Waking up this morning a bit earlier than normal, anticipation grew as we enter Glacier Bay National Park. On our way in we picked up two guests at Bartlett Cove, one a Tlingit Cultural Interpreter and a Glacier Bay Park Ranger who were both planning on sharing with us their unique jobs and perspectives on Native Culture. As everyone was waking up with a cup of coffee, the bow became packed full with binoculars and cameras pointing at whales all around the National Geographic Sea Lion. We knew this was going to be an amazing day.
Our first destination today brought us to South Marble Island, a small bit of rock known for its density of birds. As we approached everyone was outside searching for any movement on the shoreline and in the water. Shortly, we saw a large group of tufted puffins swimming through the water and showing off their beautiful colors. Kittiwakes’ going crazy as a bald eagle was flying around the rocks. Steller sea lions playing with each other both on the rocks and in the water. As we continued the day became an amazement of wildlife. We spotted a total of three brown bears coaming the coast line for food, harbor seals, and sea otters. But this was just the beginning of the day and as we continued sailings through Glacier Bay mountain goats were seen enjoying the beautiful day’s sun on the cliffs and a couple hoary marmots. To top it all of a grey wolf was spotted by one of our guests. This is something even our Tlingit guest had never seen in this area.
Later in the day we had the pleasure of learning about the Tlingit culture and how they survived in these far reaches of the world. As this amazing presentation came to an end, we were just entering the Tarr Inlet. At the end of this inlet is a most spectacular view of the Marguerite Glacier. This glacier is one mile wide, 250 feet tall with another 100 feet below the water’s surface and is 21 miles long and moving at a rate of seven feet per day. As we all admired the size and beauty, we saw some amazing calving. With each calving the kittiwakes were feasting on fish being stunned by osmotic shock after the fallen ice chunks slam into the water. We then continued on to Lamplugh Glacier. This glacier has not been seen calving by any of our naturalists or guest speakers but today, the glacier cracked and moaned and then, an enormous and amazing calving happened right in front of the ship.
Truly, an amazing day aboard National Geographic Sea Lion!
