The day started with the National Geographic Venture docking in Petersburg, Alaska. Everyone disembarked the ship for different adventures for the day. Some explored the shoreline by bike while others hiked through a local muskeg. As the ship repositioned, we all enjoyed a delicious lunch. After lunch, we launched Zodiacs and cruised among icebergs calved off Le Conte Glacier. The bright blue of the ice was as stunning as the shapes formed by the melting ice.
5/23/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness and Sawyer Glacier
Early in the morning, National Geographic Quest entered Tracy Arm and sailed up toward the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers. There was a little ‘liquid sunshine,’ aka rain, and fluffy wafting clouds, which is typical Southeast Alaska weather. The fjord has tall, sheer cliff faces and lots of waterfalls that we observed today. We all hopped into our Zodiacs, and the naturalists provided interpretation in front of the Sawyer Glacier. The harbor seals seemed quite curious about our presence. We observed a few minor calving events and lots of bergy bits floating around in the inlet. After the Zodiac tours, there were briefings in the lounge until we spotted a black bear. The ship maneuvered expertly, and we watched the bear eating from the intertidal zone for quite some time. Continuing down the fjord, we saw a variety of birdlife near Holkham Bay and Stephens Passage. We finished our evening by passing by the Five Finger Lighthouse as the sun was setting.
