Alluring Arcticvideo

Winter Living On Our Sailboat in Alaska. Blocked by ICE.

17 June 2023 · 23 min · 233K views

What this video covers

A sailboat attempting to reach the head of an Alaskan inlet encounters impassable slushy ice and high avalanche danger. Rising temperatures and rain have destabilized the snowpack, causing frequent wet slides down the steep mountain slopes surrounding the narrow fjord.5:47 The vessel remains blocked two miles from the inlet's head, as the engine cannot push through the thick, slushy ice floes.7:38 Anchoring to the ice is rejected because moving floes driven by tides and winds threaten to drag the boat into the shore or across the fjord.8:06 The crew considers the option of attaching a fender or buoy to the anchor chain to release it temporarily if an emergency escape becomes necessary.10:45 Despite the navigation hazards, the crew utilizes the anchorage as a base for backcountry skiing, though they report poor, sticky snow conditions and high avalanche risk.11:50 The area also shows signs of local wildlife, with multiple distinct sounds suggesting a pack of animals nearby.23:01

Watch on YouTube

More from Alluring Arctic

I Love Dodging Massive Icebergs in Fog (Sailing GREENLAND)Oct 2026Squeezing Into an Impossibly Tiny Cove (Greenland)Oct 2026She's Leaving. Now I'm Sailing Alone in Greenland.Sept 2026Surviving a Gale on the West Coast of GREENLANDAug 2026

From Alluring Arctic — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue