On our first full day aboard National Geographic Quest, we awoke to sun and blue skies as we cruised into Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area. Many of us spent the morning watching for black bears and mountain goats from the bow until we arrived at our destination: South Sawyer Glacier. We hopped into Zodiacs and cruised up to the glacier front, watching massive icebergs calve as we listened to “white thunder” boom through the fjord. Some of us were even greeted by friendly Vikings delivering warm drinks to our Zodiacs. After a successful glacier day, we cruised out of Tracy Arm Fjord admiring the glacial scouring across the rocks and the turquoise waters of this magical place. Today was a great start to our voyage.
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.