Early this morning, National Geographic Quest welcomed Glacier Bay National Park Service Ranger/Naturalist, John, and Tlingit Cultural Interpreter, Rachel to embark and spend the day with us to relate the remarkable story of Glacier Bay. Cruising up-bay, we were fortunate to find wildlife along the way. The skies cleared into a beautiful day. Reaching the northern extent of our voyage at Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers, our excitement and energy were high as we experienced the “White Thunder” of a calving tidewater glacier. There was scenic viewing all the way back to Bartlett Cove, where we had an opportunity for walks ashore. Back onboard, special guest Kim Heacox, local author/photographer, regaled us with stories and music.
8/1/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Baranof Island
After exploring the glaciers and open waters of the northern Inside Passage, we sailed south through the night and returned to the starting point of our journey, Baranof Island. This island, along with Admiralty to the east and Chichagof to the north, is home to one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world. To search for evidence of the bears as they begin their yearly salmon feast and continue our exploration of the temperate rainforest, we anchored in Kelp Bay to kayak and hike the shoreline throughout the morning. Later in the afternoon, we welcomed Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn more about ongoing research taking place in Alaska on the unique bubblenet feeding behavior we witnessed earlier in the trip. Only in Alaska can you experience the forest, salmon, bears, and whales all in one day.
