Endicott Arm & William’s Cove
As a perfect introduction to our expedition through Southeast Alaska, we explored Endicott Arm. Early this morning, icebergs and bergy bits could be seen around the National Geographic Sea Bird as we sailed through the majestic fjord. This area offers text book examples of geology and ecological succession. Exploring by Zodiac to take a closer look at the wildlife and the geological formations was our next activity. We could witness Dawes Glacier calving, followed by a thunder magnified by the vast walls of the fjord. Here, harbor seals find a suitable environment to feed and to be protected from predators by the floating ice.
Williams Cove was our afternoon destination. Situated on the mainland, this place offers a perfect introduction to the temperate rain forest. We hiked through bear trails coasting the shoreline and discovered interesting tracks and wonderful species of plants. Some of our favorites were the early blueberries and the salmonberries. As we learned about forest ecology, we also had the chance to snack on a good amount of these berries, which are at their prime this time of the year.
On the same location, we kayaked for the first time. Icebergs could be seen in the distance and the most adventurous paddled to the opposite shoreline to admire a fantastic waterfall. Some of us could see an occasional harbor seal surfacing briefly, before it disappeared back in to the depths.
After dinner as we left Endicott Arm to enter Stephens Passage. We could spend some time watching humpback whales surrounded by forests, icebergs and snow-capped mountains.
As a perfect introduction to our expedition through Southeast Alaska, we explored Endicott Arm. Early this morning, icebergs and bergy bits could be seen around the National Geographic Sea Bird as we sailed through the majestic fjord. This area offers text book examples of geology and ecological succession. Exploring by Zodiac to take a closer look at the wildlife and the geological formations was our next activity. We could witness Dawes Glacier calving, followed by a thunder magnified by the vast walls of the fjord. Here, harbor seals find a suitable environment to feed and to be protected from predators by the floating ice.
Williams Cove was our afternoon destination. Situated on the mainland, this place offers a perfect introduction to the temperate rain forest. We hiked through bear trails coasting the shoreline and discovered interesting tracks and wonderful species of plants. Some of our favorites were the early blueberries and the salmonberries. As we learned about forest ecology, we also had the chance to snack on a good amount of these berries, which are at their prime this time of the year.
On the same location, we kayaked for the first time. Icebergs could be seen in the distance and the most adventurous paddled to the opposite shoreline to admire a fantastic waterfall. Some of us could see an occasional harbor seal surfacing briefly, before it disappeared back in to the depths.
After dinner as we left Endicott Arm to enter Stephens Passage. We could spend some time watching humpback whales surrounded by forests, icebergs and snow-capped mountains.
