College Fjord in Princess William Sound
http://https://youtu.be/3OyhTFFHNNM
Beautiful Prince William Sound
College Fjord in Prince William Sound is one of the most gorgeous settings on the planet. Of all the glaciers and fjords in Alaska, College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier are far and away my favorites. Truly, there are NO words for either region. As an experienced Alaska naturalist, I urge you to move both of these sites to the Top Ten of your Alaska “bucket list!”
In 1899 College Fjord is Catapulted into the News:
Prince William Sound and its beautiful glaciers have been significant since the days the early Russians and fur traders frequented its waters. These glaciers were there for centuries; yet it was the 1899 privately funded Harriman Expedition that put the region on the map. Notably, Harriman’s one year journey was monumental on many levels. In fact, it was the expedition’s “discovery” of College Fjord that made the most outstanding geological and photographical contributions in the 20th Century.
On May 31, 1899, Edward Henry Harriman left Seattle on his boat, the Elder. He brought along 126 family, friends, and world-famous scientists, biologists, and photographers. His goal was to explore Alaska, and that he did! His expedition catapulted Alaska into worldwide news, just one year before the Klondike Gold Rush. (You can read more about this in my book mentioned below).
Since the majority of the 126 passengers were notables of that day, many were graduates of East Coast Ivy League universities. Consequently, these notables named the 25 glaciers within a twenty-mile radius after their alma maters or the alma maters of their wives. Hence the name, College Fjord.
This Magnificent Region NEVER Disappoints its Visitors:
Whatever the weather, this glaciated wilderness will never disappoint. In truth, it literally exhilarates in ways that reach deep into the visitor’s soul. Prince William Sound and its surroundings dramatically reminds us that we are a small part of a very magnificent world. You will LOVE it! College Fjord in gorgeous Prince William Sound will prove to be one of the most cherished memories of your entire life. I promise!
Prince William Sound Makes New in 1964:
Prince William sound was back in the new sixty-five years after the Harriman Expedition. It happened on Good Friday 1964. This time, though, it was NOT good news! On that day the Prince William Sound was the epicenter of the largest United States earthquake since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This 1964 earthquake registered 9.2 on the Richter Scale and drastically altered the balance of nature in South Central Alaska. Because the epicenter was in such a remote area, loss of human life was minimal (only 389 people), but the devasta-tion to these glacial areas was monumental. Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, took the biggest hit by far.
In 1989 Prince William Sound Makes World News Again!
Ironically, Prince William Sound and College Fjord make made news again in 1989. When the Exxon Valdez struck Blithe Reef, it was certainly not good news. Eleven MILLION gallons of crude oil spilled in the sound, causing devastation both to nature and wildlife. This disaster was not, however, a natural disaster; man’s carelessness caused it.
Interested in more information about Alaska’s fjords, glaciers, or lighthouses?
Please check out my book, Rendezvous with Majesty. It answers the 12 most commonly asked questions about glaciers. There are chapters about College Fjord, Hubbard Glacier, and Tracy Arm Fjord. It is jam-packed with beautiful color photos. The final chapter highlights the 19 Alaskan and Canadian lighthouses that a cruiser might see on an Alaskan cruise. Each lighthouse is featured with a picture and brief history. (All the book’s pictures are my own). Rendezvous with Majesty is a great addition to take with you on your next cruise. Click to purchase your personal copy of Rendezvous with Majesty.
If you are enjoying these Alaska blogs, you might also enjoy Kathy’s Alaska books and her Alaska DVD:
Alaska Bookstore Page When you click on this page, you will see blurbs to four Alaska books by Kathy Slamp as well as a 55 minute professional Alaska video for which she shot all the footage and did all the narration.
The Klondike gold rush began in 1897, two years before the Harriman expedition. My grandfather was in it.
Dear Charles
Thank you for visiting the “College Fjord” post. BOTH College Fjord and the Klondike Goldrush are so very interesting. What a treasure that your grandfather was a part of the Klondike rush! I hope he shared stories with you. 90% of the men and women who made that unbelievable trek never found any gold, BUT the fact that they actually made it is absolutely incredible. The odds were stacked against them both from the weather and the media. If you have any stories to share, I would love to read them.
For years, I’ve been lecturing and narrating about them on Alaska cruises.
There are several other posts on this site which I hope you enjoy.
Your friend
Katht Slamp
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Thank you for your feedback and comments. If you will check my Alaska blogs, I also have a blog for Hubbard Glacier AND College Fjord. I totally agree with you; they are BOTH spectacular, and I’ve been both places several dozen times. As an Alaskan narrator on the large cruise ships, I absolutely loved introducing both College Fjord and Hubbard to the passengers. Since Glacier Bay is an American National Park, the Park Rangers come aboard and narrate there.
Thank you again for visiting my site.
Your friend
Kathy Slamp
Indeed a magnificent world!
Without a doubt!