Waking amidst the high fjords of Tracy Arm, the guests were treated to another morning of mist rising off the water, soon to give way to a day full of cloudless sun. One of the highlights of Southeast Alaska, the 30-plus mile-long stretch of steep cliff side and turquoise glacial water rounded out what has been a week full of expectation exceeding experiences.
After another breakfast array, the guests set out to explore the landscape by kayak. As they glided across the water, foraging free floating icebergs, many wildlife encounters were had including the shy harbor porpoise, many a curious harbor seal, and a variety of seabirds. The soundscape of their wanders was dominated by the waterfalls coming from glacial run off, trickling down from the hanging glaciers holding their place high on the fjords—reminding us of how recently and how far the glaciers of these fjords once extended.
After a rest and some lunch, we ventured out again into the wilderness, this time by Zodiac, to navigate and explore the ever-shifting landscape of the icebergs that danced within the current. Traversing the labyrinth of ice, we inched our way closer to Sawyer Glacier—a juggernaut standing more than 200 feet tall. More waterfalls greeted us as we approached the face of the glacier in hopes to see a grand calving event—where massive pieces of ice scuttle their way down from on high to crash into the water and send swelling waves our way. The sound created from these calving falls is known as white thunder, but words alone do little to describe the sensation of the sound washing over oneself. Floating on, and among the icebergs were a colony of harbor seals, in the later stages of raising their new born pups. Keeping our distance, we were still able to see the delicate environment in which these magnificent animals perpetuate their lifecycle. The tidewater glacier did not disappoint, shedding a few layers to drop the jaws of our guests and send their cameras clicking in hopes to capture the moment. We were even treated to some mountain goats, grazing just above the water line, providing guests with a great view of how these animals traverse these treacherous, vertical landscapes.
Tracy Arm is as stunning in the modern day as it was when John Muir found himself exploring it a century ago, and everyone who crosses its magical borders walks away with a steady and certain sense of wonder.
