National Geographic Sea Lion was sailing north today through beautiful narrow channels and wider expanses of the British Columbia coastline. In the morning, National Geographic Photographer Todd Gipstein gave an inspirational talk about his photography. In the afternoon, our Haida Gwaii Cultural Specialist Elsie Stewart-Burton gave us a brief history of Haida Gwaii and then demonstrated the weaving process. Late afternoon offered an opportunity to get creative with watercolors. As the evening light began to fade, we started to turn westward to sail across the Hecate Strait to arrive in Haida Gwaii tomorrow.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 19 Apr 2025
At Sea along the British Columbia Coast, 4/19/2025, National Geographic Sea Lion
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion
- Alaska
Kelly Coursey Gray, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
I like to remind people that there are very few big surprises left in life, but if you are out in nature, with an open mind and a lot of time, you never know what you will find.
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Voyage to Alaska, British Columbia and Haida Gwaii
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As we entered Wrangell Narrows before breakfast and en route to Petersburg, we were met by a pod of about 8 Dahl’s porpoises. They made sure we were properly escorted, as they darted back and forth continuously in front of the bow to the absolute delight of all. Fortunately, no smartphone cameras were lost, although many were hung precariously over the side to capture photos and videos of the amazing performance. After about 25 minutes the porpoises peeled off, presumably to escort another ship entering their domain. After docking and lunch, we had a choice of five activities: two different hikes featuring muskegs, a bike ride or photo tour through town, and a walking tour of Tongass National Forest led by an Alaska Native guide. Because we are in a rainforest, much of our afternoon was under moderate-to-heavy rain, sprinkled with a dash of sun. We returned to National Geographic Sea Lion to view a blazing rainbow off the bow, and to enjoy a particularly rousing recap with a fashion show featuring guests who purchased items of clothing in Petersburg. The festivities continued with our traditional Crab Night dinner, while transiting into tomorrow.