Tracy Arm, Alaska
Underway through the night, the National Geographic Sea Lion crossed the “bar”, a terminal moraine from the last major advance of the glaciers that once filled the Tracy Arm – Endicott Arm complex of fjords, in the early morning. Early risers were treated to a spectacular iceberg, as Captain Dion circled closely and slowly to provide us with compelling views and ultimate photo opportunities. Like icing on a cake, the berg was topped by scores of gulls, resting on the ice. A few harbor seals popped their heads above the water from time to time.
We first set foot on wild Alaskan soil in Williams Cove. This scenic inlet was an ideal spot to begin our explorations of the temperate rain forest of the Tongass National Forest. We met many members of the community – majestic Sitka spruce and western hemlock, thorny devil’s club, skunk cabbage with its huge leaves and a variety of colorful wildflowers, including chocolate lily, dwarf dogwood, yarrow and paintbrush. Later, we took to the water in kayaks and Zodiacs to enjoy the beauty from a different perspective.
By the end of lunch we were headed into the heart of Tracy Arm, through the magnificent fjord that John Muir thought to be more beautiful than Glacier Bay. Waterfalls abound, coursing down the steep walled canyon. Icebergs, bergie bits and growlers floated by.
Late in the afternoon, we approached the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers where we put our Zodiacs into the water. Here, we had a closer look at the landscape and a front row seat in front of the Sawyer Glacier.
A wine tasting and evening recap brought us to another fine dinner to end our first full day of explorations of Southeast Alaska.
