At the Northeast corner of Baranof Island is a small inlet with several fingers called Kelp Bay. It was here that humpback whales greeted National Geographic Quest, and where we dropped anchor for a round of morning activities. Long walks off trail, short beach strolls, and exploratory kayaking took up the bulk of the morning. Much wildlife fills the shores of Kelp Bay, and many of us were treated to views of mink and bear while bald eagles pinwheeled overhead. The afternoon saw a polar plunge take place! A fantastic tradition where the brave and perhaps foolhardy leap into the chilly waters of Southeast Alaska, if only for a moment. After lunch we saw a special presentation by one of our video chroniclers on his side project, made possible by contributions from the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. To top it all off, we were escorted around Chatham Strait by humpback whales throughout that evening.
5/18/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Lake Eva and Chatham Strait
We enjoyed a beautiful morning exploring the Sitka spruce and hemlock trees dominating the forest along the Lake Eva trail on Chichagof Island; then in the later part of the day we cruised Chatham Strait. Stunning scenery abounded with the lush green understory of mosses, lichens, berry bushes, deer ferns, skunk cabbage, aspen, and Devil’s club, just to name a few. Under the dotted canopy of the trees, we identified signs of recent bear activity, red squirrel caches, and the flitting dance of birds through the understory. The screeches of a soaring bald eagle and the sounds of the songbirds echoed throughout the forest, as the flowing water of the salmon stream gurgled into the brackish lagoon leading to the sea. Our cruise through Chatham Strait had calm winds and seas; we enjoyed expansive views of snow-capped mountains, and intimate tree-lined coastlines with kelp wafting in the shallower waters. It was a great place for all to reflect on the many sights, sounds, smells, and experiences we’ve had over the past 13 days of this Treasures of the Inside Passage expedition from Seattle to Sitka.
