Southeast Alaska is a place of islands and fjords, and of land intertwined with sea, and today we enjoyed a full experience of both. Hikes and walks on Kuiu Island took us into the temperate rainforest, while kayakers paddled the nearby bay. There was plenty of marine wildlife to be seen as we cruised Southeast’s biggest fjord, and in the afternoon we heard the latest information about that wildlife from Andy Szavbo of Alaska Whale Foundation, who joined us from his nearby research station.
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.
