Glacier Bay National Park & Johns Hopkins Glacier , 7/27/2021, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
Today our guests aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion awoke about halfway up the bay here in Glacier Bay National Park. We had ideal weather today as we cruised up to Johns Hopkins Glacier and then down the east side of the park. Bears, ice, goats, and orcas kept everyone enthralled throughout the day, only to finish the evening with a nice bonfire at Tidelines Institute in the Inian Islands.
Nathan Kelley developed his love for nature as a kid at his family’s cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Family fishing trips, camping, hiking and a trip to his first National Park in the Everglades, all vigorously shaped his passion for the natural world. ...
Bradford McArthur has been shooting film and photos since the 1990's (pre-digital dinosaur!) Committed to filming isolated regions and untold stories through a message of conservation, McArthur founded Forever Exploring Productions in 2009. As a form...
The beautiful town of Haines was our destination for today’s many optional activities, or for independent exploration of the town itself. Those of us who went rafting down the Chilkat River first experienced the native culture at the village of Klukwan, where we learned about the Tlingit people and their customs. As we traveled down the Chilkat River afterward, we learned about the different ecosystem of this part of Southeast Alaska. As we floated we saw several bald eagles and some Arctic terns, and enjoyed the feeling of remoteness.
This morning the National Geographic Sea Lion navigated into Endicott Arm Fjord which extends over 30 miles to Dawes Glacier. The best way to explore this wonderful wilderness area was via our Zodiacs. As we moved closer to the face of Dawes Glacier, we witnessed how glaciers have carved the landscape. In addition, we spotted harbor seals, various gulls, mountain goats, and amazing icebergs and glacier calving. We were then welcomed back on board with hot cocoa and enjoyed two presentations by our naturalists: one on local geology and another on smartphone photography. While cruising out of Endicott Arm this afternoon, we spent time at the ship’s bow searching for wildlife and were rewarded with viewings of humpback whales, bears, and bald eagles. Finally in the evening, we gathered for a National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions tradition: a daily recap of the day’s highlights presented by our naturalists. Finally, we enjoyed a great dinner, sharing stories about our day’s adventures.
Guests greeted the day from the bow of National Geographic Sea Lion , photographing the dramatic mist adorning the steep fjord walls of Endicott Arm. We set out in kayaks from the ship to explore the waterfalls of Dawes Cove. After a warm lunch on board, we headed out and about again, this time via Zodiacs. We cruised among icebergs to view the spectacular Dawes Glacier. Our final night on board included a viewing of the guest slideshow, making us smile, laugh, and reflect on all we’ve experienced together this week!
