Hubbard Glacier, 2008

by Jen Dolen

about 24x18 framed • photographic inket print $$200

Hubbard Glacier holds the honorable title of largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent, and she is a sight. I viewed her from the upper decks of a cruise ship in late August of 2008. Researchers say that, unlike most glaciers, Hubbard's ice has been thickening and advancing since she was first mapped. I could see, hear and almost feel the result of natural forces--immense pressure and climate changes--shifting. Thunderous booms accompanied ice chunks the size of small buildings as they calved off and plummeted into the water. Deceptively static, the huge beast of ice stood before us. Unconcerned with the tiny humans in its bay, the glacier went about her business while we gawked. Our captain, a reserved yet mildly sarcastic, droll and elegant English fellow struck me as often bored and rarely fazed. Though he had made this voyage many times previously, he dawdled our boat near the ice longer than scheduled. We glided away after an hour near the massive formation. The timbre in his voice indicated a note of awe clearly audible over the intercom when he quietly stated that he had never seen the ice so blue.