Leaving Juneau in the early hours of the morning, guests aboard National Geographic Sea Lion found themselves amidst the grand and perspective enhancing landscape of Southeast Alaska. Cruising among the islands, guests took in the seemingly endless options of bays and inlets, all holding the promise of adventure and discovery. We were treated to a pre-breakfast humpback whale sighting, watching as it logged on the surface before it showed an impressive fluke before descending to the depths. Bald eagles, white-winged scoters, and harlequin ducks owned the air around us – adding up to a full Alaskan morning.
After a few briefings and some tips on photography from our photo instructor, we entered the Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. Sky reaching mountains encompassed us on both sides, as we journeyed deeper into the fjord of the Endicott Arm toward Dawes Glacier. Icebergs of all shapes and sizes began to appear, causing guests to play and guess at what shape they best resembled. These games soon fell to wonder and awe as a near army of harbor seals began to appear, on and among the icebergs, with their pups close by swimming and nursing.
Boarding our inflatables, guests launched off to explore the many waterfalls and behemoth vision of the Dawes Glacier. Rare treats awaited: a bald eagle chased off by a few fiery kittiwakes, and a rare, up-close view of a mountain goat feeding low on the cliff side. Dawes Glacier was not to be outdone though, showing spectacular calving throughout the afternoon. The hanging valleys painted the picture of what the glacier was, and watching it peel off into the demanding salt water showed the current battle to maintain its icy wonder. The glacier stands as a true object of fascination, humbling in its natural beauty – a worthy reward to all our guests for making the journey north to Alaska.
