Anacapa & Santa Cruz Islands, 10/18/2018, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Channel Islands, California
As the sun rose over the waters of the Pacific, National Geographic Sea Lion prepared to
drop anchor in the Channel Islands National Park for the very first time. An
early morning exhale stretch and yoga class onboard readied guests for our
exploration of the park’s two easternmost islands, Anacapa and Santa Cruz, by
kayak, hike, and expedition
landing crafts. These opportunities showcased the terrestrial diversity, marine
abundance, and cultural history that make the islands such a unique cornerstone
of the California coastline and such a hidden gem of the park’s system.
A childhood surrounded by the woods and streams of Pennsylvania initially sparked Alex’s curiosity about nature. That curiosity eventually led him to pursue degrees in biology and environmental studies at Boston College. During his time there he cond...
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“26 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a’waitin for me.” Well, it wasn’t 26 miles and we didn’t arrive via the Los Angeles area; instead, we came in through the back door, across 115 miles from San Miguel Island. We arrived at Little Harbor just before dawn. The swells were a bit large, but an offshore reef protects Little Harbor, making the area calm enough for water activities. Almost everyone enjoyed kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding for half the morning. Then, we went hiking on a choice of trails. Some guests went for the overlook; others explored the beach at Shark Cove. The beach yielded several geological and biological treasures, as well as plastic, which we dutifully collected for disposal. After lunch, we sailed to Two Harbors on the sheltered side of the island. Again, several guests went on hikes, while others opted for a Zodiac cruise around Isthmus Cove. They viewed large flocks of cormorants and pelicans on Bird Rock (an apt name), as well as a large male sea lion and his harem. Captain’s Dinner awaited us when we returned to National Geographic Quest , followed by the traditional slide show that displays our guests’ considerable photographic talents. Tomorrow, we sail to the harbor in San Pedro, where we will head off to various ‘harbors’ in the US. It was a grand cruise. Among our many memorable experiences, we viewed firsthand the remarkable success of bringing the island fox, the grey whale, and the brown pelican from near extinction to near historical levels. We also observed the rebounding ecosystems that result from the removal of invasive species. We have seen living proof that we can make a difference if we use our minds, talents, and creativity to solve conservation issues.
We woke up to a stunning sunrise while anchored off Santa Rosa Island. While some of us started the day with morning stretches on the sundeck, the rest of our guests (and staff) watched grey whales pass by the bow of National Geographic Quest . It was such a fantastic way to start the day. Our guests divided into groups to spend the afternoon exploring Santa Rosa. They admired everything the area has to offer, especially the renowned, endemic Torrey pine forests. These forests are among the rarest in the world, as they only occur in two places on Earth. Not only were they stunning, but they also proved a fantastic spot to have our picnic lunches. Occasionally, we caught glimpses of one of the tiny, elusive island foxes; they are also an endemic species! The weather was so lovely that some of us even went for a swim. We celebrated our day over cocktails on the ship while listening to our National Geographic explorer, Brian Kastle, share some stories about his research. Our ship simultaneously circumnavigated Santa Rosa, and then we finished our day watching the sunset over San Miguel Island.
On our first morning of this Wild California Escape, National Geographic Quest ventured to two of the four northernmost Channel Islands. Acquired by the National Park Service in the mid-1980s, the Channel Islands provide a window for us. Through it, we can see what the coast of California may have looked like before European colonization. The first island, Anacapa, does not have many places to land, so we took to the sea in a fleet of Zodiacs. Cruising along the coastline, we kept an eye out for marine mammals. Thousands of nesting pelicans, cormorants, and gulls dove into the plentiful sea around us. As we enjoyed a delicious lunch, National Geographic Quest sailed west to an anchorage in Prisoner’s Harbor off Santa Cruz Island. Here, we got our first glimpses of some of the endemic species found on these islands. These sightings included the Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, which lives only on this island!
