We awoke this morning to a gentle roll aboard National Geographic Venture, signaling our egress from the labyrinth of glacial fjords we traversed in days past. Today our destination was Gribbell Island; we previously sailed past this island and have been eager to return to explore. The island hosts abundant salmon runs which support significant bear populations; it is off the beaten path for all but a handful of adventurous travelers like us, making it an exceptional location to catch a glimpse of both.
We headed to shore clad in rain gear, eager to meet our First Nations guides. They led us on a short hike through the dense alder-dominated forest to a series of river viewing platforms, where we were treated to not one, not two, but at least three bears catching salmon in the river. What a treat! Thanks to a generous arrangement, we were able to spend the entire day safely observing these incredible animals without interference. Meanwhile, playful young humpback whales kept close to the ship throughout the entire day, breaching and tail-lobbing all around us as we lay hove to. It’s been another incredible day in the Great Bear Rainforest!
