As the National Geographic Sea Lion cruised toward Ideal Cove in beautiful morning sunshine, we awoke to humpback whales blowing and feeding around the bow of the ship. After enjoying our time with the whales, we enjoyed our own breakfast and disembarked in the expedition landing crafts to explore the beautiful forest of Ideal Cove. In the afternoon, we arrived in the fishing village of Petersburg, a quaint Southeast Alaskan town in the heart of Alaska’s inside passage.
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.
