The morning sun found the guests of National Geographic Venture twenty or so miles into the main channel of Glacier Bay National Park. After a stop at Bartlett Cove to pick up our guest speaker, Park Ranger Michael, we were already nearing our first wildlife hotspot: South Marble Island. There we found hundreds of sea lions, dozens of puffins, mother otters with their babies, and a variety of other seabirds. Our next stop was Gloomy Knob, where we saw a record five bears and no less than thirty mountain goats, while humpback whales breeched on the far side of the ship. On the other side of Russell Cut, we had drinks in front of Margerie Glacier. As we pulled away she gave an epic calving, to the applause of all upon the sundeck. We ended our day taking photos of Lamplugh Glacier before slowly making our way out of the park. An unforgettable day.
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.