Skanax Bay, Southeast Alaska, 6/15/2021, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
We awoke before breakfast to enjoy the sights of humpback whales diving and feeding at the mouth of Saginaw Bay. Fresh coffee was brewing as a young calf kept alongside its mother as she rested between breaths. A playful sea otter seemed to want to play with the calf while the mother skirted her child away. Harbor seals lay on rocks nearby, looking on with curiosity, as the National Geographic Quest sailed past. Kelp forests floated near shore harboring a striking diversity of invertebrates and algae.
While our dive boat went out to collect footage to share, our guests explored a section of Skanax Bay known as Halleck Harbor. Kayaks and paddleboards scattered themselves around the bay to allow our guests to get up close and personal with the intertidal life of Southeast Alaska. Meanwhile, several guests embarked on a bushwhack across Kuiu Island, eventually meeting up with the rest of beach party.
Born and raised on the edge of the Mojave Desert, Nick was accustomed to hot dry days, far from the ocean. Everything changed when he attended California State University Monterey Bay, a short 1.5 miles from the beaches of Central California. This is...
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Steve fell in love with the beauty of the natural world at an early age. In addition to nature, his other main passion was telling stories though the medium of television and radio. Steve studied broadcast jo...
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.
Today we woke up to a beautiful sunny day here in Southeast Alaska. After a quick breakfast, we hopped into our Zodiacs and began an extended cruise around the Inian Islands. This is an incredible place for wildlife viewing. All the water that fills the Icy Strait and the northern part of the Inside Passage rushes in from the Pacific Ocean. The continental shelf becomes shallower very quickly here. As a result, there is a great deal of upwelling, which brings nutrient rich water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface. It is because of this that everything comes here to feed. As we set out, the rare sight of a cloudless view of the Fairweather Mountain Range greeted us. Soon, curious Steller sea lions started to check out our Zodiacs. We enjoyed fantastic views of pelagic cormorants as they rested among the kelp-covered rocks. After a quick ride, we began seeing sea otters and their pups nestled in bull kelp. They looked on, unfazed as our cameras clicked away. We also enjoyed a rare treat when we saw tufted puffins in the water and flying around us. As we came to the point and rounded the island, we observed multiple groups of sea lions hauled out on the rocks. Some massive males vied for dominance. It was feeding time, and the sea lions jumped in the water excitedly as the tide rushed in. Eagles and gulls filled the sky as they dove for scraps left behind by the sea lions. It was hard to know where to look, as there was so much activity all around us. After lunch, we headed over to George Island. We went on a gorgeous hike through a hemlock and Sitka spruce forest to an abandoned gun from World War 2. The forest was alive with birdcalls and moss growing as far as the eye could see. Once back on the ship, we sailed towards our next destination. From the bow, we spotted humpback whales and brown bears. Right as everyone was heading to bed, we were called back out to watch a pod of orca whales just off the bow. Today was truly magical.
