Bears galore! Upon arrival in the middle fork of Kelp Bay, we spotted two brown bears (mother and cub) walking in a salmon stream looking for a meal. From then on, it was hard to count just how many bears we saw on the beautiful stretch of beach at low tide. Some hikers chose to bushwhack their way through the forest. while others enjoyed viewing the active fishing upon the salmon stream. In the afternoon, we set sail into Chatham Strait where we were treated to some great humpback whale sightings. Another memorable day in Southeast Alaska!
5/19/2022
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National Geographic Venture
Petersburg, Alaska
A rare, gorgeous morning greeted us at the small fishing town of Petersburg. Every finger of the harbor was crowded with fishing boats awaiting the opening of the fishing season. It was a joy to prowl up and down the harbor and admire the vessels that hail from various homeports. Well-groomed trails and boardwalks maintained by the U.S. Forest Service made for excellent hiking through an old growth forest comprised of spruce, hemlock, and even yellow cedar, a rare treasure in Southeast Alaska. The trail ended in a muskeg bog, a vital part of the ecosystem in southeast Alaska and home to a carnivorous plant known as a sundew. As if that wasn’t enough, we had bike tours that explored the Petersburg road system, and many of our guests enjoyed an unforgettable plane ride over the LeConte Glacier!