On our final day cruising, the passengers (and expedition leader) of the National Geographic Sea Lion decided to go out with a splash! Cruising from Sitka to Juneau, we spent the day transiting the 30-mile long glacially carved fiord of Endicott Arm, one of three fiords in Tracy Arm and Ford’s Terror Wilderness area and just 50 miles south of Juneau. Designated part of the Tongass National Forest in the early 1900’s, it was not until 1980 that Jimmy Carter designated the approximately 650,000 acres of this wild, scenic and untouched area as wilderness.
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.
