During our first night on board National Geographic Sea Lion we cruised south from Juneau and entered Endicott Arm, a glacially-carved fjord cut into the mainland of southeast Alaska. The clear blue color of many of the icebergs made them look like precious gemstones, and some even appeared to have been sculpted at the hand of an expert ice-carver.
When we reached the upper part of the fjord, we launched Zodiacs; they allowed us to access the fjord’s upper reaches and the face of Dawes Glacier, where we approached to within three-quarters of a mile of its 250-foot-high face. We also marveled at the classic signs of glaciation: glacial striations, bowl-shaped cirques, U-shaped valleys, rounded domes, and hanging valleys complete with waterfalls. Meanwhile, harbor seals on ice floes and in the water curiously watched our every move.
In the evening, after cocktail hour, recap, and dinner, we continued cruising north past Juneau and up Lynn Canal toward Haines. During the dimming light, we all reflected on the wonderful experiences we shared together during the first full day of our journey in Southeast Alaska.
