Our first full day in Southeast Alaska began with quite a magical start! As we cruised through the forested Sergius Narrows, we spotted a humpback whale bubble-net feeding in Peril Strait. Humpback whales spend all summer long feeding in Alaska, and we all spent the morning oohing and aahing as we enjoyed watching the whale use this unique feeding technique to catch herring. In the afternoon, we rode Zodiacs ashore to explore beautiful Ushk Bay. We wandered through a meadow sprinkled with wildflowers, crossed creeks in our muck boots, and began exploring the temperate rainforest. The typical Southeast Alaska rain showers rolled in as we ended our hikes, and we were happy to head back to National Geographic Venture for an evening of cocktails, dinner, and a presentation on the temperate rainforest we had just explored.
9/9/2023
Read
National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay
Morning fog swallowed the Southeast Alaskan wilderness. As we cruised into Ushk Bay, anticipation seized the vessel. This morning’s hikes and Zodiac cruises were to be our final operations of the trip; every last one of us was eager to be ensconced in the wonders of the Tongass once again. Following a delicious breakfast — prepared by head chef Paul Cotta and his dedicated team — we set out for shore. Through a light rain we cruised on Zodiacs toward our landing, scattering bald eagles and common mergansers that had congregated along the shore. Ushk Bay’s annual salmon run was nearing its conclusion —and we could smell it. The shoreline was littered with rotting carcasses of pink and chum salmon, many of which were picked apart by corvids, gulls, and bears. Whether or not any of these individuals survived long enough to spawn is a mystery, but there is one certainty amidst this carnage — their sacrifice is not in vain. Their carcasses will enrich this place, injecting the forest with nutrients from the sea. Our last afternoon was spent cruising toward our anchorage near Sitka. The final day of a Lindblad Expeditions cruise is always a hard day. We have all forged new bonds in the fires of wilderness. Every one of us has found ourselves challenged and rewarded, humbled and humored, inspired and inspirational throughout this week. Our new bonds will, thanks to modern technology, be preserved in photographs and videos. Many will be carried on through photos and emails, but this group will never be reconstituted. Though it’s hard to say goodbye, the impermanence of this troupe makes the experience all the more poignant. These adventurers will surely be missed.
