On the final day of our voyage, guests awoke to a beaming sun and a bright blue sky. Today, we would take a Zodiac tour of the famed South Sawyer Glacier, a tidewater glacier that carved this fjord some 400 years ago. At this time of year the floating icebergs serve as birthing platforms for harbor seals, so we were careful not to spook the mothers and month-old pups into the water. As we waited in anticipation for falling ice at the face of the glacier, a gang of pirates surprised us with mugs of hot chocolate — a welcomed treat to ward off the chilly wind blowing off the glacier. After an exciting morning, guests enjoyed a relaxing paddle through the protected waters of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area. Between the perfect weather and breathtaking views, this final day of our voyage was one we won’t soon forget.
7/22/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Sitka Sound
Early risers aboard National Geographic Sea Lion were treated to a stellar show of humpback whales this morning as we made our way south down the mountain-studded coast of Baranof Island. The long, lazy swell that lulled us to sleep overnight contrasted spectacularly with the fast breaches, tail slaps, and fluking displays that surrounded us as we rounded Cape Edgecumbe and entered Sitka Sound. Sea otters and fishing boats galore greeted us as we slipped into the calm waters of the sound, bound for Magoun Islands State Marine Park for an afternoon of Zodiac cruising and hiking. The hikers found ample evidence of recent bear presence in the form of fresh scat and tracks, but no bears were to be found. Most of us were quite relieved not to surprise a bear! The Zodiac cruisers were treated to gorgeous intertidal habitats littered with mussels, barnacles, sea stars, and clams. After warming up a bit at lunch, a record thirty-one brave souls jumped into the frigid waters for our polar plunge! As we arrived in Sitka this evening, we admired the snow-capped mountain tops normally shrouded in mist. Steller sea lions cavorting around the dock served as reminders of our adventures.
