It was a cloudless day over the protected marine waters and snowy land of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This was unusual weather for Southeast Alaska, but it was enjoyable. Our first stop was South Marble Island where we saw Steller’s sea lions, tufted puffins, common murres, and floating sea otters. Farther up the eastern side, we slipped into the still, reflective waters of Tidal Inlet. Looking down on us were no less than a dozen mountain goats, scattered and perched on the cliffs. Gloomy Knob gave us more views of sea lions and goats as we cruised up to Margerie Glacier. This is one of the last tidewater glaciers, or a river of ice that flows and calves into the sea. The floating ice is critical for harbor seals who use it for protection from predators. We ended the day with a hike at Bartlett Cove, park headquarters.
5/15/2024
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Inian Islands, AK
The drizzling rain of the early morning cleared off for the start of our Zodiac tours through the dazzling Inian Islands. The Islands are incredibly special due to their geographic location. As the northernmost opening to the Inside Passage, tons of billions of gallons of water funnel in from the Pacific Ocean and cause an oceanic phenomenon called upwelling, where cold, nutrient dense water rises to the surface. Marine animals flock to these waters for the availability of food and resources. We were able to view sea otters, sea lions, and many bird species. The Zodiac tours had some of the most amazing views of the coastal waters, spruce covered islands, and wildlife. We ended the morning with a visit to the Tidelines Institute, a non-profit educational institute founded by Lindblad Naturalist and PhD in climate science, Zach Brown. The afternoon was filled with presentations, briefings, and our guest slideshow to end the evening during our transit up to Sitka. It was a fantastic ending to a great trip.