National Geographic Quest visited the low-lying limestone landscape of northwestern Kuiu Island today. Our morning at Halleck Harbor provided a mix of familiar and new. Hikers encountered several “new-to-us” forest understory plants associated with the bedrock’s regionally unique chemistry. Farther-ranging, bushwhack-style hikes glimpsed signs of beaver. Kayakers enjoyed launching from an even, soft gravel beach to share a calm bay with sea otters and abundant intertidal life. A few fortunate paddlers spotted a black bear on the beach.
The afternoon brought exploration via Zodiac of the maze of long, narrow, glacially-gouged Keku Islands. Bald eagles and marbled murrelets abounded, while sea lions and black oystercatchers made occasional appearances. Moss and wildflowers provided lovely hanging garden grottos on limestone walls towering over narrow channels. Glassy waters reflected a mix of sun and passing rain showers. Rainbows and humpback whales highlighted a gorgeous evening of cruising Frederick Sound.
