It was another beautiful day in Southeast Alaska. There was a blue sky over Saook Bay as the Zodiacs were launched and everyone prepared for a morning of exploration. Several adventurous souls went on bushwhack hikes through the temperate rainforest on Baranof Island. Everyone was on the lookout for wildlife or signs that the wildlife had recently been in the area. There were also tours of the bay by Zodiac, investigating the crystal-clear water and the life below. In the afternoon, the National Geographic Venture cruised through Peril Strait. Killer whales were sighted off the port bow and everyone found a spot on the ship’s deck to watch the whales swim by. It was a fantastic end to another sunny Alaska day.
5/23/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness and Sawyer Glacier
Early in the morning, National Geographic Quest entered Tracy Arm and sailed up toward the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers. There was a little ‘liquid sunshine,’ aka rain, and fluffy wafting clouds, which is typical Southeast Alaska weather. The fjord has tall, sheer cliff faces and lots of waterfalls that we observed today. We all hopped into our Zodiacs, and the naturalists provided interpretation in front of the Sawyer Glacier. The harbor seals seemed quite curious about our presence. We observed a few minor calving events and lots of bergy bits floating around in the inlet. After the Zodiac tours, there were briefings in the lounge until we spotted a black bear. The ship maneuvered expertly, and we watched the bear eating from the intertidal zone for quite some time. Continuing down the fjord, we saw a variety of birdlife near Holkham Bay and Stephens Passage. We finished our evening by passing by the Five Finger Lighthouse as the sun was setting.
