National Geographic Quest anchored Wednesday morning in the calm waters of Kelp Bay. Hikers departed the ship in Zodiacs and made their way across the bay for Baranof Island. A bushwhack through the temperate forest proved a great way to get immersed in the remote beauty of Southeast Alaska. Travelling south down Chatham Strait National Geographic Quest welcomed Andy Szabo onboard to discuss whale research being conducted by the Alaska Whale Foundation in the local area. Orca sightings as the sun dipped in the sky was a fitting way to end another memorable day in Southeast Alaska.
9/3/2022
Read
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.