Scenery beyond words surrounded National Geographic Venture as we sailed to the far reaches of Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. True wilderness is a rare and special opportunity to find yourself surrounded solely by trees, sky, granite cliffs, wildlife, and solitude. There are no roads or houses, no timber cutting or mining industries, no vehicles or man-made noises. Humans are only temporary visitors resulting in the highest degree of protection possible for federal land. We saw black bears right away this morning and large, blue chunks of ice drifting out of the fjord. Mountain goats climbed high up on the cliffs and harbor seals rested on the ice. We took Zodiacs on a twisting and turning cruise to the face of South Sawyer Glacier! Floating in an ice garden, listening to the snap, crackle, and pop of the growlers and bergy bits melting around us. We witnessed several calving events and talked about the quickly changing climate driving the rapid retreat of the many glaciers in Southeast Alaska.
7/18/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Freshwater Bay, Chichagof Island
This morning before breakfast, the bridge team of National Geographic Quest spotted orcas in Freshwater Bay. Eager to see this iconic whale species, the bow was quickly occupied by excited guests, staff, and crew. We could not have asked for better conditions. A sunny, calm morning with at least a dozen orcas! Wow! After breakfast we went ashore at Kennel Creek on Chichagof Island and split into aerobic, moderate, and casual walking groups. After yesterday’s wet forest at Fox Creek, we welcomed the firm, dry ground of an old logging road. Along our walks there were abundant signs of brown bears. One of the two aerobic walks had fresh bear tracks on top of their footprints upon their return. In the afternoon cruising down Chatham Strait, we enjoyed time on deck soaking up the sun when an eagle-eye naturalist spotted a group of humpbacks ten miles away! As we approached, we could see that this was no small group, as twenty-three whales were bubble net feeding! This day will long be imprinted in our memories of wild Alaska.