The first evening and full day of our voyage were full of learning, adventure, and exploration. We began with time on the bow to watch for wildlife, and we discovered our first coastal brown bear just before sunset. Our morning viewings revealed many birds and misty scenery all around. After breakfast and safety briefings, our photo instructor presented tips for photographing with smartphones and photography overall. Immediately after, we were treated to a humpback whale not far from the ship. After a delicious lunch, we made a wet landing on shore near Lake Eva, where we spent the afternoon kayaking and hiking in the rainforest. A fun start to our trip!
5/3/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area
National Geographic Sea Lion cruised throughout the night, heading south through Lynn Canal and making her way towards Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area. Early in the morning, we were on approach to Holkham Bay, where we “crossed the bar,” which consists of glacial outwash at the entrance to an extensive fjord system. This wilderness area was established by Congress in 1980, and 653,179 acres of land fall under federal wilderness protection. This fjord system is made up of two arms approximately thirty miles in length. Our goal was Endicott Arm, where we would spend the entire day. During the last ice age, thousands of feet of ice covered this entire area. When the retreat of ice began, these fjords were carved by that ice. This allowed sea water to enter, offering excellent cruising for many ships. National Geographic Sea Lion spent the day cruising and dropping in many of our kayaks and Zodiacs, so all had a chance to paddle and/or cruise this picturesque waterway.
