In the early morning light National Geographic Sea Lion entered Glacier Bay. After picking up our park ranger Nicole Schaub, rangers in training, and Lee and William, two Tlingit cultural interpreters, we began making our way north in Tarr Inlet. In 1794, Captain George Vancouver sailed the H.M.S. Discovery through these waters, making it only to the entrance of what is now Glacier Bay...there he found a wall of ice, now called Grand Pacific Glacier. The ice wall Captain Vancouver encountered has now retreated 65 miles south up Tarr Inlet. Our journey today, would be cruising those 65 miles of Tarr Inlet in search of wildlife and even more; enjoying the visual feast being presented in the early hours of this glorious day! Our trip, so far, has been graced with astounding weather...from the early dawn hours until sunset each day we have watched the slow moving late spring sun stretch across an open blue sky!
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.
