Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, 5/10/2017, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
This morning the National Geographic Sea Lion crossed the terminal moraine of Dawes Glacier entering the thirty- four mile long fjord of Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm Fords Terror Wilderness area. We awoke to clear blue skies as we made our passage back in time to the glaciers that remain from the last ice age.
Elise’s passion for exploration and the natural world is evident when you learn about the places she has chosen to live, work and travel. Field courses in college and a degree in environmental studies introduced Elise to the world of interpreting nat...
Brian is an adventure seeker traveling the planet in search of deeper connections with our world's complex ecology. Brought up in Utah, home to some of the most dramatic margins a coastal desert can offer so far inland, his appreciation for protecti...
We enjoyed sunny skies this morning at anchorage in Tenedos Bay, Desolation Sound. Our first full day started ashore with hikes of various difficulties, including a long hike that traversed the island. Kayak and Zodiac tours explored the bay, viewing birds and harbor seals hauled out on rocks. The afternoon was filled with sunbathing and looking for wildlife. Spirits were high as National Geographic Sea Bird transited north searching for charismatic megafauna on our way to Alert Bay.
The winds howled and the rain ran in Alaska today. National Geographic Sea Lion and her people sailed the Inside Passage from the mouth of Glacier Bay, down Chatham Straight, through Sergius Narrows to eventually make it to our destination, Sitka. Along the way we saw soggy bald eagles, drenched Sitka black tail deer, and submerged Dall’s porpoise. In Sitka, we visited the National Historical Park, also known as Totem Pole Park. We braved the squalls and the heavy rain to walk amongst the beautiful trees and witness the poles and artifacts of the Tlingit peoples that still call this land home. It was a magnificent way to end a wonderful journey.
The waters surrounding Bartlett Cove were so calm this morning that we could see the reflection of the National Park Visitor Center Lodge on the ocean. Bright and early, we hiked into a magical part of the Tongass National Forest. Although there was a chill in the air, no precipitation came until much later in the day, just before dinner. Soon after our departure from Bartlett Cove, wildlife was all around us! Humpback whales, Steller sea lions, northern sea otters, and tufted puffins all graced us with their presence along South Marble Island. Later, in Geikie Inlet, we spotted not one, but two bears! An American black bear and a coastal brown bear. We came across dozens of goats at Gloomy Knob and even a northern marmot. Margerie Glacier greeted us just before dinner as National Geographic Sea Lion bobbed amongst the ice. What a fantastic day in Glacier Bay National Park.
