What better way to start a voyage in Southeast Alaska than to experience a sampling of its grandeur? As day broke National Geographic Sea Lion was making her way up Endicott Arm towards Dawes Glacier. This narrow fjord is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness and is a classic example of a glacial U-shaped valley, with its smooth peaks that plummet down to the sea. We spent the early morning on the bow watching icebergs float by, and even had the good fortune of moments of blue sky peeking through the clouds. One beautiful scene after another played out before us as we neared the glacier.
There is no better way to experience the scale and power of a glacier than to be as close to water level as possible. The rest of the morning was spent in small boats where we had the freedom to move between icebergs large and small and wonder at what felt like infinite shades of blue. When the glacier calved, a loud thunderous boom announced to those looking in a different direction that this river of ice was on the move. One particularly stunning iceberg floated in the distance with its glasslike facets creating interesting shapes and shades. Even though it was only a small part of the landscape it contrasted strikingly with its vibrant color. As we came close to it from our low vantage point it towered over us, again giving perspective to the size of the glacier that stood in the distance.
As we said goodbye to Endicott Arm, our goal became to look for whales, a search which we didn’t have to labor over long. The blow of several humpback whales soon appeared in the distance. Not concerned with our presence, they came close to the ship, feeding leisurely with shallow dives and resurfacing after short intervals, giving us plenty of time watch these graceful animals in their natural environment. At the end of the day, lively chatter about our experiences was evidence of a great day, and only our first one cruising the waters of Southeast Alaska.
