Dundas Bay | Glacier Bay National Park, 7/29/2019, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
In short, WOW!
Otters, wolves, birds, berries, beauty, bears and blubber! Dundas Bay is an expansive and incredibly rich fjord with several side fjords and a lush sprawling assortment of tidal meadows, mud flats and thick forest. This diversity and abundance of habitats makes Dundas a vital and significant component of this part of Southeast Alaska. We used every means at our disposal to explore this dynamic portion of Glacier Bay National Park – hikes set out from two different locations, kayaks took to the water for a guided paddle of the bay and Zodiacs made their way along the shore and across the bays.
Doug Gualtieri has worked as a Naturalist interpretive guide for over 20 years, beginning his career in Denali National Park and Preserve at a remote wilderness lodge leading hikes and giving lectures on the ecology and wildlife of that region. Later...
Dave grew up in a village in the heart of the rural Finger Lakes region of New York and at an early age fell in love with the outdoors. Dave’s mother, a high school earth science and biology teacher turned weekend hikes into informative lessons. The ...
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The first morning aboard National Geographic Quest introduced guests to the enchanting coastal temperate rainforest ecosystem. As they emerged from their cozy beds, a misty drizzle and low-hanging clouds greeted them, casting a serene and mystical ambiance over the treetops and calm waters. Our initial day of exploration led us to Baranof Island's Rodman Bay, an area rich in logging and fishing history. The undersea team plunged into the dark tranquil waters, capturing the incredible diversity of marine life for an evening show-and-tell session. Guests donned their boots and rain gear, ready to embrace their first off-ship adventure. Some guests chose a Zodiac cruise, hoping to encounter wildlife, and they were richly rewarded. Bald eagles dotted the trees, harbor seals peeked curiously from the water, and marbled murrelets, mergansers, Bonaparte’s gulls, and surf scoters made delightful appearances. Others opted for a shoreline walk, discovering brown bear prints before venturing into the extraordinarily lush rainforest. The day's exploration brought back many smiles as guests gathered for cocktail hour, sharing warmth and stories. The expedition team’s evening recap highlighted the day's wonders. Tomorrow promises even more adventure. What surprises will Glacier Bay unveil?
We started the day with Zodiac tours of South Sawyer Glacier, a tidewater glacier. The air was cool, and it rained throughout the day, but that made the waterfalls gush. The walls of the Tracy Arm were dark yet glistening, and blue icebergs recently calved from South Sawyer Glacier stood out. The sea water stood in contrast against the ice. The brown of the land flushing into the sea swirled with a rusty hue that turned out to be a zooplankton bloom. The misty afternoon was spent kayaking from the base of one of the waterfalls with icebergs in various forms carried by nearby currents. It all made for a fantastic backdrop with swallows swooping close to the output of the falls, arctic terns darting and calling above, harbor seals cautiously following along, and pigeon guillemots surfacing with a whole silvery fish in their bills. After such a fantastic day, we finished up by viewing numerous waterfalls cascading down the steep fjord walls and a look at Sawyer Glacier misted in fingerlike clouds. What a beautiful sight.
We spent our final day on National Geographic Quest in the stunning Ushk Bay. The quintessential Tongass National Forest rain amplified the lush green landscape. Shore excursions included bushwhacks, moderate hikes, and casual strolls, offering guests a variety of ways to explore. Everyone relished their hikes as we wrapped up our final onshore adventure together.