It was a beautiful morning as we approached Williams Cove, our ship surrounded by mist and fog. The sky was blue and the sun was shining as we began our hiking and kayak adventures. It was the first day of kayaking on the voyage, and we were all excited to stretch our arms and explore the waters from a new vantage point. After a beautiful sunny morning, we made our way up Endicott Arm towards South Sawyer Glacier, our afternoon destination. Once we arrived the Zodiacs were launched and we cruised up towards the glacier, through ice and rain, until we arrived at the face of this massive icy spectacle. We were surrounded by seals and crackling ice, an amazing way to end this fantastic day in South East Alaska.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 06 Sep 2017
Williams Cove and South Sawyer Glacier, 9/6/2017, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Max Seigal, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Max Seigal grew up in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, and spent his early years working at his parent’s veterinary clinic, which sparked his love for animals. At a young age, Max fell in love with conservation and travel. He studied abroad in both Costa...
Read MoreMark Clement, Videographer
Mark Clement grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York, where he developed a deep appreciation for wild places at a young age. Now living in the Green Mountains of Vermont, he has made a career out of capturing the beau...
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Treasures of the Inside Passage
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Johnstone Straight and Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Billowing wisps of fog ribboned their way among the drooping bows of Sitka spruce as our ship cut through Johnstone Straight. Uncle Jim showed us many of his priceless treasures. Marveled by the craftsmanship of cedar spoons and intricate beadwork, the highlight was the opportunity to lay hands on a Chilkoot blanket, only ever seen behind protective panes of glass. The rain showers slowed as the gangway was lowered, and we took to the streets of Alert Bay. On foot or by bus, we made our way to U’mista Cultural Center. Enriching artifacts lined the walls for us to see, while outside we heard tales from a master carver and got to witness the artist in his element. A truly unique experience awaited us in the big house. Dancers in well-detailed regalia stomped and twisted in concert while the white smoke wisps weaved in the spaces between us and a nearly forgotten culture. The tribe invited us down for one last dance, and as we walked out the doors of the big house, wonder and joy reflected on our smiling faces.
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Desolation Sound
Today was a lovely introduction to the expectations of this temperate rainforest. Our morning was spent cruising towards Desolation Sound in search of wildlife. We had an incredible presentation from our Tlingit guest speaker, Jim Thomas, and an introduction to smartphone photography with a presentation from Photo Instructor Alex. After lunch, guests had two rounds of Zodiac tours into Prideaux Haven, a stunning glacially carved archipelago filled with sea stars, algae, ducks, and the misty mystical-ness of British Columbia. It was a fun full day on board National Geographic Quest !









