Our expedition began with an instant highlight! I’m talking, of course, about glacier day! Some 35 miles into Endicott Arm is Dawes Glacier, one of four glaciers fed by the Stikine Icefield. Dawes is a true masterpiece. It is 1 mile wide at its face, 250 feet high, brilliant blue, and actively calving. And to get there, we journeyed past a 45-ton whale, beneath peaks of plutonic rock experiencing tectonic uplift, among the crush and tumble of icebergs, and through high winds blasting off the glacier. Oh, and did I mention the Vikings?
6/15/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Endicott Arm
Today, we embarked on a voyage through the breathtaking Endicott Arm, a 30-mile fjord carved by ancient glaciers. As our vessel glided through the jade-green waters, towering granite cliffs rose on either side, with cascading waterfalls fed by melting snowfields. The fjord's serene beauty was punctuated by the occasional splash of harbor seals diving from ice bergs and the distant sight of mountain goats navigating the rugged terrain. Approaching the terminus of the fjord, the awe-inspiring Dawes Glacier came into view. Standing over 500 feet tall and half a mile wide, its icy facade shimmered in hues of blue and white. We boarded Zodiacs to get a closer look, maneuvering through a maze of icebergs, each uniquely sculpted by nature. Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed as a massive chunk of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the water below and sending ripples across the fjord—a humbling reminder of nature's power. The journey through Endicott Arm was more than a scenic cruise, it was an intimate encounter with the raw, dynamic forces that shape Alaska's wilderness. The memories of shimmering glaciers, playful seals, and towering cliffs will linger, a testament to the allure of this pristine frontier.
