After a very long year, many months of planning, and hours of travel, we finally arrived to our home for the next week-the National Geographic Venture! We had our very first taste of Southeast Alaska today as we explored Saook Bay. The sky was moody, the air brisk, and we quickly felt dwarfed by this vast wilderness area.
Shaylyn’s deep-rooted connection with the outdoors began early in life amid the beauty of small-town Oregon. From her childhood spent camping under the stars to the countless hours collecting insects and exploring streams, her formative years ignited...
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.
Our last day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird was one for the books. The morning started at Ushk Bay with kayaking and hiking along a meadow. Sea stars, sea cucumbers, and even an octopus were seen while kayaking. Meanwhile, the hikers made their way to a beaver’s dam and frolicked in flowers known as shooting stars. In the afternoon, we were headed for Emmons Island, but a couple of humpback whales stole the show, and we stopped to watch them feed. Eventually, we got to our destination for an afternoon of Zodiac cruising and a bushwhack. A mother bear and three cubs were seen by guests in a few lucky Zodiacs. As the evening came to a close, Southeast Alaska was clearly not done showing off its beauty. To end the night, Dall’s porpoises were seen “rooster-tailing” next to the ship. Peering over the bow, we observed a dozen porpoises seemingly playing among the waves as the ship made its way to Sitka.
