Misty Fjords , 9/10/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Alaska
The day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird in Misty Fjords National Monument began with favorable morning weather, offering a majestic backdrop for our journey. As we traversed Owl's Pass and dropped anchor in God's Pocket, we embarked on Zodiac cruises to explore the surroundings.
Amidst the rugged expanse of Misty Fjords, we admired the granite walls, a sight once described by John Muir as the Yosemite of the North. As we continue south, the landscape is more forested, further removed from a time of glaciers. We admire the forest’s edge, the intertidal zones, and the snowmelt waterfalls sprinkled along the fjord.
Growing up along the coastal environment of San Diego, Shannon started her first volunteer job at a local nature center at the age of six. Since then, she has built her personal life and professional career around connecting with nature. She received...
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Patches of blue in the sky, reflections of fishing boats in the harbor, and a fragment of a rainbow was the foundation for our day of cultural exploration in Daajing Giids on Haida Gwaii. The Haida Heritage Center, nestled on the shoreline of Alliford Bay, is a testament to the cultural richness and tenacity of the Haida people. In the afternoon, we walked up to, and for some of us, around the lake on the Spirit Lake trail. The rains held off during our walks and we enjoyed our stroll through the temperate rainforest, sans the rain.
Today we had an incredible time on what our expedition leader called, “The mobile academy of learning and exploration.” We had four inspiring presentations by our natural history staff as well as watched a movie on local Kwakwaka’wakw totem carver, Beau Dick. In between learning about our environment, we searched for wildlife on the bow, finding the second largest whale in the world, fin whales. We finished our day with specialty cocktails and appetizers before having a delicious dinner prepared by our galley team.
Early this morning, National Geographic Sea Bird anchored inside a deep protected channel of Calvert Island. The morning hours brought a slip of light, as we were immersed in the customary weather of the Pacific Northwest…a constant spring drizzle. Our morning destination would be the Hakai Institute, which is dedicated to long-term scientific research of the coastal ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. The research focuses on understanding the intricate relationships between land, sea, and human activity. Their studies include interdisciplinary research spanning marine biology, ecology, archaeology, and climate science. Their findings and research are open to the public and shared with local communities, including fifty different Indigenous nations. Their goal is the building of relationships and, as of this year, includes Lindblad Expeditions! 2024 marks the first year our entire fleet of American flagged ships will visit the Hakai Institute while traveling through the Inside Passage on their way to Southeast Alaska. After a morning of visiting the Institute and kayaking, we divided into several different levels of hikes and went out into the constant soft rain, enjoying the chance to explore Calvert Island, definitely a unique island along the Northwest Coast.