Delightfully amazing would be an accurate description of our morning. We awoke in Endicott Arm of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness to sunny skies and a crisp fall bite to the morning air. The scenery of the fjord was stunning: Massive chunks of ice floating peacefully, harbor seals playing hide and seek among ’bergs, and an impressive calving of ice from the face of Dawes Glacier. We sighted a black bear on shore as we navigated out of the fjord in the later afternoon. The day closed with a sunset warming the clouds to a peachy glow. A perfect start for our adventures in Southeast Alaska!
6/15/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Endicott Arm
Today, we embarked on a voyage through the breathtaking Endicott Arm, a 30-mile fjord carved by ancient glaciers. As our vessel glided through the jade-green waters, towering granite cliffs rose on either side, with cascading waterfalls fed by melting snowfields. The fjord's serene beauty was punctuated by the occasional splash of harbor seals diving from ice bergs and the distant sight of mountain goats navigating the rugged terrain. Approaching the terminus of the fjord, the awe-inspiring Dawes Glacier came into view. Standing over 500 feet tall and half a mile wide, its icy facade shimmered in hues of blue and white. We boarded Zodiacs to get a closer look, maneuvering through a maze of icebergs, each uniquely sculpted by nature. Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed as a massive chunk of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the water below and sending ripples across the fjord—a humbling reminder of nature's power. The journey through Endicott Arm was more than a scenic cruise, it was an intimate encounter with the raw, dynamic forces that shape Alaska's wilderness. The memories of shimmering glaciers, playful seals, and towering cliffs will linger, a testament to the allure of this pristine frontier.
