It was a wonderful day on Santiago Island. The fun activities we had planned for the entire day kept us busy as we learned about the unique ecosystems of this magnificent archipelago. We explored the island and its surroundings by kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. There was so much to discover. Who would think that in such a small area we could find so much diversity? That is definitely the magic of the Galapagos Islands at its best.
We spent our day enjoying the beauty of Glacier Bay National Park. After hiking in the early morning, we were treated to a welcome by NPS Ranger Hailey and the Tlingit people who have called this land home for thousands of years. As we cruised around the bay in rain, wind, and sun, we watched the beauty of the park reveal itself to us.
This morning, we cruised through the infamous Fredrick Sound in search of wildlife. Guests joined our naturalists on the bow, and along with our amazing bridge team, we spotted roughly nine humpback whales, including one mother and calf pair! Once we got to our anchorage, a hike in the Tongass National Forest was planned. Guests were shuttled ashore and off into the forest they went. Cascade Creek is infamous for the bursting waterfall about 20 minutes up trail. Each hiker took time being quiet to listen to the forest and her songs, but not for too long because we are in bear country and we wanted to make sure our presence was known. Faces drenched with waterfall mist, our hikers returned to their home away from home, National Geographic Sea Lion . We closed the day by entering into Wrangell Narrows in the direction of Wrangell, our next stop. During dinner our guests were greeted by a small pod of killer whales off our starboard side, and from the dining room windows, a room full of guests watched as they surfaced a few times and then disappeared. What an absolutely magical day!
After working through some thick early season pack ice and searching for polar bears, our expedition leader felt that it would be good to see if we could get ashore and go hiking for our last day in Svalbard. The fjord of Hornsund was a good choice. Plan A was to land at a place called Gnålodden, where there is an old trapper hut and an opportunity to explore near some bird cliffs. Alas, the shoreline was completely blocked by a jumble of ice that prevented our Zodiacs from reaching the landing. On to plan B! A perfect place was found near a point known as Gruspyten. A number of different hikes were offered, from long hikes up the cliffs, to the easiest short hike. A photo hike was well attended, and the highlight was the ability to get close to the Körberbreen glacier. A bonus was the calm winds, so it felt surprisingly warm on shore. A second landing in the afternoon was not far from the morning’s landing, but with some chilly winds. Moments before the guests were due to begin disembarkation, a large group of Beluga whales appeared a few hundred yards from National Geographic Resolution ! All in all, our last day in the Svalbard Archipelago was a great way to end this chapter of our expedition. And now it’s off to the south to explore the coast of mainland Norway.