Huge rock slide & wave in Tracy Arm, SE Alaska

[Hunkydory]

A huge slide in Tracy Arm SE Alaska coming down half on the north side of South Sawyer glacier & the other half in the water in front of the north side of the glacier face created a wave 20 feet high, 36 miles away from the slide at Harbor Island & around Tracy Arm Cove, 4 miles away at Sawyer Island around 100 feet & directly across the channel at the foote of South Sawyer Glacier the water run up on the opposite mountain face around 1500 feet. JoLee & I have cruised this area in our 22 foot C-Dory boat since 2004. Since then we’ve cruise it many times. Anchoring either in Tracy Arm cove or one year with Bret & Dixie who were on their Tomcat & we anchored at Harbor Island. In 2022 anchored with our cruising group Jody Bill & Mike in Tracy Arm Cove & last cruise there with my 13 year old granddaughter in 2024. Now it would be neat to see post slide. Maybe in 2026!

I think the next big slide could be again in Fords Terror, which is very close to this slide in Tracy Arm.

Jay

[jkidd]

I’m still wondering if there was anybody anchored in Tracy arm Cove and if the wave would’ve just passed by or maybe a small rise because of the shape of the cove and the position of the entrance.

[Hunkydory]

I believe you are spot on, Jody about Tracy Arm Cove. I can sure see the wave hitting Harbor Island like it did. I remember in 2015, when Brent, Dixie & JoLee & I anchored on the southeast side of Harbor Island. I was not in favor of it, as it’s directly in line withe outflow winds & waves from Tracy Arm. That night the wind did come up & we spent a rough night. The big wave from the slide would have been the same as the kayak group camped there that lost their equipment found out. They were very fortunate the wave hit at a low point in the tide