We crossed the bar at the mouth of Endicott Arm in the company of a cow-calf pair of humpback whales, a retinue of marbled murrelets, a belted kingfisher, and a calling greater yellowlegs. All eyes were on the whales, as one might imagine. It was the beginning of a beautiful, calm, and mostly sunny and dry day. What brief rain we had was well timed, and our Zodiac rides at the face of the Dawes Glacier were the highlight of the day, if not the trip.
6/15/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Endicott Arm
Today, we embarked on a voyage through the breathtaking Endicott Arm, a 30-mile fjord carved by ancient glaciers. As our vessel glided through the jade-green waters, towering granite cliffs rose on either side, with cascading waterfalls fed by melting snowfields. The fjord's serene beauty was punctuated by the occasional splash of harbor seals diving from ice bergs and the distant sight of mountain goats navigating the rugged terrain. Approaching the terminus of the fjord, the awe-inspiring Dawes Glacier came into view. Standing over 500 feet tall and half a mile wide, its icy facade shimmered in hues of blue and white. We boarded Zodiacs to get a closer look, maneuvering through a maze of icebergs, each uniquely sculpted by nature. Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed as a massive chunk of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the water below and sending ripples across the fjord—a humbling reminder of nature's power. The journey through Endicott Arm was more than a scenic cruise, it was an intimate encounter with the raw, dynamic forces that shape Alaska's wilderness. The memories of shimmering glaciers, playful seals, and towering cliffs will linger, a testament to the allure of this pristine frontier.
