George Island and the Inian Islands, Alaska, 7/11/2024, National Geographic Quest
Aboard the
National Geographic Quest
Alaska
Today was a beautiful gray day onboard National Geographic Quest. We spent our morning exploring George Island, where we hiked, kayaked, and stand-up paddle boarded.
Later, we picked up anchor and headed to the Inian Islands. We explored this incredible wildlife hotspot from our Zodiacs and were treated to views of Steller sea lions, sea otters, and countless birds. We even had a wonderful encounter with a humpback whale.
The earliest memories Shayne has are exploring the natural world. He joined his dad on his first 24 hour bird-a-thon at the age of three and was so fascinated that by five he was able to properly identify 40 birds of North America by call alone. He h...
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We spent our entire day exploring the community and surrounding ecosystems in Petersburg. With its proud Norwegian heritage, Petersburg is a commercial fishing town with a year-round population of just over 3,000, and it offered us a true taste of daily life in Alaska. Norwegian flags hung outside many of the houses, and detailed rosemaling decorative art adorned shutters and eaves. Fishing boats and skiffs moved in and out of the harbor around National Geographic Venture at dock, bringing in loads of wild Alaskan salmon for processing at the canneries. We rode bikes, hiked, and meandered around the town and forests. Some of us explored the muskegs, a type of peat bog, and the amazing plant life that has adapted to the acidic and nutrient-poor habitat. Other guests rode bikes or walked through town, visiting the local hardware stores that sell just about everything you could possibly need as a fisherman in Alaska. The weather cooperated with another day of moody clouds but no rain, and we were even graced with patches of blue sky and sun.
The morning announcement came earlier than usual this morning. “Orcas off of the bow,” was delivered over the ship speakers. Orcas can show up anywhere at any time, and we did not want to miss this opportunity. Many guests made their way to the bow to see these emblematic animals. Shortly after enjoying the world’s largest species of dolphin, we tucked into Takatz Bay on the east side of Baranof Island. The sheltered bay was placid. Hermit thrushes and varied thrushes sang from hemlocks and spruces from beyond the shore. Snowy peaks rose out of low gray clouds, but enough light penetrated the clouds to give the landscape a glow. The morning was spent doing Zodiac tours, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Guests were able to explore the coves of the bay; many came back to report having moments listening to nothing but natural sounds. Just as the last of us were returning to the ship for lunch, a boat driven by Andy Zabbo appeared. Andy is a local researcher focusing on humpback whales, and he came to present on the research. Afterwards, we set a course for the town of Petersburg while searching for humpback whales and wildlife.
