Williams Cove & Tracy Arm
Our final day in Southeast Alaska would be spent exploring the entire stretch of one of the region’s most impressive fjords, Tracy Arm. Shortly after 6 a.m. The National Geographic Sea Bird crossed the shallow bar at the mouth of Holkum Bay heading towards a small bite out of the bay called Williams Cove. The clouds hung low over the adjacent peaks and in typical Southeast fashion draped the rain forests in a blanket of light mist. At this point in our voyage we have become very familiar with the wonder and diversity found in the coastal temperate rain forests and this morning we will head once again under the lush canopy of Sitka spruce and Western hemlock to marvel at this unique ecosystem. Having the luxury of being able to set out on land as well as by kayak and Zodiac will make for a perfect way to begin our day here in Tracy Arm. As if the constant rain wasn’t enough to quench our guests several, mostly under-twenty, chose to take a plunge in the thirty-nine degree glacial waters of Williams Cove. Splash!
After navigating the twenty or so miles up the fjord heading towards the South Sawyer Glacier, the very same tentacle of ice responsible for carving out this incredible fjord. The rain that had greeted us this morning persisted throughout the day but only dampened our raingear not our spirits. Captain Coughlin and our crew were able to position our ship just one mile from the face this impressive glacial feature. We deployed our Zodiacs and set out to immerse ourselves in this landscape that ancient tons of ice has carved out thousands of years ago. Nested within the myriads of icebergs and flows were hundreds of harbor seals sheltering themselves and their pups at this crucial time in their lifecycle. The calm and serene scene was soon interrupted by a massive calving event from the center of the 250-foot face of the glacier. Pieces of ice dwarfing the size of the ship tumbled off into the water sending a displacement wave that travelled over a mile in just minutes. These huge deep-blue bergs sped across the fjord and served as a magnificent reminder to the timeless power of glacial ice. For all aboard the Zodiacs and the guests on the ship this site proved to be a spectacular finale to an incredible week.
