Slight shifts are noticeable to the discerning eye aboard the National Geographic Quest. The days are shortening and darkness at night is deepening. The early bird guests aren’t up quite as early as previous evenings, as whale watching kept them up late. The beautiful hum of conversation envelops the lounge as guests share their experiences of wonder.
Petersburg provided the backdrop for today’s activities: walks around the muskeg and Petersburg Mountain, Zodiac cruising amongst the fishing fleet and canneries, and bike riding with a short walk in some old growth forest. In the late afternoon on my return to the Quest, I espied a Bonaparte’s gull in the channel and wished him a good day.
An educator at heart, Dan finds great joy in helping others explore and connect with the world around them. He has taught marine sciences in the Florida Keys and on Catalina Island, science and math in international schools in Mexico, Costa Rica, and ...
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!
We’ve had an extraordinary few days on National Geographic Quest . This morning was meant to be a calm cruise as we made our way towards our afternoon anchorage. A chance for us to rest and perhaps revive some of our serotonin levels. Unfortunately, our guests were subjected to yet more unbelievable wildlife before breakfast was even completed. Captain Lyon described what looked like cooperative feeding by humpbacks ten miles in front of the ship’s position. Guests, staff, and crew lined the bow with our binoculars and spotting scopes glued to the water. We spotted a multitude of spouts in the distance and confirmed no less than ten humpback whales. As we approached, guests were notified that perhaps it would be worthwhile to leave breakfast for later. What followed was an unbelievable display for all. Working as a team, twelve humpback whales engaged in bubble-net feeding. The whales surfaced seven times. At many points, the entire bow erupted in applause. Undersea specialist Amy Malkoski and expedition diver Luke Manson deployed the ship’s hydrophone so we could hear the singing whales as they hunted. It was a truly unbelievable start to the day. We continued cruising toward our next location, taking a brief detour to visit Kasnyku Falls to take pictures before lunch. Luck was on our side, and the weather and the tides made it possible for us to stop at the rarely visited Takatz Bay. We deployed hikers and kayakers for a truly unforgettable afternoon. Our guests enjoyed a bushwhack hike through untouched forests to view the ocean in a neighboring cove. Fresh bear trails and deer prints lined the way. A calm, clear day allowed for photos of perfect reflections from our kayaks later in the afternoon. More than a few drinks were raised in the lounge to toast our amazing day. We told stories about our day long after dinner was over. We now turn our eyes to tomorrow morning, when we will visit historic Petersburg. Photographers: Luke Manson and Shayne Sanders
It’s not every day that a trip into the depths of a fjord, situated within a temperate rainforest, is dry and warm. No more than a few drops of rain fell on us today as we plied the ice-choked waters of Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area in our pursuit of Dawes Glacier. Dawes Glacier is the tidewater juggernaut that scoured and sculpted the landscape we zigzagged our way down this morning before taking to our fleet of Zodiacs for a day on the water. The day included not only ice tours but about 50 splashes (followed by screams) as over half our ship plunged into the glacially infused water. On our last day of the trip, lots of thank-yous and salutations were in order and were delivered wonderfully. Tomorrow we see off our guests and wish them well on their educational and exploratory journeys ahead.