We arrived in Foch-Gilttoyees Provincial Park early in the morning, slowly entering the final stretch of the park as the sun rose over the surrounding peaks. The passengers and naturalists amassed on the bow to watch for megafauna and chat while the day warmed up. After breakfast, the Zodiacs hit the water for a tour of the aquatic sections of the park with a brief excursion up the river mouth. Guests were delighted to see eagles, waterfowl, and harbor seals exploring the intertidal inlets and pools. After a return to the ship, guests ate lunch and departed a second time for land excursions and water activities (kayaking and paddleboarding). After exploring the old growth forests and intertidal regions, the hikers returned to the ship as the sun passed behind the surrounding peaks. As the ship set sail for our next destination, guests discussed the day’s experiences and enjoyed supper. Overall, the location and weather provided an amazing experience that guests and staff will not soon forget.
9/22/2024
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National Geographic Venture
Green Inlet
Our last day in the Great Bear Rainforest proved to be one full of excitement, education, and awe. After dropping anchor in the idyllic glacial fjord of Green Inlet, we set out to explore the rocky shoreline and forested granitic fjord walls. The dense fog gradually turned into a wispy mist, which exposed different peaks and valleys of the forest as it moved through. We took turns kayaking through a delightful cove that was loaded with ochre sea stars, rockweed, and blue mussels so thick and dense that the rock they were attached to was hardly visible between them. A river otter scurried along the shore and bald eagles soared above us. From the Zodiacs we visited nearly a dozen thunderous waterfalls that were running hard and fast from the heavy overnight rains. We observed harbor seals observing us back; they were quietly periscoping their furry heads up and out of the water as we approached the rapids where they were hunting salmon making their final journeys upriver to spawn. Upon our return to National Geographic Venture , expedition diver Nick Brown shared his extensive underwater video footage from the area. His presentation was interrupted, of course, by whale sightings, which we rushed onto the bow to appreciate.
