Today we took morning Zodiac rides through the stunning landscape of Tracy Arm Fjord to the face of South Sawyer Glacier. This towering glacier provided a majestic backdrop as guests marveled at calving ice and cascading waterfalls. Both groups experienced massive calving events, as well as harbor seals and mountain goats hanging out near the water. We were mesmerized by the shapes and shades of the ice around us, ranging from white to the most beautiful color of blue. The naturalist led informative discussions about the local geology and the glacial formation of the beautiful place we were in. This afternoon we went hiking in Williams Cove where some lucky guests got to see a bear as it walked into the forest. We were completely spoiled by the weather with sunny blue skies all day long — a rarity in this part of the world. The day ended with smooth sailing as we watched our guest slideshow and relived the amazing week we had building memories, eating good food, and experiencing true Alaska wilderness.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 18 Aug 2023
Tracy Arm Fjord , 8/18/2023, National Geographic Sea Lion
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
- Alaska
Kylee Walterman , Naturalist
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biolo...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell and Misty Fjords
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/21/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Wrangell, Alaska
We arrived early to the town of Wrangell, excited to get the activities underway for our morning ashore. The excursion options included a jet boat tour up the Stikine River, a visit to the Shake’s house (traditional Long House), and investigating petroglyphs on a local beach. We returned to National Geographic Sea Bird for a delicious lunch and then went out for the afternoon activities. The options included a visit to the town museum and a hike up Mt. Dewey. We had lovely weather for our wonderful day of exploring.
5/20/2025
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Cascade Creek/Ruth Island Petersburg, Alaska
The misty Alaska landscape was no stranger to us this morning as we woke to anchor in Thomas Bay. Our expedition today took us on tours around more of the Tongass National Forests’ splendor. We embarked on trails to see the falls of Cascade Creek, which were immensely powerful, casting misty spray across the forest of Western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Everything in the forest was incredibly dense, with life in all areas of the over and understory. In the afternoon, we explored Ruth Island, this time bushwacking along a tributary to make our way up to a beaver-dammed pond. The sight was fantastical, set among the forest with reed grass, toads, passerines, and even dense clumps of sundew. Guests adventured with large smiles on their faces as we felt the presence of wild Alaska.