It was a fjordeous day in Patterson Bay and Chatham Strait. We woke up to National Geographic Quest inching her way into Patterson Bay, a narrow fjord on the southeast side of Baranof Island. Misty clouds gave way to towering cliffs, hammering home just how small we are in the big scheme of things.

Our morning adventures included kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding tours around the head of the bay and Zodiac tours out towards the mouth. Sea otters, sea stars, and waterfalls cascading down the cliffs were the highlights of the morning.

In the afternoon, we left the narrows of Patterson Bay and cruised north in the openness of Chatham Strait. Humpback whales, marbled murrelets, and Cassin’s auklets kept us company as we sailed through the mercurial waters.