In 1897, Peter Buschman arrived upon Mitkof Island to form what would become one of the most scenic and venerable fishing towns in all of Alaska. National Geographic Quest arrived in the early morning fog to see all but the crow’s nests of local fishing boats poking out of the mire. Soon after breakfast, the dense moisture cleared and our guests set loose for a day full of muskeg walks, flightseeing tours above LeConte Glacier, and visits to the harbor to learn of the various styles with which the locals harvest the local marine bounty.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .