What an action-packed day we had in the fishing community of Petersburg, Alaska! National Geographic Quest docked in the morning, and our adventures soon began. We offered multiple options of various hikes in the temperate rainforest and to a bog (muskeg), Zodiac cruises to observe fishing vessels in the harbor, flightseeing over the Stikine Icefield, and a bicycle tour through the backstreets of Petersburg. In addition, there was time to stroll into town to observe Alaskan life. After we all boarded our vessel in the late afternoon, we cruised north out of Wrangell Narrows and had evening recap, including the introduction of the officers and hotel staff by the Captain. After a traditional fresh crab dinner, the sun slowly set, highlighting the clouds in the west and peaks to the east. In true Alaskan fashion, humpback whales and a large group of bald eagles were sighted. All in all, it was a perfect ending to a magical day.
7/28/2024
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National Geographic Venture
South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska
As the sun rose, we crossed the bar into Tracy Arm in Fords Terror Wilderness Area. The steep walls and endless waterfalls made for a dramatic scene as we motored toward our destination. We split into two groups, loaded into Zodiacs, and made off for South Sawyer Glacier. We passed by icebergs of all shapes and sizes, and were spied on by curious harbor seals. The face of the glacier was dynamic and thunderous. We were all astounded by powerful calving events, which sent waves our way and put smiles on our faces. And of course, a surprise visit from the cocoa boat was the cherry on top of an awesome visit to South Sawyer Glacier. In the afternoon, we loaded into kayaks and paddled throughout the fjord. We watched pigeon guillemots, marbled murrelets, and harbor seals swim through the milky glacier meltwater. We floated by rushing waterfall after rushing waterfall. The sun poked its head out and we were surprised by the warmth we felt as we paddled next to icebergs. It was an amazing first day of exploring on our journey, and we are all excited about what the rest of the week has in store.