From Clarence Strait, Grindall Island & Hump Island, 8/26/2021, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
The Alaska weather today is briny and misty with a low-lying fog creeping across from Clarence Strait as the National Geographic Sea Lion dropped anchor off Grindall Island. Several bald eagles are surveying the local waters for a breakfast of salmon.
After our own tasty breakfast on the ship, the Zodiacs depart for our morning expeditions with half the guests shuttled to shore for an adventurous muskeg hike on Grindall Island, while the other half set off on Zodiacs to survey a colony of frolicking Steller sea lions.
All souls return to the ship before the lunch hour. The crew hauls anchor and the ship steams east for Hump Island and a tour of the Hump Island Oyster Farm, where we enjoy a tour of the family-run facility and taste the sweet, cultivated oysters.
Adam began sailing as a boy off of Port Townsend WA. He acquired his Master Mariners license at age 18 and began working as a yacht captain aboard Puget Sound charter yachts. After attending the University of Washington, Adam embarked on a single-han...
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. ...
Growing up in a military family, Mark Coger has been traveling most of his life. While living in Japan, he developed his passion for videography. He began his venture in the field of video production by filming numerous events for a local high scho...
The Fairweather Range might have the most misleading name of any peaks in the world. The summits, which rise 15,000+ feet in some cases, lie between the open Pacific Ocean and Alaska’s Inside Passage. This positioning means they are often shrouded in clouds, exposed to high winds, and pummeled by precipitation. Today, for National Geographic Sea Bird , this was not the case. Mt. Fairweather and the surrounding peaks were in full view on an uncharacteristically bluebird day as we explored the coastlines of the Inian Islands and George Island. We anchored first at the Hobbit Hole, a protected area near the Inian Islands. The small rocky islets here lie at the base of the Fairweathers and are home to a huge diversity of marine life: Steller sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, cormorants, porpoises, and whales. We took to our Zodiacs for early morning cruises to get up close and personal with these animals that feed on the abundant waters. Afterwards, the Global Explorers tried their hands at driving the Zodiacs in lessons with the field staff, and they helped to collect plankton samples from the waters around the islands. In the afternoon, we repositioned to George Island where we found opportunities for hiking and kayaking. On land, the naturalist team shared some of the exciting flora that thrive in the temperate rainforest. The kayakers paddled through kelp forests and alongside massive rock arches that result when you place a rocky island in the way of wave action from the Northern Pacific. All the while, the peaks of the Fairweathers served as a backdrop, underscoring how wild this place truly is.
We entered Endicott Arm this morning shortly before breakfast. It was a calm and clear morning, so calm that the blows of three humpback whales swimming near shore were fairly easy to spot. We followed from a distance, and soon one of the whales turned and we were able not only to get a great view, but to hear the powerful exhalations as well. Our mammal sightings continued with a plentitude of harbor seals hauled out on the ice that choked the approach to Endicott Arm. As we waited for our cruise up to the glacier, we spotted a mountain goat casually walking around the shrubby alders high above. The cruise up to the glacier was filled with seals, glacial ice, hot chocolate, and enough sunshine to give us rosy cheeks from a Southeast Alaskan sunburn. Some of our Global Explorers were inspired to write of their sightings of the day. We share that with you now. Glacier Calving Grand wall of spiked ice Glacial blue and white throughout Huge spires crash below Jason Riedl Whales Whales are beautiful Misty spouts, strong tails, big hearts. Diving deep for food By Emi Holey
