It was another bright and sunny day as we sailed into Endicott Arm, the southern branch of Holkham Bay. As we made our way through vertical granite walls down the 30 mile fjord, we noticed the small icebergs getting more abundant and the waters becoming milky with glacial silt. Shortly after breakfast we saw a blue hue at the end of the fjord: Dawes Tidewater Glacier. We left our raingear on the ship and headed out for expedition landing craft cruises among the ice and waterfalls. The air was still and calm and was only interrupted by the intermittent white thunder of the calving glacier.
The sun continued to shine through the afternoon, and so did our hunger for one last Southeast Alaskan adventure! We made our way back out of Endicott Arm and headed towards Ford’s Terror through narrow, twisting channels. Ford’s Terror is one of Alaska’s most remote fjords and was named in the 1800s when an exploration of the area delivered large standing waves and ripping currents during the changing tide. A fitting name, indeed! We, of course, timed our arrival perfectly and arrived at slack tide (with little water movement). Waterfalls were abundant and we were able to get close enough to feel the mist as we zipped about in the expedition landing craft. Towering granite walls and old fault lines now flowing with water made for an incredible view in every direction—a perfect place for the photographers in the group.
The day ended with the premiere of a photo slideshow of the trip. Wow, what a week! As we sailed north through Stephens Passage, guests spent the evening reminiscing about incredible animal encounters and wilderness experiences, and sharing laughs. With all of the new friendships and stories to share (and a new love of plankton!) many agreed that the fond memories of this trip would last a lifetime. The evening had a fairytale ending as we watched more than a dozen humpback whales feeding beneath the full moon.
