Misty Fjords, 8/3/2021, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
The tone of morning fell hushed and graceful upon those on deck as we cruised into Misty Fjords National Monument & Wilderness. Following breakfast, we donned our rain gear and stepped aboard Zodiacs for a scenic exploration.
In the afternoon the mist descended further, but provided peeks of waterfalls and tall, glacially sculpted mountains. Many of us opted to explore via kayak, and others, via Zodiac. Our evening concluded with Captain’s Dinner and a bittersweet farewell of shared photos and films.
The informal education of a childhood among frogs, hardwood forests, and intensely
snowy winters of northeast Ohio established Chelsea’s passion for the natural world.
Indulging her curiosity about the world through formal education, she added a
geol...
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Today we saw the incredible power of glaciers as we ventured into a wilderness carved by them. In the morning, we paddled kayaks in Fords Terror and ventured close to very tall waterfalls in our small watercraft. In the afternoon we explored the end of Endicott Arm by Zodiac. We were rewarded with close views of Dawes Glacier, white and blue icebergs, harbor seals, and even a couple of harbor porpoises.
This morning the early risers awoke to calm seas and abundant sunshine in Tebenkof Bay as we explored the many small bays and multiple islands. Numerous sea otters were spotted amongst the kelp along with a few humpback whales as we made our way out of Tebenkof and headed west across Chatham Strait. After breakfast, we set out to explore by way of Zodiac in Paterson Bay. With the jagged backdrop of Baranof Island, many unique and surprising encounters of wildlife were made. There were smacks of tens of thousands of moon jellies, a mink swimming, and Dall’s porpoises. This morning was truly memorable. Back on board for a tasty chili lunch, we crossed over to Bay of Pillars where shore hikes on Kuiu gave us more insight into the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest in the world. On a warm and sunny day, it was nice to step into the shade of the deep green forest. Following bear trails and slowly weaving our way through hemlock and spruce forests, with the occasional devil’s club, made for an adventurous afternoon. Once again, we were left with an impression of the vast wilderness and sense of wonder around the corner of each bay, cove, and inlet as we explored Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Sea Bird .
We awoke to find ourselves traversing Tracy Arm, nestled at the heart of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. A distinct chill hung low in the crisp air; coupled with increasing iceberg sightings, this signaled our approach to South Sawyer Glacier. As the crew hove to and dropped the Zodiacs, we bundled ourselves up and savored the glimmers of sunshine peeking through the wispy clouds overhead. We were shocked at how close to the glacier our nimble National Geographic Sea Lion was able to maneuver, leaving only a short stretch of largely ice-filled waters between us and its brilliant blue face. An impressive plankton bloom left dark red streaks throughout the icy fjord waters; it contrasted brilliantly with the icy glacial meltwater as we surveyed harbor seals foraging for food and resting with their young pups. South Sawyer itself put on quite the show! Multiple significant calving events occurred, preceded by deafening cracks that echoed throughout the fjord. Upon our return to National Geographic Sea Lion , our Global Explorers prepared for their Zodiac driving lessons with the naturalists. And finally, what better way to end an incredible week than a polar plunge into a glacial fjord, with waterfalls cascading all around and curious harbor seals watching.