What an amazing first full day of the trip! We woke up in Misty Fjords National Monument. After a wonderful breakfast that included pancakes, we went on a Zodiac tour of Owl Pass. We had the pleasure of admiring the tall walls carved by a glacier thousands of years ago. We saw western red cedar trees interspersed by red alders. As for animals, we saw a bald eagle, harbor seals, American minks, marbled murrelets, and a smattering of gulls. The cascading water was a true highlight. Next, we went for a calm kayak trip. After lunch, we cruised for wildlife on our way to Wrangell and found an energetic whale that was into tail-slapping. How exciting! I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.
7/21/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Tracy Arm and Williams Cove
Today, National Geographic Sea Bird visited the South Sawyer Glacier. The fjord leading up to the glacier is lined with high and rugged snowcapped mountain peaks, gorgeous waterfalls, and stunning wildlife. In 1879, naturalist John Muir visited the Tracy Arm Fjord. He described the area as, “shut in by sublime Yosemite cliffs, nobly sculptured, and adorned with waterfalls and fringes of trees, bushes and patches of flowers.” This quote captures the same essence and beauty of the Tracy Arm Fjord that we experienced today. But John Muir was never visited by pirates delivering hot chocolate via Zodiac! Dressed in pirate regalia, National Geographic Sea Bird’s fantastic hospitality team delivered hot chocolate topped with whipped cream to guests on Zodiacs as they toured the glacier. After this, we dropped anchor in Williams Cove at the west end of the fjord for a fabulous bushwhack along brown bear trails. Ah, the spirit of exploration!