South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness rarely witnesses a beautiful and sunny day. The surrounding Tongass National Forest is called a temperate rainforest because of the reliability of precipitation. Today, however, was marked by radiant illumination. We toured the fjord by ship and took to small boats in the morning. We navigated amongst the ice and harbor seals towards the magnificent calving face of the South Sawyer Glacier. After lunch, the ship slowly cruised down-fjord to visit the legendary Hole-in-the-Wall Waterfall. We wound down the day with a final recap from the staff and a farewell dinner. We will all miss Alaska, and we are grateful for the experiences we shared here.
9/3/2022
Read
National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
