The first stop we made on our journey through Southeast Alaska was in Tracy Arm where we first went to see the North Sawyer Glacier from the comforts of National Geographic Quest. Majestic waterfalls all around us surely made for the start of an amazing morning and first day of the trip. We then went for Zodiac cruises up to the South Sawyer Glacier. Weaving our way in and out of beautiful ice sculptures in order to get to the face of the glacier and enjoying the sounds of the ice popping and the Harbor seals relaxing on ice flows, we enjoyed an amazing morning watching the calving of the glacier and all the thundering sounds it makes. Afterwards, we cruised out of the fjord and watched as whales spout and bears scavenged the shoreline for mussels and barnacles.
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.
