Williwaw and Byron Glacier

We started off the weekend heading south along the Turnagain Arm toward Girdwood. After checking the bore tide schedule, we pulled into a small area along the arm to wait for this legendary wave. Twice a day, the moment when the tide changes from low to high is begun with a large wave of incoming water, called the bore tide. The best bore tides happens when there's 27 foot difference in low and high tide, which is pretty often here along the Turnagain Arm. The wave can be up to 10 feet tall and move at 10-15 miles per hour. Because of the size and shape of the Arm, this one wave is visible for about 2 hours from the first viewpoint to the last as it slowly moves along the arm. We sat and waited for a good hour as the schedule indicated this should be a good wave today.

And finally we saw it! To our delight, there were half a dozen people surfing the wave, which made it even more exciting to watch. Once the wave passes, the tide quickly rises and you have the option to watch the wave over and over if you just keep driving down the arm to farther viewpoints. I preferred to sit and wait. I'd been told that harbor seals come shortly after the wave as they feed on the incoming salmon, and more importantly, beluga whales will follow behind the seals, about half an hour after the bore tide. We waited for more than an hour. I saw one seal, but sadly, no whales.

Once we gave up on whale watching, we headed into the Portage Valley and picked a campsite at Williwaw campground under the glacier! 

We decided to take a night hike out to a waterfall, a suggestion from the camp hosts. It was a pretty hike that began on a boardwalk, but soon left it and the closed in feeling from the brush made for a nervous walk (as that's how one might stumble upon a bear). The kids pretty much never stop talking, so it's not usually a big concern for us, but this night we encouraged them to crank up the volume! 

We noticed this amazingly unique and beautiful columbine flower. I can't recall ever seeing one before.

The waterfall was a beautiful sight. 

We stopped by the salmon viewing platform hoping for a great display as some salmon were running in town. Unfortunately, none were visible tonight. The signs indicated that late August and September are best for viewing salmon at this location.

It rained overnight. And rained all of the following day. We have noticed that rain doesn't stop Alaskans from getting out and enjoying outdoor activities (though it seems they all own not only rain jackets, but rain PANTS, something I didn't really know existed.) We decided to embrace the Alaskan ways and hike in the rain to Byron Glacier.