Southeast Alaska is a wonderfully natural region, full of forests, muskegs and productive waters; however, today we spent the whole day in a truly wild place, as far from civilization as we could possibly be. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve was set aside as a protected area as a natural laboratory to observe and document changes as plants and animals recolonize the 30-plus long bay after the huge Grand Pacific glacier retreated around two hundred years ago. Today we enjoyed creatures and scenes wild and free that made our spirits soar with joy.
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.
