Special Note: This week, we are pleased to welcome Ben Lyons, Chief Officer of the National Geographic Explorer, to the NG Sea Bird in Southeast Alaska. We invite you to follow Lyons in Alaska, a special section of the Lindblad Expeditions Blog.
Sawyer Glacier & Ice, Tracy Arm, Alaska
Our journey through Southeast Alaska began in Juneau with a fine meal in the National Geographic Sea Bird’s dining room. After dinner some of us chose to explore downtown Juneau and others caught up on sleep prior to our late night departure toward the south.
During the early morning hours we sailed eastward through the steep fjord walls of Tracy Arm. The sheer cliffs and glacially-carved hanging valleys were bathed in sunshine as we approached Sawyer and South Sawyer glaciers. We spotted numerous Mountain Goats perched on the steep cliffs of metamorphic gneiss above the fjord. A broad sheet of fast ice and patches of grease ice thwarted our progress toward the impressive face of South Sawyer Glacier.
After a tasty breakfast in the dining room, we boarded Zodiacs to cross the calm water toward Sawyer Glacier. Mixed igneous and metamorphic rock, known as migmatite, was well exposed on the freshly exposed cliffs in front of the ice. We were greeted by Arctic Terns and Harbor Seals as we pondered the wall of ice calving icebergs in front of us.
On our way out of Tracy Arm we had fine views of a black bear less than 100 feet above the water on a narrow grassy ledge.
Lunch was served as we continued to Hole in the Wall waterfall. This pronounced hole was made as running water caused pebbles and cobbles to grind their way into the solid tonalite of the Coast Plutonic Complex Sill. Harold Stowell explained the geologic history of the Coast Mountains as the NG Sea Bird continued west. After the presentation, the NG Sea Bird anchored in Williams Cove and we hiked, kayaked, or cruised in Zodiacs during the afternoon.
Hikers spotted Chocolate Lilies, Canadian Dogwood, Twisted Stalk, and Five-Leaved Bramble sprouting up along the shore. Hikers continued through the forest to a complex of beaver dams and ponds still locked in winter snow. The Zodaics and kayaks explored Williams Cove to view small cliffs of metamorphic phyllite and a dramatic waterfall below Sweetheart Ridge. After our exertion, guests and staff gathered in the lounge for our evening ‘recap’ which was accompanied by a fine assortment of smoked salmon and halibut.
Dinner was served as the National Geographic Sea Bird plied the calm water of Holkham Bay and turned south into Stephens Passage.
