Guests awoke to a sparkling, calm morning in Endicott Arm. The water was like glass, reflecting the thousand-foot-plus walls of the fjord. Using small boats, we cruised the last four miles to the glacier. Sitting a half-mile away, we gazed at the blue ice, perking up at the cannon-shot sounds of calving and the fifty-foot splashes made by the falling ice. Harbor seals were scattered on the ice, now in their sensitive molting stage. This year’s seal pups are almost full grown and difficult to distinguish from their mothers at a distance. After lunch we cruised, scanning the shores for wildlife, enjoying the beauty of the thick green forest.
9/5/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness
It was hard to beat the final day of this voyage. On a misty morning in Tracy Arm Fjord, we were met with beautiful green waters and cascading falls down gorgeous mountain faces. We made our way up the winding fjord looking for wildlife and enjoyed the incredible scenery. In the morning, we headed out on Zodiac tours, viewing gorgeous turquoise icebergs and watching the face of South Sawyer Glacier. While appreciating harbor seals in the area, we learned about the natural history of the landscape and wildlife. We were lucky enough to even see the glacier calve. A splash and hearing the thunderous sound of the ice separating from the glacier face was extremely exciting! After a wonderful Zodiac trip, we cruised on the ship towards South Sawyer Glacier for our polar plunge. The ocean water is cold in Alaska, and even chillier when next to a glacier! However, we had some brave guests that wanted to take their plunge into the Alaskan waters. It was a wonderful experience cheering each other on and seeing others dive into the water. After the plunge, we visited a beautiful waterfall called “hole in the wall”. Guests were able to get close, getting covered in the mist of the waterfall. It was definitely a highlight of the trip. Overall, it was an exceptional day.