Morning aboard National Geographic Sea Lion started with us pulling into an anchorage right outside Haines, Alaska. To start the day’s activities, guests were shuttled to the dock to explore this quaint Alaskan town and meet their local guides for various activities. With choices ranging from a bicycle tour, fly fishing, hiking Mount Riley, and floating down the Chilkat River, there was something for everyone. As we packed up for the day, lunches were distributed so everyone could optimize their time in Haines or even stop at the local brewery. Returning in waves, everyone was back on board for a lovely dinner prepared by head chef Neal Skannes and his galley team. After dinner, naturalist and photo instructor Eric Guth presented on glaciers with, “The Life of a Snowflake.” While listening to Eric’s presentation, guests enjoyed sweet chocolate mousse, the perfect ending to an even sweeter day.
5/3/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area
National Geographic Sea Lion cruised throughout the night, heading south through Lynn Canal and making her way towards Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area. Early in the morning, we were on approach to Holkham Bay, where we “crossed the bar,” which consists of glacial outwash at the entrance to an extensive fjord system. This wilderness area was established by Congress in 1980, and 653,179 acres of land fall under federal wilderness protection. This fjord system is made up of two arms approximately thirty miles in length. Our goal was Endicott Arm, where we would spend the entire day. During the last ice age, thousands of feet of ice covered this entire area. When the retreat of ice began, these fjords were carved by that ice. This allowed sea water to enter, offering excellent cruising for many ships. National Geographic Sea Lion spent the day cruising and dropping in many of our kayaks and Zodiacs, so all had a chance to paddle and/or cruise this picturesque waterway.
