Though we awoke to a gray and drizzly morning, excitement still buzzed through the air as our first morning aboard National Geographic Sea Bird began. As we made our way along the vertical granite walls down the 30 mile fjord of Endicott Arm, we noticed the icebergs getting more abundant. Shortly after breakfast we saw a blue hue at the end of the fjord—Dawes glacier! The wind had a strong bite near the face of the glacier but was worth the wait to hear the white thunder of the calving glacier. Harbor seals roamed the surrounding water and curiously poked their heads above the surface to view our boats. Even some harbor porpoises came out to play!
As guests thawed out during lunch, we made our way back out of the fjord and headed towards Ford’s Terror through narrow, twisting channels. Waterfalls were abundant and the low hanging clouds added to the majesty of this hidden valley.
While the expedition landing craft zipped around with guests admiring the abundant waterfalls, the dive team took a dip below the waves. The water was a chilly 42 degrees Fahrenheit and thick with glacier silt. Video footage of the vibrant sea stars, tunicates, urchins, and crabs was captured and prepared to present to the guests aboard the ship—a good way to explore the underwater world while staying dry! Overall, our damp day was a perfect Southeast Alaskan adventure.
