A thick layer of fog dispersed to reveal blue skies and the snowcapped peaks of the Fairweather Mountain Range, towering over George Island. Lower tides provided excellent tide pooling opportunities, the highlight being a great Pacific octopus that slid along the kelp-covered rocks foraging. The complete visit included treks to a WWII-era emplacement and a ride on a swing overlooking the bay. The sun continued to beam down on lucky explorers at Inian Islands. Sea otters rolled in kelp beds, sea lions leapt around our boats, and a humpback whale graced us with a fluke in front of the mountains, while bald eagles perched in the Sitka spruce lining the shore.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .