Halleck Harbor & Keku Islands, 7/31/2022, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Alaska
We had a lovely day on board National Geographic Sea Bird. We spent our morning doing hikes in the temperate rainforest on Kuiu Island in the idyllic bay of Halleck Harbor. The sun then came out as we repositioned the ship to the Keku Islands for Zodiac tours.
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. ...
It was our last day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird , and it did not disappoint! Not once, but twice we saw killer whales as we made our way south, and that was after seeing a brown bear on the beach in the morning. The day was filled with wonderful wildlife, and we managed to kayak and Zodiac cruise through the stunning Misty Fjord.
We arrived early to the town of Wrangell, excited to get the activities underway for our morning ashore. The excursion options included a jet boat tour up the Stikine River, a visit to the Shake’s house (traditional Long House), and investigating petroglyphs on a local beach. We returned to National Geographic Sea Bird for a delicious lunch and then went out for the afternoon activities. The options included a visit to the town museum and a hike up Mt. Dewey. We had lovely weather for our wonderful day of exploring.
The misty Alaska landscape was no stranger to us this morning as we woke to anchor in Thomas Bay. Our expedition today took us on tours around more of the Tongass National Forests’ splendor. We embarked on trails to see the falls of Cascade Creek, which were immensely powerful, casting misty spray across the forest of Western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Everything in the forest was incredibly dense, with life in all areas of the over and understory. In the afternoon, we explored Ruth Island, this time bushwacking along a tributary to make our way up to a beaver-dammed pond. The sight was fantastical, set among the forest with reed grass, toads, passerines, and even dense clumps of sundew. Guests adventured with large smiles on their faces as we felt the presence of wild Alaska.
