There are few things more exciting than starting a week onboard National Geographic Quest with morning light shining on the sharp profiles of killer whales against the backdrop of the lush temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska. Except perhaps watching them engage in one of the most rarely observed hunting behaviors they are known for. We watched in wonder as a dispersed group, seemingly signaled by the slap of a tail fluke, slowly converge on a pair of Dall’s porpoises. While we only observed just a very small part of the interaction above the surface, it was all too clear that this was a coordinated pursuit of a challenging prey. That was just the beginning.
Leaving the whales to finish their business, we spent the rest of the morning preparing for an afternoon of hiking, kayaking and standup paddle-boarding adventures in Hanus Bay. And what adventures we had indeed! From watching bald eagles soar overhead, to smelling chocolate lilies, to tasting banana slug slime, to taking a dip in Lake Eva (toes or full-body plunge) all senses were engaged! Just when we thought the day couldn’t possibly offer any more excitement, hikers and watersport enthusiasts were thrilled to discover a coastal brown bear leading her cub out of the woods and down to a pond lined with rye grass: From our vantage we marveled as the pair munched on greens in the sun for a while before wading in to the cool water. It was nothing short of an incredible day exploring the coastal wilderness of Southeast Alaska.
