On this blue-sky day cruising through Glacier Bay National Park, stunning scenes were all around us. Recent snow covered the high and jagged peaks, wildlife sightings were frequent and varied, the cool air was invigorating, the Margerie and Johns Hopkins Glaciers (in addition to others along the way) were spectacular, and all while the sun sparkled against the calm, glassy sea below us. Rafts of sea otters, some with a pup in tow, stellar sea lions, humpback whales, tufted puffins, a wolf, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, yellow-billed loons, mountain goats, bald eagles, marbled murrelets, and black-legged kittiwakes were some of the day’s many sightings.
9/4/2024
Read
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.