Shortly after the anchor was lifted in the early morning, wildlife viewing began with a breaching humpback, continued with sea otters and stellar sea lions, and culminated with killer whales. Remarkable marine mammal observations were just a part of today’s adventures aboard National Geographic Sea Bird. It was a classic Alaska temperate rainforest day with a range, from mist to light rain, which hydrated hikers who explored World War II relics on George Island. Kayakers explored kelp forests and arches while enjoying the solitude. In the afternoon the nutrient and salmon-rich waters of Cross Sound coursed through the Inian Islands which were speckled with marbled murrelets, pelagic cormorants, glaucous-winged gulls, and stellar sea lions, all there to feast. Exhausted, yet buzzing with excitement from the memorable day, we humans decided to take our turn at feasting…until killer whales were spotted! It was a magical day exploring Southeast Alaska.
6/15/2025
Read
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.
