Wrangell, Southeast Alaska, 6/11/2024, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
National Geographic Sea Lion anchored off the town of Wrangell in the early morning hours and early risers were greeted by the colorful palate of town, forest, and sea bathed in a soft sunlight.
The bulk of our group spent the morning on a jet boat tour up the Stikine River to Shake’s Glacier, while the rest of the group visited Chief Shake’s Clan House and the petroglyph area. A few hardy souls followed in the footsteps of John Muir to the top of Mount Dewey to the sight of his infamous fire.
Our day wound down as we sailed by Snow Pass looking for wildlife.
An educator at heart, Dan finds great joy in helping others explore and connect with the world around them. He has taught marine sciences in the Florida Keys and on Catalina Island, science and math in international schools in Mexico, Costa Rica, and ...
Enter travel details to receive reports from a single expedition
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Send Daily Expedition Reports to friends and family
*By clicking the submit button, I authorize Lindblad Expeditions to email me; however, I am able to unsubscribe at any time. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.
Please note: All Daily Expedition Reports (DERs) are posted Monday-Friday,
during normal business hours. DERs are written onboard the ship only and do
not apply to land-based portions of expeditions.
Today we saw the incredible power of glaciers as we ventured into a wilderness carved by them. In the morning, we paddled kayaks in Fords Terror and ventured close to very tall waterfalls in our small watercraft. In the afternoon we explored the end of Endicott Arm by Zodiac. We were rewarded with close views of Dawes Glacier, white and blue icebergs, harbor seals, and even a couple of harbor porpoises.
This morning the early risers awoke to calm seas and abundant sunshine in Tebenkof Bay as we explored the many small bays and multiple islands. Numerous sea otters were spotted amongst the kelp along with a few humpback whales as we made our way out of Tebenkof and headed west across Chatham Strait. After breakfast, we set out to explore by way of Zodiac in Paterson Bay. With the jagged backdrop of Baranof Island, many unique and surprising encounters of wildlife were made. There were smacks of tens of thousands of moon jellies, a mink swimming, and Dall’s porpoises. This morning was truly memorable. Back on board for a tasty chili lunch, we crossed over to Bay of Pillars where shore hikes on Kuiu gave us more insight into the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest in the world. On a warm and sunny day, it was nice to step into the shade of the deep green forest. Following bear trails and slowly weaving our way through hemlock and spruce forests, with the occasional devil’s club, made for an adventurous afternoon. Once again, we were left with an impression of the vast wilderness and sense of wonder around the corner of each bay, cove, and inlet as we explored Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Sea Bird .
We awoke to find ourselves traversing Tracy Arm, nestled at the heart of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. A distinct chill hung low in the crisp air; coupled with increasing iceberg sightings, this signaled our approach to South Sawyer Glacier. As the crew hove to and dropped the Zodiacs, we bundled ourselves up and savored the glimmers of sunshine peeking through the wispy clouds overhead. We were shocked at how close to the glacier our nimble National Geographic Sea Lion was able to maneuver, leaving only a short stretch of largely ice-filled waters between us and its brilliant blue face. An impressive plankton bloom left dark red streaks throughout the icy fjord waters; it contrasted brilliantly with the icy glacial meltwater as we surveyed harbor seals foraging for food and resting with their young pups. South Sawyer itself put on quite the show! Multiple significant calving events occurred, preceded by deafening cracks that echoed throughout the fjord. Upon our return to National Geographic Sea Lion , our Global Explorers prepared for their Zodiac driving lessons with the naturalists. And finally, what better way to end an incredible week than a polar plunge into a glacial fjord, with waterfalls cascading all around and curious harbor seals watching.
