There was an air of excitement and the anticipation of adventure aboard National Geographic Sea Bird last night as we departed Ketchikan, sailing into the network of waterways and islands that make up Southeast Alaska. Early this morning, those feelings were manifested when a gentle wakeup call came (wait a minute, that's an hour early!) with the words: "Whales have been sighted up ahead." We were in the Behm Canal, ready to explore Misty Fjords, the largest wilderness area in the Tongass National Forest and the largest of the national forests, in the biggest state in the Union.
5/13/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Wrangell
It was a quintessentially Southeast Alaskan morning: cool, blue-gray, and shrouded in ethereal mist. The whole ship was eager to explore the town of Wrangell. As we disembarked, we prepared for many different adventures: most took off up the Stikine River, others enjoyed a stroll along a beach renowned for its petroglyphs, and still others were witnesses to a traditional Tlingit ceremony at Chief Shake’s Tribal House. I spent the morning leading a hike up Mt. Dewey, where guests enjoyed their first taste of the temperate rainforest. Bald eagles, banana slugs, and the spring blooms of the understory were among the highlights. Now we are gathered in the lounge to enjoy libations and merriment as we transit through the Wrangell Narrows. Our expert Bridge team will weave through the constricted passageway, aided by decades of experience and the navigational installments of mariners past. Full of local seafood and eager for tomorrow, we will rest well.