We spent the day in the cool embrace of the coastal temperate rain forest. We began our exploration in the misty forest of the lower bay and traveled back in time with the calving face of Sawyer Glacier, where there hasn’t been enough time for a forest to grow.
Jul 21
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National Geographic Sea Lion
This morning, I overheard a comment from a guest to her partner, who had just joined us on the bow. “I was worried about you, but not worried enough to come find you,” she said. Those of us around her had to laugh. We understood. No one wanted to walk away, fear of missing anything. A very active group of transient (Bigg’s) killer whales captured our attention, moving fast, splashing, hunting, spy-hopping. They had already been preceded by pre-breakfast sighting of humpback whales, and those awake earlier enough saw a salmon shark. Our afternoon comprised kayaking and introductions to the Southeast Alaska rainforest with hikes at Lake Eva. What a day! Another comment overheard on the bow today: “We are setting the bar too high on Day One.”
Jul 21
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National Geographic Sea Bird
This morning started out grey, but it’s the blue of the ice that we will forever remember. Bergs cast off by LeConte Glacier are transported through the fjord by ceaseless tides and steady breezes. This glacial ice, this metamorphic rock, this ice gemstone captivates our eyes, our minds, our souls. This is Alaska, someone says. The mountains and the ice. The blue and the white. The wild and the wonder.
Jul 21
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Today we awoke to mist gently rolling over the Kashavarof Islands, our destination for this morning. With the trees peeking through the mist, we were ready to explore by Zodiac and kayak. Whilst the tide was rising, we had enough of the intertidal zone visible, but the real treat was the wildlife with several mink, both river and sea otters, and an eagle with its fresh salmon catch. As we transited to our afternoon destination, we were entertained by Dall’s porpoises coming to investigate the ship and several humpback whales. Then it was off to Bushy Island where we broke into groups to bushwhack, wander in the forest, and explore the tide pools. Some brave folks then chose to jump of the Zodiacs into the cold water as part of the “polar plunge.”
