Haines, Southeast Alaska, 8/21/2023, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
Early morning finds National Geographic Sea Lion anchored off Haines, Alaska, our destination for the day. Today offers a potpourri of activities for guests, ranging from river rafting to fly-fishing on the Chilkat to an all-day hike to the top of Mount Riley and more. Haines is a small, vibrant community in the northern portion of the Alaskan Panhandle.
There is a hum of conversation during cocktail hour as guests share about the day’s experiences and slide into a relaxed demeanor, opening themselves to the expedition and allowing the region to make its impression.
An educator at heart, Dan finds great joy in helping others explore and connect with the world around them. He has taught marine sciences in the Florida Keys and on Catalina Island, science and math in international schools in Mexico, Costa Rica, and ...
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The day started with an exciting encounter. Before breakfast we observed a group of bubble-netting humpback whales. It was incredible to see them lunge and hear them breathing at the surface. This was coupled by a glorious pink sunrise. After breakfast we took Zodiac cruises searching for bears near Pavlof Harbor. Even though we did not find any (wildlife is always delightfully unexpected), the scenery was beautiful, and we watched many adorable harbor seals. After thinking the excitement of the day was done, we spotted a large group of whales from a distance. While approaching closer, we realized this group was also bubble-net feeding. Close to the shore, we observed these whales for hours. We even dropped the hydrophone to hear their haunting feeding call before they all lunged at the surface. It was one of the most incredible things any of us had ever witnessed. As if this wasn’t enough, at our sunset recap we got the call that there were killer whales around the ship. It was the most amazing ending to the most amazing day.
This morning, we awoke to a quintessential Southeast Alaska day in Icy Strait, with low clouds, a little mist, and amazing opportunities to see wildlife. Several sea otters floated by National Geographic Sea Lion as we made our way west, but the real magic began when we saw four humpback whales. Calm at first, they soon began an incredible display of activity, including breaching, pectoral slapping, and tail lobbing. Continuing, we dropped anchor at George Island to enjoy hiking and kayaking for the morning. It’s fall in the forest and the variety of mushrooms on display was remarkable. Before heading back to the ship for lunch, the brave among us took part in our polar plunge by running into the ocean from the beach. They came out looking refreshed and ready to be warmed by a chili lunch! After a short repositioning, we anchored at the Inian Islands to spend our afternoon Zodiac cruising this special place. Never one to disappoint, the Inians brought us sea otters, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, scores of rhinoceros auklets, and even some humpback whales. We came back feeling enchanted by this landscape and the animals that make it home.
After exploring the remote corners of Chichagof Island yesterday, it was time for a day of adventure in one of our favorite Alaskan small towns. Haines straddles a unique peninsula that juts out into the Lynn Canal. Framed by exquisite mountain ranges and dynamic tidal flats, it hosts a spectacular abundance of bald eagles which frequent the Chilkat River. The choices for guest excursions in Haines are many and diverse: rafting and visiting a tribal village, fly fishing, hiking the highest peak on the peninsula, a guided bike tour, or unstructured time to explore town with its many museums and unique shops. There are no poor choices when it comes to deciding what to do for the day. Brown bears, Dolly Varden, sockeye salmon, harbor seals, bald eagles, banana slugs the size of real bananas, and plenty of other endemic flora and fauna were sighted by guests throughout the day. And of course, what better way to celebrate a successful day in Haines than with a glorious endless crab feast back on board National Geographic Sea Lion ? We rounded out the evening with a contagiously inquisitive presentation by our resident master falconer and naturalist, Alberto Montaudon. Can’t wait until tomorrow!
