All were eager as we arose for our first full day aboard National Geographic Venture. We started by sailing our way through the beautiful Sergius Narrows. A brown bear and a surprising swimming Sitka black-tailed deer graced us with their presence through this narrow strip of water way. We also witnessed brown bears on shore, and some breaching humpbacks!
The afternoon brought us to Kelp Bay, where our first activities took place. Zodiac cruising around the bay was deemed the activity of choice! The weather could not have been better for our welcome to Southeast Alaska.
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.