'Ford's Terror' in Endicott Arm
08 July 2014 | Ford's Terror, AK
George and Sue Stonecliffe
'Bergie bits' were far and in between allowing an easy passage up to an inlet on the north side called Ford's Terror. We anchored 'Julia Max' outside the narrow rapids, and dinghy up through them to the inner arms of the inlet. Wilderness Rangers talked with us about the 'must see' views. Once we were above the tidal rapids, we cruised with mouths gaping at the massive high walls on both sides. The arches and innumerable rock formations triggered the imagination, seeing figures and faces looking down at us. There were numerous horsetail falls with two that were absolutely massive. This 'Hall of the Mountain King' beckoned for us to continue on. Finally we stopped near mv 'Island Spirit', a large tour boat that had come up through the rising tidal rapids (saw 3' of water under their keel) for the night. After talking with one of their skippers, we headed back to Julia Max happily outside the tidal rapids. What a spectacle of views to have seen. Ford's Terror was called that because the discoverer Ford had made it through the tidal rapids safely, but had to spend a terrifying night their waiting for the slack water to make an easier return to the outside though smoother waters.