Haines, Alaska, 6/2/2024, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Alaska
Choices abounded in Haines, Alaska today. Guests followed their fancies to raft, hike, fly fish, photograph, and bike their way through Haines! Stories were swapped over lunch before we set out for another round of afternoon adventures. With clear weather, the dramatic, snowcapped Tukgahgo and Takshanuk Mountains of the Coastal Range stood over us while we explored.
Kerri is a passionate lifelong learner and educator who embraces the world as her classroom. She has worked extensively in international and environmental education around the globe. She is currently a professor at Unity Environmental University in M...
It was a glorious first day aboard National Geographic Sea Lion . Overnight, the ship transited from Juneau to Endicott Arm where we spent the majority of our day. Our first operation was a Zodiac cruise to Dawes Glacier where large groups of harbor seals bobbing between bergs stole the show. After lunch, we maneuvered toward the mouth of the fjord where we were treated to viewings of a cinnamon-colored black bear and a humpback repeatedly feeding at the surface. Following a lively recap, National Geographic Sea Lion found herself motoring toward Haines where a day of adventure awaits us tomorrow.
Nestled between the northern reaches of the Lynn Canal, eastern border of Glacier Bay National Park, and the outflow of the Chilkat river, Haines Alaska is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Today’s activities ranged from float trips down the Chilkat River, starting at the ancestral homeland of the Klukwan, to hiking and biking on the outskirts of town. Calm winds and lots of recent migratory arrivals made birdwatching an eventful bonus to many of these activities. A few of us took to the smaller freshwater rivers in search of aquatic species. Dolly Varden is a species of salmonid, related to salmon but not built to transition into saltwater environments like other anadromous fish like Coho or Chinook salmon. With local guides, our guests caught and released numerous Dolly Varden on their fly-fishing adventure. With the rain holding off for yet another day, we are off to a great start on this inaugural Southeast Alaska trip of the season for National Geographic Sea Bird .
Just outside of Sitka, we explored Emmons Island, home to old growth coastal temperate rainforests and a bog-like ecosystem called a muskeg. Signs of mammals are prevalent, from deer scat and skunk cabbage-nibbled leaves to deer and river otter tracks. We also enjoyed the water’s edge via Zodiac and kayak. Our Zodiac cruisers were fortunate to see a feeding humpback and lone brown bear, not to mention the numerous bald eagles flying by.
