Our first hint of the temperate rainforest greeted us this morning with scattered rain, mist, and mountains, providing the perfect backdrop for our hikes ashore. We also launched our fleet of kayaks into the serene and quiet waters of Lowe Inlet. The theme this morning was all about reflections. The low tide and calm winds allowed for beautiful, reflective scenes, whether we were hiking or kayaking. The water was glass-like and provided the most tranquil scene that was only disturbed by the movement of a paddle stroke. On shore, guests had the chance to casually walk throughout the intertidal zone, where each step they took had the sponginess of the rockweed, the crunch of barnacles, and the chatter of ravens to keep them company. Guests could also do a bit more exploring on one of the two bushwhack hikes, and they had the chance to meander along the shore as well as into the forest for a completely different adventure. Berries, fungi, and even carnivorous plants awaited those who ventured deep into the thickets of trees. After our morning explorations at Lowe Inlet, the ship weighed anchor and headed back out into the Glenville Channel and towards Prince Royal Island in search of wildlife.
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.
