A favorite stop on National Geographic Quest, South Sawyer Glacier never disappoints. Morning stretch class was held while passing through the majestic fjords of Fords Terror Wilderness. Beautiful waterfalls splashed into the glacially fed blue-green waters as we sailed by. Two rounds of Zodiac rides took us to the face of the glacier; Both groups experienced an amazing calving show. Many harbor seals were lounging on the icebergs as we navigated through the pack ice.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 06 Jul 2024
South Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm, 7/6/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Karson Winslow, Naturalist
Karson has been working on the water for the last 15 years. A San Francisco native, she holds a 100-ton USCG captains license and PADI Divemaster. Karson attended UC Santa Cruz and received a bachelor's degree in Anthropology, focusing on Archaeology...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/2/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
We started our first full day on board by visiting the Dawes Glacier by Zodiac. As we floated among the growlers and bergy bits, we experienced multiple calving events. We observed many harbor seals with cute, brand-new pups relaxing on the ice. While cruising in the afternoon, we came across a few humpback whales. One humpback hung out close to the ship, lunge feeding and solo bubble netting. Another whale had some fun breaching in the distance, and a third showed off by tail slapping. We ended the day with a great view of Five Finger Lighthouse and look forward to our day in Petersburg tomorrow.
5/31/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Endicott Arm
Our final day here in Southeast Alaska was filled with steep fjords, awe-inspiring glaciers, fierce polar plungers, a number of humpbacks, and a beautiful sunset. As we spent the last day in Zodiacs, driving and adrift amongst the ice in front of Dawes Glacier, we were reminded of how tiny we are on this blue rock that abounds with natural beauty and ecological wonders. As the harbor seals swam by, we celebrated the journey with our shipmates, some partaking in a polar plunge. Then we turned off into the sunset surrounded by the sounds of humpback exhalations. Alaska has been a wonder, and we have been thoughtful visitors in a place fragile yet vast.