Friday

Friday started at 5:30 am, bright and early. I got up at 5 to use the bathroom. I have always thought that my bathroom habits are the event that the world pivots around and it is no different on the Chester B. By 5:45, Maria and Kent were both up, although Maria went back to sleep.

Kent started the boat and we left anchorage and went to the cove at Baird Glacier. The big event of the day was hiking the glacier. It was a butt kicking climb. It was also very interesting, since we went from frigid water through hot sand to big rocks and into the ice.

5:15 am aboard the Chester B. I am the first one up. I sleep well but the sun comes right in my window and wakes me up every morning. It's ok. I go in the bathroom and everybody gets up and knocks on the door.	Capt. Kent is making coffee and I get to steer toward "the little point straight out there."	We anchor in a little cove for the day and night. This is our last view of the boat before we go 'round the bend to the glacier.	Rachel and Kent keep the boat tied up and anchored to the rocks so we can get home later.
Baird glacier is receding or proceeding, depending upon who you ask. It is interesting that the bottom of the glacier near the bay is the same type of topography you find at 17 Mile Drive in Carmel or on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.		Kent left the Sherpa's at the dock so we travel light. He carries lunch. I try to keep my breakfast down. I hate rocks. My shoes suck. My feet hurt. Damn... I'm having fun!	This is the view behind us as we are hiking up the mountain.
Everyone is watching their footing because "thar's ice in them thar hills."	It is a long walk, also.	This is what a glacier looks like before you get to the deep ice and snow.	This little glacier feeds a waterfall and stream off to the right of the main glacier.
Buck is looking for tern eggs. We keep calling him because we don't want him to find tern eggs. He is a little deaf and doesn't come back when we call.	The ice is very pretty. It is worth the climb and the danger. Make no mistake... it is a dangerous climb. No kidding.		The climb down is prettier with the clouds moving in. By the time we get to the base, there will be some nice formations I didn't take photos of because of all the blowing dust and sand.
These are photos of the bird life at the glacier. These little critters are called Arctic Terns.	The lay eggs on the rock beach and dive bomb you if you get too near the nest.		Eagles are majestic but terns are elegant.
			Even flowers bloom in the most inhospitable places.
Hi. Me.	Nowell and Diana.	Perry and Maria.	Kent, Rachel and Buck.
All of us.	Perry the Pirate.	Perry taking a photo of bear poop on the beach.	Kent going to get Perry before the pooping bear shows up and Perry becomes part of the poop.