Tracy Arm
Our wake-up call this morning came at 7am sharp, but nearly everyone onboard was already out on deck. Excitement and anticipation of a phenomenal first day in Southeast Alaska woke everyone early today, and with good cause. Tracy Arm is one of the most beautiful and dramatic fjords in North America, and we spent our entire day there. Maneuvering the Sea Bird through the brash ice near the glaciers took a little time, but the view of the glacier’s intense blue face was well worth the effort. We spent time at both Sawyer and South Sawyer glaciers, experiencing several dramatic calving events over the course of the morning. We’ll take home memories of watching immense chunks of ice crash into the water, listening to the thunderous sound reverberating off the canyon walls and feeling the waves that rocked our boat several minutes later. Not to mention the glacial chill in the air that sent everyone back for more clothes.
Later in the morning, we made close approaches to two different cascades. Since the fjord walls are as steep under water as above, we were able to nose the bow of the Sea Bird in close enough to feel the waterfall’s mist on our faces. Just as we were leaving Hole-in-the-Wall falls, a black bear was spotted far ahead. We made a slow, quiet approach so we could watch this lanky animal forage in the intertidal zone. Crushing barnacles with its paws and lapping up the crustacean soup is a common behavior for bears in Southeast Alaska, although a surprise for many wildlife watchers.
After lunch, we went ashore for hikes in the temperate rainforest and kayaking in a large, calm cove. Although the afternoon’s weather alternated between misty rain and bright sunshine, we enjoyed the chance to closely explore this unique biome. Following bear trails through the woods, we found towering spruce and hemlock trees, patches of prickly devil’s club and spongy moss underfoot. Out on the beach we found clumps of red Indian paintbrush and white yarrow still blooming, as well as thousands of barnacles and blue mussels encrusting the rocks. Paddlers nosed in to small waterfalls and caught glimpses of curious seals eyeing them from afar. We returned to the Sea Bird for the evening wearing muddy boots and big smiles, and agreed we’d had a lovely first day in Southeast Alaska.
Our wake-up call this morning came at 7am sharp, but nearly everyone onboard was already out on deck. Excitement and anticipation of a phenomenal first day in Southeast Alaska woke everyone early today, and with good cause. Tracy Arm is one of the most beautiful and dramatic fjords in North America, and we spent our entire day there. Maneuvering the Sea Bird through the brash ice near the glaciers took a little time, but the view of the glacier’s intense blue face was well worth the effort. We spent time at both Sawyer and South Sawyer glaciers, experiencing several dramatic calving events over the course of the morning. We’ll take home memories of watching immense chunks of ice crash into the water, listening to the thunderous sound reverberating off the canyon walls and feeling the waves that rocked our boat several minutes later. Not to mention the glacial chill in the air that sent everyone back for more clothes.
Later in the morning, we made close approaches to two different cascades. Since the fjord walls are as steep under water as above, we were able to nose the bow of the Sea Bird in close enough to feel the waterfall’s mist on our faces. Just as we were leaving Hole-in-the-Wall falls, a black bear was spotted far ahead. We made a slow, quiet approach so we could watch this lanky animal forage in the intertidal zone. Crushing barnacles with its paws and lapping up the crustacean soup is a common behavior for bears in Southeast Alaska, although a surprise for many wildlife watchers.
After lunch, we went ashore for hikes in the temperate rainforest and kayaking in a large, calm cove. Although the afternoon’s weather alternated between misty rain and bright sunshine, we enjoyed the chance to closely explore this unique biome. Following bear trails through the woods, we found towering spruce and hemlock trees, patches of prickly devil’s club and spongy moss underfoot. Out on the beach we found clumps of red Indian paintbrush and white yarrow still blooming, as well as thousands of barnacles and blue mussels encrusting the rocks. Paddlers nosed in to small waterfalls and caught glimpses of curious seals eyeing them from afar. We returned to the Sea Bird for the evening wearing muddy boots and big smiles, and agreed we’d had a lovely first day in Southeast Alaska.
