The sighting of humpback whales served as the bookend to our day. This morning we awoke to glassy, calm waters of Chatham Strait, where a brown bear sauntered along the shoreline behind a surfacing humpback whale. For the afternoon we anchored in Hanus Bay, offering opportunities to explore the temperate rainforest along the trail to Lake Eva as well as to kayak. Dessert was an extra-special delight this evening – as dinner concluded, we hurried outside to witness the cooperative feeding behavior of a group of bubble netting humpback whales!
9/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
