Our final full day of exploration in the wilds of Southeast Alaska began at the junction of Chatham and Peril Straits, the “triple junction” where Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands come together. Generally, it is a hot spot for observing humpback whales feeding over underwater reefs and coastal brown bears strolling the shorelines. We started with a good taste of the wilder weather that sometimes overlays this coastal wilderness. Low clouds, a stiff breeze, and swirling precipitation made for challenging conditions on the bow, but our cozy ship was a welcome refuge from the weather with warm coffee, a hearty breakfast, and an entertaining presentation that introduced some of the natural history highlights of the bear world. By afternoon, we were able to anchor in Saook Bay for an afternoon of kayaking and hiking.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 17 Jul 2022
Chatham Strait and Saook Bay, 7/17/2022, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Alaska
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Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands and Tracy Arm Fjord
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5/15/2025
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Haines, Alaska
Nestled between the northern reaches of the Lynn Canal, eastern border of Glacier Bay National Park, and the outflow of the Chilkat river, Haines Alaska is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Today’s activities ranged from float trips down the Chilkat River, starting at the ancestral homeland of the Klukwan, to hiking and biking on the outskirts of town. Calm winds and lots of recent migratory arrivals made birdwatching an eventful bonus to many of these activities. A few of us took to the smaller freshwater rivers in search of aquatic species. Dolly Varden is a species of salmonid, related to salmon but not built to transition into saltwater environments like other anadromous fish like Coho or Chinook salmon. With local guides, our guests caught and released numerous Dolly Varden on their fly-fishing adventure. With the rain holding off for yet another day, we are off to a great start on this inaugural Southeast Alaska trip of the season for National Geographic Sea Bird .
5/14/2025
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Vixen and Emmons Islands, and Chatham Strait
Just outside of Sitka, we explored Emmons Island, home to old growth coastal temperate rainforests and a bog-like ecosystem called a muskeg. Signs of mammals are prevalent, from deer scat and skunk cabbage-nibbled leaves to deer and river otter tracks. We also enjoyed the water’s edge via Zodiac and kayak. Our Zodiac cruisers were fortunate to see a feeding humpback and lone brown bear, not to mention the numerous bald eagles flying by.