We had an incredible day in the Southeast Alaska sun. We woke up in Saook Bay where we saw a brown bear grazing in the meadow; our hikers observed it poking its head out of the tall grass. As we started cruising into Peril Strait we were greeted by a huge pod of killer whales, who escorted us for over an hour. We ended the night reminiscing over our amazing week together, packed full of sunshine and wildlife.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 15 Jun 2024
Saook Bay and Peril Strait, 6/15/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Kylee Walterman , Naturalist
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biolo...
Read MoreShare Report
Alaska's Inside Passage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
6/10/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Salt Chuck Bay
We started the morning in Salt Chuck Bay under beautiful, partly sunny skies. We had perfect conditions for our first kayaking adventure. The sandy beach at low tide allowed kayakers an easy entrance into the serene and quiet world of paddling. While some guests paddled away, the rest of the group explored the intertidal zone and took a quick walk in the forest. The afternoon weather held, and we enjoyed one of the expedition team’s favorite activities: exploring the Inian Islands by Zodiac. Steller sea lions argued and growled on the rocks, birds flew overhead, and sea otters roiled in the currents. It all made for a perfect afternoon.
6/9/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Chatham Strait
We were met today with ideal Alaskan weather: crisp, clear, and calm. We enjoyed perfect conditions for hiking through the forests and alluvial meadow of Ushk Bay. We split into groups depending on hiking desires and set off into the wilderness. We hiked on game trails through forests of western hemlock and Sitka spruce, crossed shallow streams, gazed at spring wildflowers, and investigated intertidal organisms. It was a lovely morning of stretching our legs and exploring the temperate rainforest. In the afternoon, we cruised along the gorgeous fjords of Peril Strait and Chatham Strait, where we searched for wildlife. We were delighted to find a humpback whale that was repeatedly diving and coming up to the surface to lunge feed. It was rolling and slapping its pectoral fins and putting on quite a display of behaviors that were a joy to watch. It was a wonderful first day of expeditions aboard National Geographic Quest .