We enjoyed morning activities of hiking and kayaking in the sparkling sunshine. George Island has a lovely arch on the oceanside, our destination for kayaking. A shy sea otter and lone Steller sea lion visited our group briefly. Meanwhile, groups hiked “to the gun,” a canon located on the far side of the island and put in place to protect the West Coast during World War II. After lunch, we cruised around the Inian Islands to view wildlife, before heading to the Hobbit Hole to visit with Zach Brown at the Tidelines Institute. Zach’s place is a great example of low tech, low footprint, high education, and high activism. Zach, a PhD Stanford graduate, and his wife lead inclusive experiences in “the heart of wilderness.” Check them out at tidelinesinstitute.org.
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.