Tracy Arm, Southeast Alaska
As any journey draws to a close one cannot help but measure the miles and the moments that have defined the experiences. Our voyage began in Vancouver, British Columbia ten days ago. The Sea Lion has been our comfortable home as we followed the inside passage, cruising more than 1600 miles along the Canadian and Alaskan shores. We’ve passed from the dry San Juan Islands of Washington state to the temperate old growth forests of Southeast Alaska where rainfall is measured in feet per year. Our wildlife sightings have been truly extraordinary. On five different occasions we’ve had great encounters with killer whales, affording us close looks and excellent photographic opportunities. Both black bears and brown bears occur along this coast and we have enjoyed sightings of each. Any day when one sees five bears along the shore or in grassy meadows is a fine day, indeed. For those of us who were eager to photograph bald eagles, there have been moments when it was hard to decide where to point the camera with so many from which to choose. From the quiet and solitary perspective of a kayak we’ve watched curious harbor seals close by, torn between their curiosity and their timidity. In the waters of Idaho Inlet sea otters entertained us with their antics for an hour before breakfast one morning. We marveled at great flocks of kittiwakes and terns making their living from the disturbed waters near the face of glaciers. Southeast Alaska is rich in marine life and humpback whales have recently arrived to gorge themselves during the long days of summer. We were treated to hours of whale watching that included lunge feeding and breaching. Groups of four and five were in harmony as they surfaced simultaneously or fluked and dove in sequence.
Today our visit to Tracy Arm was highlighted and defined by continuous and exciting calving of the South Sawyer glacier. We launched our Zodiacs for a new perspective of this active river of ice. We were thrilled and awed by the events of “white thunder” while drifting in the otherwise silent arena of the fiord.
The days have been full, experiences rich, and the memories many. We’ve made new friends while being treated to the splendor and wildness of this special part of the world. When traveling to untouched places we’re reminded to preserve them for those who visit after us and we look forward to sharing another remote destination with such fine shipmates.
As any journey draws to a close one cannot help but measure the miles and the moments that have defined the experiences. Our voyage began in Vancouver, British Columbia ten days ago. The Sea Lion has been our comfortable home as we followed the inside passage, cruising more than 1600 miles along the Canadian and Alaskan shores. We’ve passed from the dry San Juan Islands of Washington state to the temperate old growth forests of Southeast Alaska where rainfall is measured in feet per year. Our wildlife sightings have been truly extraordinary. On five different occasions we’ve had great encounters with killer whales, affording us close looks and excellent photographic opportunities. Both black bears and brown bears occur along this coast and we have enjoyed sightings of each. Any day when one sees five bears along the shore or in grassy meadows is a fine day, indeed. For those of us who were eager to photograph bald eagles, there have been moments when it was hard to decide where to point the camera with so many from which to choose. From the quiet and solitary perspective of a kayak we’ve watched curious harbor seals close by, torn between their curiosity and their timidity. In the waters of Idaho Inlet sea otters entertained us with their antics for an hour before breakfast one morning. We marveled at great flocks of kittiwakes and terns making their living from the disturbed waters near the face of glaciers. Southeast Alaska is rich in marine life and humpback whales have recently arrived to gorge themselves during the long days of summer. We were treated to hours of whale watching that included lunge feeding and breaching. Groups of four and five were in harmony as they surfaced simultaneously or fluked and dove in sequence.
Today our visit to Tracy Arm was highlighted and defined by continuous and exciting calving of the South Sawyer glacier. We launched our Zodiacs for a new perspective of this active river of ice. We were thrilled and awed by the events of “white thunder” while drifting in the otherwise silent arena of the fiord.
The days have been full, experiences rich, and the memories many. We’ve made new friends while being treated to the splendor and wildness of this special part of the world. When traveling to untouched places we’re reminded to preserve them for those who visit after us and we look forward to sharing another remote destination with such fine shipmates.
