hitting our small boat, lurching it up into the air then crashing it back down with a vengeance.

Although covered, the boat wasn’t properly sealed, so every wave that hit us dumped a few buckets of water into the cabin and over us, the “lucky” passengers, who were hopelessly trying to hold on to whatever we could. But it ain’t a curse until everyone starts feeling ill and vomits all over themselves. The 50 minute ride across the channel seemed like an eternity, but in the end we pulled ashore. We were all shaken and nauseated, but in one piece.

Finally on the Shore!

At the shore we were met by a team who took us by bus to the camp site. When we arrived at the camp the rain stopped. Here we were given a short speech about what to expect for the next part of the trip, then suited up with waterproof gear and life jackets.  After a short hike through the beautiful forest we arrived at the edge of the lake where the canoes were waiting for us.

At the end of the trail we were greeted by a beautiful view of the Davidson Glacier and pristine lake below. Even in the dark, rainy day this place looked magnificent!

Kayaking to Glacier Point

After the hike, we boarded the canoes which were large and stable. We did not have to paddle much as the canoes are also equipped with motors to speed the arrival to the Glacier. As we arrived close to the glacier, we left the canoes on the shore and started walking towards it.  Apparently everyone’s visit is different. Sometimes the water is high and you can’t get out. Other times the water level is lower and you can walk all the way to the glacier.

The glacier was amazing beyond words. Time stood still as we gazed at the intense blue color, fragments, cracks, rocks and landslides. Alaska is a land constantly on the move. On the way back the rain started again. Rowing kept us warm as chilly winds began to whip the cold waters. Back at the camp, we were given sandwiches, water and some snacks.

A Final Note

After leaving our funny-looking gear behind, we hopped on the bus that took us back to the boat. The return trip on the water was even worst the second time around. When we arrived in Skagway we were all thankful that we were alive. Other than a couple of bruises from hitting the cabin walls, we were all right.

The rest of the afternoon was cold, rainy and uneventful. Skagway looked like a Hollywood movie set with buildings from the Gold Rush era.

We buried ourselves in a pub till the evening, staring at the gray Alaskan sky. And it was raining, and raining, and raining . . .