We departed Sitka last evening and sailed northward through narrow channels amidst rolling forested islands. Those who could stay awake were rewarded with a brief glimpse of coastal brown bears along the shoreline as National Geographic Sea Bird transited narrow passages into the gloaming, the channel lit by red and green navigation lights. While no sea monsters appeared in the night, humpback whales were spotted feeding near Morris Reef in the early morning light. More whales were seen near dinnertime, bookending our active day spent exploring Pavlov Harbor by expedition landing craft and the Iyoukeen shoreline and Gypsum Creek on foot.
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.