Endicott Arm & Williams Cove, Alaska
The Sea Lion navigated through icy waters this morning to guide us deep into Endicott Arm. Waterfalls flanked either side of the ship as we loaded the Zodiacs for an up close look at Dawes Glacier. The sheer height of the glacier, 250 feet, became apparent as we made our approach. Like cymbals in a delicate symphony, huge pieces of ice calved off the face of the glacier with explosive echoes and dramatic splashes. As the wake rolled passed us, we were once again left with the quiet crackling of floating ice slowly melting. Harbor seals swam nearby and hauled out onto the ice along with arctic terns.
The productive waters of southeast Alaska are a feeding ground for a large number of species. This afternoon as we made our way out of Endicott Arm, we encountered many examples. We snuck up on a black bear wandering along the coastline. Soon after, we came upon a small group of humpback whales. The number of humpbacks in the Pacific Ocean has reached more than 10,000. Though they are still endangered, their numbers are steadily rebounding. Most of these whales spend their winters in the waters of Hawaii and then make the long trip north to devour the buffet of fish and krill in these nutrient rich waters. Bald eagles, marbled murrelets and numerous species of gulls all glided along the waterline and rested on the icebergs.
All of the areas we explored today are part of the 16.8 million acres of Tongass National Forest. These lands are all designated ‘wilderness’, which means that it receives the highest level of protection available to an area of land. Nature is left to do what it will here, with no disturbance or manipulation by humans. We were lucky enough to have Wilderness Ranger, Kevin Hood, of the Tongass National Forest onboard to share information about the many efforts made to keep this a pristine, intact wilderness area.
Late in the afternoon bald eagles and rainbows came and went around the ship while kayakers plotted a course in Williams Cove. Hikers were treated to fields of angelic flowers freshly chomped on by bears, along with many of the tracks the bears left behind. The indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) was in bloom and glory, making for a colorful afternoon. It was a gorgeous and rewarding first day of the voyage.
The Sea Lion navigated through icy waters this morning to guide us deep into Endicott Arm. Waterfalls flanked either side of the ship as we loaded the Zodiacs for an up close look at Dawes Glacier. The sheer height of the glacier, 250 feet, became apparent as we made our approach. Like cymbals in a delicate symphony, huge pieces of ice calved off the face of the glacier with explosive echoes and dramatic splashes. As the wake rolled passed us, we were once again left with the quiet crackling of floating ice slowly melting. Harbor seals swam nearby and hauled out onto the ice along with arctic terns.
The productive waters of southeast Alaska are a feeding ground for a large number of species. This afternoon as we made our way out of Endicott Arm, we encountered many examples. We snuck up on a black bear wandering along the coastline. Soon after, we came upon a small group of humpback whales. The number of humpbacks in the Pacific Ocean has reached more than 10,000. Though they are still endangered, their numbers are steadily rebounding. Most of these whales spend their winters in the waters of Hawaii and then make the long trip north to devour the buffet of fish and krill in these nutrient rich waters. Bald eagles, marbled murrelets and numerous species of gulls all glided along the waterline and rested on the icebergs.
All of the areas we explored today are part of the 16.8 million acres of Tongass National Forest. These lands are all designated ‘wilderness’, which means that it receives the highest level of protection available to an area of land. Nature is left to do what it will here, with no disturbance or manipulation by humans. We were lucky enough to have Wilderness Ranger, Kevin Hood, of the Tongass National Forest onboard to share information about the many efforts made to keep this a pristine, intact wilderness area.
Late in the afternoon bald eagles and rainbows came and went around the ship while kayakers plotted a course in Williams Cove. Hikers were treated to fields of angelic flowers freshly chomped on by bears, along with many of the tracks the bears left behind. The indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) was in bloom and glory, making for a colorful afternoon. It was a gorgeous and rewarding first day of the voyage.
