Glacier Bay
This morning we were very lucky to find three mountain goats down near sea level. At this time of year they are typically at high elevation, grazing on vegetation near snow patches. In fact, just a few minutes earlier, we had been gazing at goats on distant, green, mountaintop meadows. But thirty feet above sea level, on the steep rock face of Gloomy Knob, we observed the interactions of a nanny, her kid, and a yearling. The kid appeared to be about one month old, and stayed very close to its mother. The yearling, seen at the upper left of the inset photo, seemed reluctant to be left behind. As the nanny and her new kid moved along the rock, the displaced yearling followed as closely as the nanny allowed. Now and then, she turned towards the yearling, but she did not appear to be encouraging it. The nanny continued on, her kid close by her, as the yearling stood and watched.
Two hundred years ago, all of Glacier Bay was covered by glaciers; they are still reworking the land. Later in the day, we listened to the eerie, loud movements of Margerie Glacier, and watched it calve repeatedly.
This morning we were very lucky to find three mountain goats down near sea level. At this time of year they are typically at high elevation, grazing on vegetation near snow patches. In fact, just a few minutes earlier, we had been gazing at goats on distant, green, mountaintop meadows. But thirty feet above sea level, on the steep rock face of Gloomy Knob, we observed the interactions of a nanny, her kid, and a yearling. The kid appeared to be about one month old, and stayed very close to its mother. The yearling, seen at the upper left of the inset photo, seemed reluctant to be left behind. As the nanny and her new kid moved along the rock, the displaced yearling followed as closely as the nanny allowed. Now and then, she turned towards the yearling, but she did not appear to be encouraging it. The nanny continued on, her kid close by her, as the yearling stood and watched.
Two hundred years ago, all of Glacier Bay was covered by glaciers; they are still reworking the land. Later in the day, we listened to the eerie, loud movements of Margerie Glacier, and watched it calve repeatedly.
