Exploring Endicott Arm, 8/28/2021, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
Guests onboard the National Geographic Sea Lion spent their day exploring Endicott Arm, a glacial fjord just south of Juneau, Alaska. The first evidence of the approaching glacier was in the form of chunks of ice varying in size, sliding past us in the morning mist. Zodiacs were lowered to get an up-close view of Dawes Glacier.
Born and raised on the edge of the Mojave Desert, Nick was accustomed to hot dry days, far from the ocean. Everything changed when he attended California State University Monterey Bay, a short 1.5 miles from the beaches of Central California. This is...
The Inian Islands invoke sheer joy and excitement among the naturalists, which in turn, is transferred to the guests. We set out in Zodiacs, traversing in nearly unprecedented calm conditions through the narrow Mosquito Pass, then around North Inian Island. We observed over a dozen bald eagles and sea lions waiting for the inrushing tide to bring fish to the surface for easy pickings. We also saw a couple of male sea otters peacefully lying on the surface while fluffing up their fur to introduce air for insulation (they don’t have blubber). The weather was classic Alaska…sun grading to rain…then to partly cloudy. In the afternoon, we traveled to Port Althorp for kayaking and hikes. Again, very calm conditions with intermittent sun and rain. The hikes were beautiful, winding across the mud flats and into the thick rainforest painted with several shades of green. Bear trails were observed and used by us as convenient paths to follow. Kayakers slowly paddled across glassy water to enjoy the peace and solitude. The day ended with soft sun.
Cool blue skies greeted National Geographic Sea Lion as she docked in Haines for a day of adventure. Following an early breakfast, the first group of expeditionists departed for Mount Riley. An Alaskan guide piloted this group up the mountain where an icy peak awaited us. All the while other members of our group visited the Klukwan Cultural Center and biked along the beautiful coastline. Following lunch, I led members of our group through town on a photo walk where foraging ravens, wonderful Native art, and the quirks of small-town Alaskan life were among our subjects. Others took the afternoon to hike along the shore at Battery Point where diving buffleheads and bald eagles stole the show.
Throughout the night, National Geographic Sea Lion cruised south in Chatham Strait. Heading further south into Stephens Passage, we approached Holkham Bay and the entrance to Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, 653,179 acres of land which received the highest level of protection from Congress in 1980. Most of our day would be spent exploring the deep fjords which make up the heart of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. Zodiacs were dropped and our group was divided in half, each group taking an hour and a half traveling up the fjord to the face of Dawes Glacier. White thunder sounded from the face of the glacier, birds circled, and harbor porpoises showed their dorsal fins. Due to heavy rain, waterfalls of many sizes were everywhere. Once Zodiac rides returned to the ship, our floating home began a cruise back down Endicott Arm heading for Holkham Bay and the entrance back to Stephens Passage. A very silly brown bear, humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and more porpoises were observed throughout the afternoon and early evening. It was an amazing first day, and Southeast Alaska was enjoyed by all, with so much more to come!
