Today we woke up to our first sunny day in Southeast Alaska. We spent the morning exploring Pavlof Harbor, which is a great place for watching the salmon that just started running upstream in the Pavlof River. Some guests hiked to the waterfall for a relaxing morning on the tidelines, others paddled the harbor via kayak and stand-up paddleboard, while others toured the bay on Zodiac rides. After our action-packed morning, we headed out to Chatham Strait, where we cruised for wildlife, spotting harbor porpoises, seabirds, and humpback whales. We ended the day with cocktails on the bow and got one last showing of humpback whales that breached off the bow of National Geographic Venture as the golden hour began.
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.
