Well, luckily that intense sunshine of yesterday yielded to softer, more normal Southeast Alaska clouds and rain! We spent the morning in Williams Cove, a wonderful place to introduce this part of Alaska while surrounded by beautiful temperate rainforest and immersed in mud. National Geographic Sea Lion then made her way further inland in dramatic Tracey Arm fjord where we took to our trusty, icebreaker rubber boats for a tour through the ice to the front of South Sawyer glacier. On our way back down Tracey Arm fjord, we came upon a large ‘cinnamon’ black bear feeding in the intertidal on algae and barnacles. What a day!
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.
