Tidewater Glaciers and Crab Cakes

Wilderness Explorer Glacier Cruise

Teachers: Captain and Crew of Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises; Ron and Deb Crawford

Maybe you didn’t get out on the ocean this summer - too much work, too many visitors from Outside, too many home improvement projects. Well, summer isn’t over just because most of the tourists have left! Picture this: a crowd of OLÉ! members in cruise mode scanning for orcas and catching up with friends on an unseasonably warm September afternoon (we can always hope.) The cruise is operated by Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises and was recommended to OLÉ! by our irrepressible film teacher, Ron Crawford, who has taken the cruise many times and has yet to tire of it.

The boat goes from Whittier into Passage Canal and around Esther Island through Esther Passage. On the way, it stops at a working salmon hatchery and then enters the passage which is gorgeous and very reminiscent of the waterways of Southeast Alaska. From there it heads towards the spectacular tidewater glaciers in Harriman Fjord and Barry Arm. Marine animals and birds flourish in these waters. Ron reports that he and his wife, Deb, spotted humpback whales, orcas, otters and bald eagle on their recent summer solstice trip. The tour is narrated by the vessel’s captain and crew; they don’t miss a thing, so neither will you. You won’t go hungry, either. Lunch is King crab cakes. Yum!

Dress in layers, but bring your sunglasses. And don’t forget your binoculars!

DATE: Sunday, September 14, 2008

DEPARTS: from Whittier Dock at 11:00 AM (take the 9:30 AM tunnel opening to Whittier)

RETURNS: in time to catch the 5:00 PM tunnel

COST: on-line, $108.20. Go to http://www.princewilliamsound.com/490.cfm?opid=VO105817

by phone, $114.65. Call 800-992-1297

Use discount code OLEGROUP91420