| Alaska, 1979 | |
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From here the Disco turned east, threading its way into the intricate waters of the Alaska Panhandle and leaving the Gulf of Alaska behind. The next day, August 12, I learned it had been a tricky bit of sailing:
"Last night we came through Cross Sound, possibly the most dangerous entrance in North America. The helmsman found the ship, at one point, had moved a mile in three minutes! Strong tidal currents rip back and forth across the strait. I knew nothing of this until we were already through. I was watching the aurora borealis for the first time. It was a weak display, consisting of a white glow that formed a few dim lobes, and one or two vertical shafts that made a curtain effect. They moved slowly and each vanished after a couple minutes."
Southeastern end of the Fairweather Range. The Fairweather fault, a long strike-slip fault like the San Andreas of California, comes ashore near the left edge of this photo, where a distinct notch appears behind La Perouse Glacier.
