Johns Hopkins Inlet
After leaving Lamplugh Glacier and rounding Jaw Point, the scene around the Johns Hopkins Inlet suddenly unfolds to include some of the most spectacular terrain in Alaska. Mounts Orville and Wilbur (above, named for the Wright Brothers) soar more than 10,000 feet above the inlet, while the advancing Johns Hopkins Glacier (below) spills into the bay. The terminus has merged with the adjoining Gilman Glacier, on the left, to form a 200 foot wall of calving ice that stretches more than two miles across the inlet.
Travel beyond this point is strictly limited in order to protect harbor seal habitat near the glacier. In reality, further travel would have been limited by the sheer volume of floating ice, which nearly blocked passage at this point, some five miles from the glacier. Below, the group poses for one last picture before leaving the awesome scene, and returning to Juneau.
Included in the photo are (from left, standing), John, Melanie, Bill, Joanne, Aaron, Mark and Al; (from left, kneeling) Craig, Diana, Sean, Gail, Liz, Wendy, Serge and Tom; (from left, seated) Mitch and Sandy. Passengers not shown are Deb, Bob and Dorla.