Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada, 9/19/2024, National Geographic Venture
Aboard the
National Geographic Venture
Alaska
This morning, we realized we were on a true expedition. Our Expedition and Bridge teams worked together to find an area that National Geographic Venture, or any of our vessels for that matter, had never been. Therefore, every hike we did this morning was exploratory. We found beaches where the intertidal was explored, beds of rivers and streams to trudge through, and sharp inclines perfectly suited for bushwhacking.
In the afternoon, we took all our guests on a 2-hour long Zodiac ride through an unbelievably stunning salmon river. We were surrounded by lush forest, ice capped mountains, and dramatic waterfalls. A truly spectacular day.
Born and raised on the edge of the Mojave Desert, Nick was accustomed to hot dry days, far from the ocean. Everything changed when he attended California State University Monterey Bay, a short 1.5 miles from the beaches of Central California. This is...
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Today was our first day away from civilization, delving into the wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. National Geographic Venture gently entered the mirror-like waters of an inlet. Surrounded by mountains covered in cloud-topped trees, we deployed our expedition crafts: Zodiacs, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. It was a gorgeous morning experiencing the intertidal areas of this rainforest. In the afternoon, we put in the time to search for marine mammals. And wow! Our time spent searching was rewarded. We encountered around a dozen humpback whales. Watching their behaviors and even being close enough to hear them breathe was an experience none of our guests will forget. It was an awesome day here in the Great Bear Rainforest aboard National Geographic Venture .
Our day began with a thrilling Zodiac cruise through the serene waters of Kitasoo Xai'Xais Territory, where we marveled at stunning waterfalls cascading into tranquil fjords. The morning's calmness was perfect for kayaking, allowing us to glide through reflective waters and soak in the peaceful beauty of the landscape. After lunch, we ventured into the surrounding channels in our Zodiacs, scanning for wildlife. We were rewarded with sightings of seals and seabirds in their natural habitat. The highlight of the afternoon was a visit to the historic, abandoned town of Butedale. The contrast between the ghostly ruins and lush environment was striking, enriched by our guide’s tales of its past. Today’s expedition was a blend of natural splendor and historical intrigue, leaving us with lasting memories of Kitasoo Xai'Xais Territory’s unique beauty.
The fjords of the Great Bear Rainforest rarely give a free pass without an excess of humidity. But today, what appeared to be a light rain quickly proved to be a mere bit of seasonal dew. Today’s destination was an island known for its population of bears with a very exclusive set of genes. These bears, described by William Hornaday for his friend Frank Kermode, belong to the only population of American black bears on Earth that contains a small subset of all white, non-albino individuals — the spirit bears. As we were preparing to load our Zodiacs for the first round of hikes, we were surprised by an announcement from the bridge: a spirit bear had been spotted at the mouth of the river that we were to hike along. Since sightings of this mythical beast are so rare, all preparations were put on hold, so that as many guests as possible could view this ghostly being from our bow. Once the white bear had faded from sight we resumed our debarkation. When we arrived at the viewing platforms, we found ourselves at the edge of a stream that was full of spawning salmon! Immersed as we were in this land of life and death, our allotted time slipped by in a flash. Returning to the ship, we began cocktail hour, only to be treated to an amazing display of group bubble-net feeding by the local humpbacks! It simply does not get any better than this! Photographers: Jeff Campbell, Naturalist , and Alex Joseph, Certified Photo Instructor
