This morning we woke up at the mouth of the stunning Tracy Arm fjord system. As we traveled deeper into the fjords we gawked at the panoramas of glacially carved U-shaped valleys, glistening waterfalls, and monumental granite faces. Upon arrival at South Sawyer Island later that morning, we launched our Zodiac fleet and began our journey up to the South Sawyer glacier face. Not only did we have the unique opportunity to explore the glacier during harbor seal pupping season, but we also saw some spectacular calving events at the glacier face. It was an emotional experience as we marveled at the rugged yet elegant blue sapphires of ice. Afterward, we pushed full steam ahead for Williams Cove where we got to kayak and paddle board up the rocky intertidal shoreline. A couple guests even had a lone piece of growler ice cross their path. Once we wrapped up kayaking and paddle boarding, we ended the day with cocktails and a wonderful sunset on the aft 100 deck, dancing and laughing together and concluding a wonderful five days.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 21 Jun 2023
Tracy Arm, 6/21/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Alaska
Alex Farrell, Naturalist
Growing up in the Lake Tahoe area, Alex developed a passion for adventure and a desire for new discoveries at a young age. Between skiing with her dad, hiking with friends, and exploring the world through her camera lens, you could almost always find...
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.