Early in the morning National Geographic Venture sailed into Holkham Bay, and made a turn into the Endicott Arm in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area. We sailed up and into Fords Terror, taking in the beautiful scenery and sheer cliff walls of this part of the fjord. A black bear was spotted near a waterfall and after eating a bit on the shore, it began to climb the seemingly impossible steep cliffs with ease. After lunch National Geographic Venture was positioned with a distant view of the Dawes Glacier, and everyone set out for a Zodiac tour through the ice that had calved off the face in the past few days. We saw harbor seals on the ice at a distance, and a few swimming in the water. The weather was ever changing, and there was some pelting rain, but everyone had a great time in the midst of all the stunning wilderness.
9/4/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Kelp Bay and Hidden Falls
It was drizzling a bit as we made our way to the scenic anchorage at Kelp Bay. Through the drizzle, we were excited to see a sow brown bear with her two cubs fishing for salmon in the stream! It was a fantastic start to an amazing day. Our guests went on some beautiful hikes through the dense temperate rainforest, which had the fresh scent of rain and evergreens. One of the hikes led to a muskeg and a huge beaver pond. It was worth the effort to get there. During lunch, we repositioned National Geographic Quest to a bay near Hidden Falls where there is a salmon hatchery. At the hatchery, the air buzzed with activity as brown bears, Steller sea lions, and birds feasted on the salmon schooling at the fish ladder. The massive bears of varying ages and sizes stood poised to strike at the wriggling fish. They snatch their prey in their powerful paws and jaws. This time of year, the bears are hyper focused on feeding, so they can replenish their reserves before their winters sleep. Our viewing of the bears was a thrilling reminder of nature’s raw and untamed beauty.