#43 – Hoonah to Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay

It's a 3-hour run over to Glacier Bay's Bartlett Cove. The Cove is the headquarters for Glacier Bay National Park access and our crew exchange point via Gustavus airport, serviced by Alaska Air 737s in summer. The crew leaves for the airport at 4PM and they want to look around the park lodge first.

We slept in and eventually got going around 10AM. The washing machines and vacuum cleaner were buzzing all the way to Bartlet Cove as the outgoing crew prepared for the incoming crew. Just as we reached Point Gustavus we called Bartlett Cove on VHF 16 for authorization to enter the Park. After a brief “whale” navigation rules review, we proceeded onward to the Cove.

We temporarily docked at the Park float, unloaded bags and 50 pounds of frozen fish, then anchored the Wild Blue in the Cove and used the tender to get us back to the dock. Alex had to take a refresher course for private boat usage of the Park. Once again he passed the entrance exam.

At 4PM a bus arrived at the Lodge and the Semonsens and Ages loaded bags and fish for the 2-day trek, via Juneau, Seattle, San Jose to Los Osos. Well at least they won't go hungry, as they can thaw a bag of fish for near fresh Alaska sushi!