We sailed south through the night, crossing the border between Alaska and Canada, and woke up next to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. After brunch, we headed ashore to visit the town and surrounding area. Guests explored the temperate rainforest on foot, getting to know some of the local vegetation and a few of the animal inhabitants. We used hand lenses to look at small lichens and mosses, and enjoyed the view out into the surrounding harbor. At the end of the hike we found a salt marsh, which hosts some unique biodiversity and provides crucial habitat for many intertidal and marine species. Some of the guests also traveled to a nearby cannery museum to learn about the region’s industrial history. We learned about fishing practices from the early 1900s and got a first-hand look at the equipment used to package local salmon for shipping around the world. Other guests explored the many shops, cafes, and museums in town. After a full day, we returned to the ship for dinner, drinks, and the wonderful company on board.
9/14/2024
Read
National Geographic Venture
Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia
The fjords of the Great Bear Rainforest rarely give a free pass without an excess of humidity. But today, what appeared to be a light rain quickly proved to be a mere bit of seasonal dew. Today’s destination was an island known for its population of bears with a very exclusive set of genes. These bears, described by William Hornaday for his friend Frank Kermode, belong to the only population of American black bears on Earth that contains a small subset of all white, non-albino individuals — the spirit bears. As we were preparing to load our Zodiacs for the first round of hikes, we were surprised by an announcement from the bridge: a spirit bear had been spotted at the mouth of the river that we were to hike along. Since sightings of this mythical beast are so rare, all preparations were put on hold, so that as many guests as possible could view this ghostly being from our bow. Once the white bear had faded from sight we resumed our debarkation. When we arrived at the viewing platforms, we found ourselves at the edge of a stream that was full of spawning salmon! Immersed as we were in this land of life and death, our allotted time slipped by in a flash. Returning to the ship, we began cocktail hour, only to be treated to an amazing display of group bubble-net feeding by the local humpbacks! It simply does not get any better than this! Photographers: Jeff Campbell, Naturalist , and Alex Joseph, Certified Photo Instructor