Today was the first time our expedition on National Geographic Sea Lion was able to visit and explore the face of a tidewater glacier. Tracy Arm, a fjord, was filled with large chunks of recently calved ice in a variety of shapes and sizes. Under the bright, yellow sunlight, our eyes were dazzled with exciting images in every direction. Fresh water cascaded down the side of the fjord walls, carving out the granite and feeding the mosses and plants. Mountain goats grazed together in the green carpet. It was a to take in, and an overwhelming fortune to find so much beauty surrounding us. In the afternoon, we continued adventuring in William’s Cove. Our spirits were incredibly high, our bodies full of energy to enjoy our last afternoon together to the fullest. Some kayaked, others on stand-up paddleboards, and many went on extraordinary forest hikes. Our last day of this expedition was easily also one of our finest.
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 .