It seems that the Inian Islands always hold wonderful experiences. We started our morning with Zodiac cruises, where we encountered a large group of Steller sea lions, watched as sea otters laid wrapped in bull kelp, and took photographs of bald eagles perched on a low-hanging branch. We have certainly enjoyed the sunshine we’ve had all week, but it was great to give our guests a true taste of Southeast Alaskan weather today. The clouds seemed to pour over the mountains, creating a truly magical setting, and the rain held off, giving us near perfect conditions. We then filled the afternoon with more fun activities off the ship in Idaho Inlet. It proved to be the perfect place to explore by kayak, as well as on foot.
5/29/2023
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National Geographic Venture
Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park is the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit clans. Covering over three million acres of land, this striking environment lends itself well to discussions about primary succession, a characteristic of temperate rainforests and glaciation. National Geographic Venture started its day with hikes and photography instruction around Bartlett Cove. The ship’s naturalists discussed various aspects of primary succession and temperate rainforests while finding baneberry, fiddleheads, and morel mushrooms. The hikes ended with observing the preserved skeleton of a whale named Snow, a humpback whale killed by a ship strike in 2001. Once all crew and guests were on board, the ship ventured farther into Glacier Bay National Park. Along the way, we observed incredible sightings of humpback whales, Steller sea lions, sea otters, tufted puffins, bald eagles, and a variety of other animals. Farther north, we passed by Gloomy Knob where guests and staff spotted mountain goats whose white fur contrasted well with the dark rocky habitat. Finally, guests and staff celebrated the end of another magical day in Southeast Alaska with cocktail hour while viewing Margerie Glacier calving. The incredible landscape of Southeast Alaska, and particularly Glacier Bay, is an awe-inspiring world that lends itself to exploration and conservation.
