The day started out with fog rolling off the mountains but hope lay in a high-pressure front that was forming over the Gulf of Alaska, near the mouth of Cross Sound where the National Geographic Sea Lion was anchored. There was still potential for a day of clear skies and adventure. Morning found us exploring the dynamic environment surrounding the Inian Islands. We discovered sea otters, sea lions, and many species of sea birds, and we were treated to the site of a humpback whale lunge feeding at the surface of the roiling waters. Afternoon found us at Fox Creek, where we traversed a salmon stream and paddled the late summer shoreline.
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.
