Day 65: Grewingk Glacier Lake Hike

June 18, 2014

Today started cool and continued that way all day. High of about 54 with clouds. We had some sunshine early morning but by lunch everything was clouded in again. We continued to see and photograph eagles from our campground. Still amazed. 

We all had adventures that were new to us today. We took a water taxi through Homer Ocean Charters over to Kachemak Bay State Park.

 

It was about a 30 minute boat ride northeast from Homer. Scout got to go too! Our taxi reminded us all of the Marines storming the beach because the front dropped down so we could walk off. Our Captain, Chris, was very good and landed so that we did not have to start our hike with wet feet.

As soon as we hit the beach we were greeted by another bald eagle sitting on some driftwood. It flew off as we walked by.

 

We landed close to the Grewingk Glacier Lake trailhead and started our hike from there. The beaches in this area are just rocks of various sizes – nothing like our white sand beaches at home. These would not be comfortable for sun bathing and are not easy walking either. Almost immediately the terrain became rain forest. It was lush green everywhere. Here we saw a ptarmigan trying to lead us away from its nest.

It changed to tundra after about a mile or so. Then back to rain forest. We all really enjoyed the hike even though it was nothing like we expected hiking would be in Alaska.

 

Moose rub tree beside the trail

Anne and Scout led the way most of the day

We hiked to Grewingk Glacier Lake. It was beautiful. The huge glacier in the background and the lake with icebergs in the foreground. The temperature really dropped as we approached the lake and glacier. We had no idea we would see a lake filled with large floating pieces of ice. On one of the "icebergs" there were two eagles. They stayed there the entire time we were at the lake. It was really all so neat!

 

Scout loved it. He got to swim in the glacier lake, and retrieved a portion of an "iceberg".

 

After hiking around the lake for about 1.5 hours and having a snack we hiked to our pickup point at the Saddle Trail trailhead. This trail was a uphill climb again through lush greenery.

Saddle Trail trailhead is in Halibut Cove, another beautiful area.

Map of trip (click to enlarge pictures)

When our Captain returned to pick us up we again walked onto the boat with dry feet. However, we would see the rain across the water. Fortunately, we were able to our maneuver the shower and made it back to Homer, dry but cold.

We returned to Fred to have warm Taco Soup and are now getting ready for tomorrow's adventure – bear viewing in the Katmai. Can't wait.