Our second day finds us in one of the most pristine wilderness areas of the world: Glacier Bay National Park. This 3.3 million acre wilderness is also designated as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site for the unique opportunity to study and observe ecological succession in the wake of rapid and modern glacial recession, beginning around 250 years ago. With a National Park Service Ranger and Huna Tlingit Cultural Interpreter as our guides, we explore this bay and learn about its story as a home, and as a homeland.
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.
