Dawes Glacier sits at the end of Endicott Arm — a narrow fjord carved by this incredible river of ice. We had an amazing opportunity to be part of Dawes Glacier’s life today and we did not take that for granted. The ice conditions were perfect for exploring all this place has to offer, allowing our bridge officers to navigate National Geographic Quest quite close to the glacier’s face. Our Zodiacs allowed us to explore even closer for great views of resting harbor seals on ice and the odd Arctic tern that flew over our heads. What a truly remarkable way to end a magnificent voyage. Thank you for sailing with us, Noble Caledonia!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 20 Jul 2024
Endicott Arm, Southeast Alaska, 7/20/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Nick Brown, Divemaster
Born and raised on the edge of the Mojave Desert, Nick was accustomed to hot dry days, far from the ocean. Everything changed when he attended California State University Monterey Bay, a short 1.5 miles from the beaches of Central California. This is...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/10/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Salt Chuck Bay
We started the morning in Salt Chuck Bay under beautiful, partly sunny skies. We had perfect conditions for our first kayaking adventure. The sandy beach at low tide allowed kayakers an easy entrance into the serene and quiet world of paddling. While some guests paddled away, the rest of the group explored the intertidal zone and took a quick walk in the forest. The afternoon weather held, and we enjoyed one of the expedition team’s favorite activities: exploring the Inian Islands by Zodiac. Steller sea lions argued and growled on the rocks, birds flew overhead, and sea otters roiled in the currents. It all made for a perfect afternoon.
6/9/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Chatham Strait
We were met today with ideal Alaskan weather: crisp, clear, and calm. We enjoyed perfect conditions for hiking through the forests and alluvial meadow of Ushk Bay. We split into groups depending on hiking desires and set off into the wilderness. We hiked on game trails through forests of western hemlock and Sitka spruce, crossed shallow streams, gazed at spring wildflowers, and investigated intertidal organisms. It was a lovely morning of stretching our legs and exploring the temperate rainforest. In the afternoon, we cruised along the gorgeous fjords of Peril Strait and Chatham Strait, where we searched for wildlife. We were delighted to find a humpback whale that was repeatedly diving and coming up to the surface to lunge feed. It was rolling and slapping its pectoral fins and putting on quite a display of behaviors that were a joy to watch. It was a wonderful first day of expeditions aboard National Geographic Quest .