Desolation Sound, 9/24/2024, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Alaska
What a beautiful way to spend the last day of this remarkable journey from Sitka to Vancouver. We awoke to the glassy, calm waters of Desolation Sound, part of British Columbia’s beautiful fjord system, for hikes, kayaking, and Zodiac cruises.
The afternoon was spent frantically packing since we have really settled into our life on board over the last 15 days!
Kim is a marine biologist, fine art photographer, and avid fisherman. Based in Juneau, Alaska, Lingít Aaní, she spends her time between the mountains and the ocean. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Cognitive Neuroscience from the Unive...
This morning, we left the dock in Daajing Giids, Haida Gwaii in search of wildlife. Our fabulous bridge team took us slowly north along the coast of Haida Gwaii towards Old Massett. The east coast of Haida Gwaii is an excellent place to spot humpback whales, killer whales, and if we are lucky, gray whales. Well, we were super lucky and spotted a few gray whales! During our sea day, guests were spoiled with a myriad of interesting presentations. In addition, throughout the day, some guests enjoyed reading on the sundeck while others visited the bridge, and many delighted in taking a nap. The day closed with a fun recap session and a magnificent dinner. Tonight, we cross Hecate Straight, and tomorrow we will wake up in Alaska! Sweet dreams from National Geographic Sea Lion.
Today, National Geographic Sea Lion docked in Daajing Giids and then drove up to Old Masset to visit two Haida master carvers. The luscious smell of cedar was powerful in the carving sheds of both artists. Each carver’s creative space was filled with many projects “in the works”. We were feasted with a traditional meal in the Canoe House that was delicious. After our meal, there were two stores to visit which had Haida art, jewelry, and so much more. We really enjoyed commemorating our time in Haida Gwaii with a treasured purchase or two.
Our night was spent traveling south along the Haida Gwaii Archipelago, making our way to our morning destination of SGang Gwaay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designated by UNESCO for its importance of being the oldest known Indigenous village where mortuary and memorial poles stand in situ. They were carved and erected in the 1800s in the village of SGang Gwaay Linagaay, representing one of the best examples of a traditional northwest coast First Nations village. SGang Gwaay is located on the southwestern tip of the Haida Gwaii Archipelago, creating quite a difficult place for travelers to reach. The village is in an extremely protected bay where adverse weather is otherwise a constant. Our day was spent being escorted by Haida Watchmen through standing poles, house pits, and standing posts and beams of longhouses. Our group was divided into four groups, and each group had a chance to walk along a boardwalk through the forest and then come into the village to not only see and photograph the site but also take a moment to just be quiet and absorb the presence of the handcrafted carved poles and the presence of the ancestors.
