Our first full day exploring Southeast Alaska started in a grand way; we got an introduction to the temperate rainforest of the Tongass National Forest in Williams Cove, where we went hiking and then kayaking. Then we continued making our way deeper into the Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness Area and eventually reached the vicinity of the South Sawyer glacier. We admired the grandeur of the tidewater glacier from our inflatable boats and watched abundant wildlife. What a great start!
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.
