This morning started out quite wet as National Geographic Sea Lion entered Peril Strait on our way toward the landing site at Lake Eva. But, as luck would have it, the rain stopped right as we got the first Zodiacs ashore and improved throughout the morning. There was an opportunity to take a longer hike of about two miles one way to the lake itself, a medium one part way, or to do another kayak excursion. Our luck continued with great views of two different female brown bears with young cubs near the lower trail. The afternoon brought fantastic humpback whale encounters, with breaching, pectoral fin slapping, and incredible “bubble-netting” feeding behavior!
8/1/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Baranof Island
After exploring the glaciers and open waters of the northern Inside Passage, we sailed south through the night and returned to the starting point of our journey, Baranof Island. This island, along with Admiralty to the east and Chichagof to the north, is home to one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world. To search for evidence of the bears as they begin their yearly salmon feast and continue our exploration of the temperate rainforest, we anchored in Kelp Bay to kayak and hike the shoreline throughout the morning. Later in the afternoon, we welcomed Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn more about ongoing research taking place in Alaska on the unique bubblenet feeding behavior we witnessed earlier in the trip. Only in Alaska can you experience the forest, salmon, bears, and whales all in one day.
