Garibaldi Glacier, Chilean Fjords. . . . . . . . .

Garibaldi Fjord, Chile

March 10, 2018

58F Cloudy skies with scattered showers 

One of Chile's newest and largest national parks, Parque Nacional

 Alberto de Agostini (5,600 sq. miles), is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

 because of its swathes of distinct ecosystems and special landscapes. 

Centerpiece of the park is the Cordillera Darwin, whose slopes drop precipitously

 into the sea. Valleys not filled by the sea are covered by glaciers which also

 occupy small high plateaus.

The Garibaldi Fjord is a narrow passage in the Chilean Fjord system strewn

 with floating ice of all shapes and sizes. Ribbons of waterfalls snake down

 the steep mountainsides and a rich ecosystem of plants and wildlife has evolved. 

Early mornings on board an expedition ship usually mean late nights are

 out of the question! One needs to be up, preferably at dawn, on deck to

 experience the exciting arrival to a place where you'll soon be experiencing

 nature from water level once the Zodiac boats start loading.  

This Zodiac cruise was Bob's first ever! He was a little nervous but soon got the

 routine down pat and, like everyone who experiences these amazing boats, 

enjoyed being able to get to special places otherwise unapproachable from larger

 cruise ships.

 Here the Garibaldi Glacier tumbles into the sea. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . Bob with our dear friends Kim and Rob and one of the larger icebergs we passed,

 and by then the weather had taken a turn for the worse, sea began to get a bit choppy.

Sea ice and kelp.

 

Bob braving the elements on his first Zodiac ride. . . . . . . just another 700 miles

 south and he would have made Antarctica!!!

Returning to the Hebridean Sky after an hour long cruise. . . . . . the always 

waiting hot drink and warm towel was welcome.

Next time: those adorable birds we all seem to love so much, penguins.

You don't have to go all the way to Antarctica to see them!