July 31 - Endicott Arm - Dawes Glacier

July 31 – Endicott Arm – Dawes Glacier

Today’s adventure was to go by dinghy or small boat up Endicott Arm to see the Dawes Glacier and Fords Terror.  Sea Eagle, No Debt, Nellie, and Magic’s dinghy were loaded and off we went for a long tour.  The trip to the Glacier is approximately 23 miles one way, add in Fords Terror and you have about a 60 mile total trip.  Luckily for us the weather is clearer, not clear but clearer today and dry.  Actually there are hints of blue sky peeking thru the high cloud layer.  With the high cloud layer were able to see the tops of the hillsides lining the arm and many hanging glaciers, and high waterfalls along the route.

We passed by the Sumdum Glacier, now a hanging glacier; at which once had an Indian village near its base.  We also passed Sanford Cove where we anchored in 2013.  Sanford Cove was the historical site of a mining operation and village many many years ago.  It was the Tlingit Indians from Sumdum that helped John Muir on his exploration in 1897. 

 

A decision was made to go to Fords Terror first.  We made the turn into the that arm and Glen decided to stop and pump some air into the starboard tube of our dinghy.  It has had a slow leak for weeks and he has glued it one or two times.  As we stopped Dave already had the pump out, but the tube went basically flat.  Glen looked at it and decided that the pump would be of no use, the tube seam had split.  So the tube had to be tied up to keep it from ripping more.  The dinghy still floats but at a bit of an odd angle.  Of course all the other boats zipped past us leaving us in their dust.  Apparently they thought we were just putting fuel in or something.  Once things were tied we started out again.  Just before reaching the ‘terror’ entrance (rapids that were running but with high water so nothing special), Glen stopped again to readjust the tie job.  Maryann and I suggested that we go to shore and do this adjusting on shore.  He got the message and we went to shore.  Maryann and I got out and walked around the shoreline while Dave and Glen messed with ropes.  We did not go too far as this is bear country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea trials for the ‘repair’ job.

 

Someone from the group called us on the radio and Glen told them that we would not be going and would wait here for their return.   Wrong – He changed his mind and we headed out again. 

 

 

We explored the inlet and basin and then came back out with the others.  

At that point Maryann and I transferred to No Debt and Glen and Dave continued on to Dawes Glacier in the odd looking dinghy. 

 

 

Almost there

 

 

 

 

Very interesting and odd rock walls along the route. 

 

Little Magic and Nellie in front of the glacier …. Still several hundred feet from it’s face.

Odd ice formation.

Dave and Glen – Dawes Glacier

 

Caving in action.  

 

 

 

Liz and Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willard and Mike stayed back from the glacier adventure today and went fishing instead …. Sea Life now has Halibut in the freezer.