Day one of Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness on National Geographic Quest proved to be a very wet and windy adventure. After traversing Sergius Narrows in the morning and listening to all required safety briefings, guests aboard looked forward to an afternoon of kayaking and hiking. Mother nature had other intentions, and the wind and rain picked up as we made our way to Lake Eva. Hikers assigned to round one made it ashore for their first encounter in the Tongass National Rainforest. Conditions worsened by round two, and the call was made to stay aboard the ship. Today, the temperate rainforest lived up to its name.
9/4/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Kelp Bay and Hidden Falls
It was drizzling a bit as we made our way to the scenic anchorage at Kelp Bay. Through the drizzle, we were excited to see a sow brown bear with her two cubs fishing for salmon in the stream! It was a fantastic start to an amazing day. Our guests went on some beautiful hikes through the dense temperate rainforest, which had the fresh scent of rain and evergreens. One of the hikes led to a muskeg and a huge beaver pond. It was worth the effort to get there. During lunch, we repositioned National Geographic Quest to a bay near Hidden Falls where there is a salmon hatchery. At the hatchery, the air buzzed with activity as brown bears, Steller sea lions, and birds feasted on the salmon schooling at the fish ladder. The massive bears of varying ages and sizes stood poised to strike at the wriggling fish. They snatch their prey in their powerful paws and jaws. This time of year, the bears are hyper focused on feeding, so they can replenish their reserves before their winters sleep. Our viewing of the bears was a thrilling reminder of nature’s raw and untamed beauty.