Williams Cove/Tracy Arm
Arriving in Southeast Alaska, one’s senses are immediately heightened. Coming from the heat of summer in the “lower forty-eight”, feeling the brisk air on the face is delightful. The smell of fish and the salty sea hit the nostrils. The sight of snowfields clinging to the sides of steep, green forested mountains provides a dramatic backdrop for this capital city, Juneau. Relaxation naturally set in as our minds and bodies let go and opened to this stunning place.
Last night the National Geographic Sea Lion sailed south through Stephens Passage. We awoke to find ourselves in Holkum Bay. After breakfast and morning briefings on kayaking and hiking in bear country, some took Zodiacs to the shore of scenic Williams Cove. Here they were introduced to the Tongass National Forest and learned about the flora as they followed a bear trail uphill to a bog. Some chose to explore this beautiful cove by kayak and others by Zodiac. Icebergs of varying shades of blue dotted the cove, and perfectly calm conditions made for perfect photo opportunities.
In the afternoon the spectacular scenery of Tracy Arm Fjord brought us out to the bow of the ship to gaze at the gigantic granitic walls and numerous waterfalls cascading over them. After putting on all our layers of clothing, we got into Zodiacs and wove our way through growlers, bergy bits and icebergs to the base of South Sawyer Glacier. As we patiently waited for chunks of ice to calve, harbor seals poked their heads above the water while others lounged on floating ice. Suddenly all eyes turned toward the thunderous sound of cracking ice as a huge chunk of the glacier tumbled into the sea. More calving continued and finally we made our way back to the warmth of the ship and a delectable wine tasting. After dinner, Justin our undersea specialist showed footage of a dive he did earlier in the day. What a spectacular first day!
