Glacier Bay National Park, 5/11/2022, National Geographic Venture
Aboard the
National Geographic Venture
Alaska
Today National Geographic Venture sailed through Glacier Bay National Park with stunning weather. Deep snow covered the entire landscape of the park. The day began with the thunderous sounds of Margerie Glacier. We then cruised south down the bay spotting whales, birds, mountain goats, and even a coastal brown bear. Gloomy Knob, South Marble Island, and Russel Cut were just a few of the places that we sailed past taking in the views and wildlife.
Nathan Kelley developed his love for nature as a kid at his family’s cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Family fishing trips, camping, hiking and a trip to his first National Park in the Everglades, all vigorously shaped his passion for the natural world. ...
Our last lovely day in the Great Bear Rainforest was full of excitement, education, and awe. After dropping anchor in the idyllic glacier 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 corners 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 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, quietly periscoping their furry heads up and out of the water as we approached the rapids where harlequin ducks and surf scoters held court along the shoreline. After lunch we were greeted by a trio of transient killer whales that swam circles around National Geographic Venture . Later, Certified Photo Instructor Rich Reid was interrupted by humpback whales, which we rushed onto the bow to appreciate.
Today we explored Calvert Island, British Columbia, which is about halfway between Washington state and Alaska. We hiked through damp, green rainforest, we strolled along a sandy beach observing shorebirds and searching for treasures washed up by the tide, and we learned about the Hakai Institute, a teaching and research organization which serves the central British Columbia coast.
The ocean shimmered all around us as we cruised along looking for wildlife this morning. Amidst sightings of harbor seals, sea lions, and many different types of birds, we learned more about the ecosystems around us during presentations from our field staff. This afternoon we went ashore to Alert Bay where we had an amazing, educational, and joyful time experiencing the culture and people that live here. Our undersea team took this time to explore all the beautiful life living underneath the dock upon which we landed to go ashore.
