Waking to a picturesque northwest morning, the National Geographic Sea Lion maneuvered through the mist and mountains of northern British Columbia. Exploring the Grenville Channel, we found our anchorage in the the Klewnuggit Inlet. Branching off to a variety of activity options, the guests found themselves hiking along the shoreline, cruising amidst the islands in our expedition landing crafts, or cutting through the water with a paddle to explore the intertidal zone in a kayak. On shore, the guests found the terrain to be especially spongy covered by the extensive moss that the moist temperate rain forest provides. Focusing on macro photography, guests leaned and kneeled to capture the skunk cabbage and reflective beauty of the water droplets that cling to the flora acting as windows to the natural world.
Within the expedition landing crafts and kayaks, the guests were privy to sightings of bald eagles perched high upon the snags, gazing down into the water in wait for available prey. The wildlife highlights included a river otter, harbor seal, along with some barrows goldeneye ducks. Cruising along the still water, the low tide turned a lake run off into a waterfall, allowing for a vision of the constant change of the intertidal zone - a daily, constant change that is often beyond the reach of our own imagination. It is easy to speak of nature’s beauty, but it is not until you find yourself amongst it that the stillness takes hold of you. Since leaving Seattle, our voyage has brought us farther and farther away from the known, and into the wild world of the Inside Passage.
With its thousands of islands, there is no shortage of discovery lending moments of opportunity found nowhere else in the world. It is inevitable aboard these voyages to look out upon the world around you and find that in turn you are adding meaning to your own life by placing yourself amidst it. After another delicious meal, we were privileged to listen to National Geographic Fellow Jon Waterhouse - a member of the Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council. The global span of his experience emphasizes the basic needs of clean water that all humans need, no matter what nation, creed, or country they spring from. We are beyond the need for proof. The effort to protect the resources of our planet is needed now, and stewards like Jon and the tribal leaders in his collected council are raising their voice. It is only up to us to listen.
