Glacier Bay is a remarkable place, full of natural wonders that are almost beyond belief. Tidewater glaciers, teeming wildlife, and grandiose landforms all interact to create a place like nowhere else. Our experience of the bay began this morning with an up-close look at the Johns Hopkins Glacier. We watched and cheered as a huge piece of ice calved off the face of the glacier. Dozens of harbor seals were hauled out on floating icebergs around us. They watched us with curiosity, perhaps wondering what all the fuss was about.
The National Geographic Sea Lion carried us toward the mouth of Glacier Bay, stopping to explore many inlets and islands along the way. Our explorations were rewarded: we got excellent looks at ten brown bears and four wolves! Among the bears were two separate family groups, each with a sow and her mostly-grown cubs. We watched them forage along the shore at low tide, flipping large boulders to eat the invertebrates and fish beneath the rocks. When we visited South Marble Island we saw a huge number of Steller sea lions hauled out on the rocks. Swimming in the water and perched on the island’s rocks were puffins, kittiwakes, murres, and cormorants. The final wildlife highlight on this day full of wildlife highlights was a group of orca whales swimming around the National Geographic Sea Lion. We were delighted every time the big bull or the smaller female and juveniles broke the surface.
After dinner, we went ashore at Bartlett Cove, near the mouth of Glacier Bay. Naturalists led walks through the beautiful forest around the Glacier Bay National Park Lodge, while others went into the lodge to enjoy a drink by the fire. A peaceful ending to a spectacular day of natural splendor in this special place.
