We awoke to a serene, foggy morning at our safe and secluded anchorage outside Sitka. We cruised through the Sergius Narrows and Peril Strait, enjoying the scenery and looking for wildlife along the way. Following our morning staff introductions, kayak and Zodiac briefings, and the smartphone presentation by our certified photo instructor, we spent the afternoon hiking on Baranof Island near Lake Eva. Our hikes meandered through old growth temperate rainforest, following the stream that cascades down from Lake Eva to the bay. The stream was full of pink salmon making their journey upstream to the lake for spawning. The dwarf dogwoods were full of bunchberries along the trail, and the trees were majestic and full of mosses and lichens. On our return hike, we encountered a brown bear fishing for salmon in the lagoon. While loading the Zodiacs to head back to the ship, we saw the bear again, this time with her two cubs!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 28 Aug 2023
Lake Eva, Baranof Island , 8/28/2023, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Bryan Holliday, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Bryan comes from Illinois, where he was visited by an American Robin at the age of four. This remarkable encounter began his lifelong interest in birds, which led him to study at the University of Illinois, where he earned his B.S. in Ecology and as...
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