Saook Bay and Peril Strait, 6/15/2024, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
We had an incredible day in the Southeast Alaska sun. We woke up in Saook Bay where we saw a brown bear grazing in the meadow; our hikers observed it poking its head out of the tall grass. As we started cruising into Peril Strait we were greeted by a huge pod of killer whales, who escorted us for over an hour. We ended the night reminiscing over our amazing week together, packed full of sunshine and wildlife.
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biolo...
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Blue ice broke free and shot above the surface while the face of the glacier let go of another chunk of ice, sending it thundering down the face with a big splash into the sea below. The arctic terns and black-legged kittiwakes responded, excitedly flying towards the disruption in the water hoping for fish. The harbor seal mothers with their pups barely lifted their heads from their icy floating platforms as they bobbed along in the tidal currents. When the ice was quieter, the cries of 1-month-old harbor seal pups could be heard as they called out for their mothers. This was what we watched and heard as we took Zodiac tours of South Sawyer Glacier in the morning. In the afternoon we travelled to another part of the Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier. This is part of Ford’s Terror Wilderness, and we spent the afternoon kayaking past waterfalls and towards the face of this beautiful glacier. It was such a special day of unique experiences here in Southeast Alaska.
On our third day of Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness , we awoke as our ship docked at Bartlet Cove in Glacier Bay National Park. Many guests chose to start the day with a lovely forest walk, including a look at Snow, the humpback whale skeleton displayed near the visitors center. Once back onboard, the ship moved north through the bay, ultimately taking us to see Margerie Glacier in Tarr Inlet. Here we watched harbor seals float on bergy bits that had calved off the glacier, and as we pulled away, we witnessed a large calving that had us all in awe. As we cruised south, we saw mountain goats on Gloomy Knob and scanned the shoreline for wildlife. We stopped at South Marble Island to watch puffins, gulls, and cormorants, as well as many large hauled out Steller sea lions. When it came time for dinner, the Global Explorers gathered in the forward lounge for a pizza party and a movie. The adult guests joined after their meals to watch Meaning of Wild .
We had an incredible day exploring the remote islands in Alaska’s Inside Passage. The morning started with hikes at George Island and a smartphone photography class. The tools were put to use immediately as we spent the afternoon on Zodiacs in search of wildlife. We were treated to displays from sea otters, sea lions, eagles, and even humpback whales. It was an incredible start to our week in Southeast Alaska.
