The final day of our voyage was dedicated to Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area, a remote and rugged spot south of Juneau with the highest level of federal ecosystem protection. Local glaciers have advanced and retreated numerous times within this fjord network since the last Ice Age, carving the distinctive round-topped peaks, U-shaped valleys, and resulting vegetation patterns. Our destination, South Sawyer glacier, flows out of the Stikine Icecap and features a jumbled, crevasse-filled face reaching several hundred feet above sea level. Following four days of stunning, sunny weather, late-afternoon rain and fog introduced an important part of the character of southeast Alaska. Without this precipitation, the ecosystems, wildlife, and landscapes we have come to know would cease to exist. We concluded our day—and our expedition together—with a preview of the voyage chronicle as well as a post-dinner slideshow highlighting the week’s discoveries.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 21 Aug 2018
Tracy Arm, Southeast Alaska, 8/21/2018, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Alaska
Deb Goodwin, Naturalist
Passionate about creating opportunities for explorers of all ages to engage with wild places, Deb embraces the power of immersive experiences to inspire curiosity and conservation. Extended backcountry expeditions as a teen jumpstarted this commitmen...
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Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands and Tracy Arm Fjord
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