Tag Archives: Icy Bay

Icy Bay was formed just 100 years ago with the retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall Glaciers. Prior to that time, the mouth of the bay was closed by a massive tidewater glacial formation. The glaciers have retreated during the last century, and the bay now extands some 30 miles up toward the St. Elias Mountains Range. The remaining glaciers calve hundreds of icebergs into its waters, and hence the very appropriate name, Icy Bay.

Sunset over Icy Bay

A gorgeous sunset over the Guyot Hills and Icy Bay.

A gorgeous sunset over the Guyot Hills and Icy Bay. Part of the St. Elias Mountain Range. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Hi Folks,

I shot this sunset over Icy Bay last summer. We had one night at Icy Bay, and what an amazing treat it was to have an evening like this! The sky got better and better. The icebergs came, almost on call, across to the east side of the bay, and everything just kept improving.

Photography is all about time. Spending time in a place, and more time, and more again. Being there. Most often, we’re either not there, or “it” isn’t there. Sometimes, those rarest of moments, things turn out “just right”. And when that happens in a place like Icy Bay, it’s a treat indeed! Good times.

Cheers

Carl

Mount Saint Elias

icy bay, Lupine and Mt. St. Elias, Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Lupine fields and the calm waters of Icy Bay sit beneath the towering peak of Mount. St. Elias, an 18 008' peak, 2nd highest peak in Canada, 2nd highest peak in the US (it sits on the border of both countries), Mount St. Elias is the highest coastal peak, and the St. Elias Range the highest coastal mountain range, in the world. Mount St. Elias, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Hello,

Welcome to Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve; the largest, grandest and wildest of the many US National Parks. This blog is an introduction to this special place, and what better way to get it started than a photo of one of the park’s namesakes, Mt St. Elias?

Taken on a kayaking trip to Icy Bay, this is one of my favorite photos of the 2nd tallest mountain in both the US and Canada. Mt. St. Elias, at 18 008 above sea level, sits right on the US/Canada border. Icy Bay is perhaps the grandest view of the mountain, if not one of the grandest views of ANY mountain. It’s simply a fantastic place to visit and enjoy the power of a magnificent mountain.

I look forward to adding to the blog from time to time, and introducing you to some of these favorite places, showing photos and telling stories from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; truly “A Wilderness Park”.

Thanks.

Mt. St. Elias Photo, Icy Bay, Wrangell – St. Elias

Mt. St. Elias, Icy Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.
Mt. St. Elias, Icy Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

After the sunset, the sky catches the earth’s shadow and turns an amazingly radiant blue. Everything glows. And I stare, stare at Mt. St. Elias, the biting evening air somehow far away. The mountain owns me. The sky dims and darkens, and the freezing night air chills me to the core. A shore walk back to camp, with a smile; the mountain is with me still.

You can see more photos of the St. Elias Range here.

Cheers

Carl