Today we had the pleasure of waking up in Frederick Sound on our way to LeConte Bay. Our morning mission was to explore the vast masses of ice that have calved off the face of LeConte Glacier. Named after a California scientist Joseph LeConte, the glacier was once the fastest receding glacier in the entire world: At one point it was documented a retreat of half a mile in five months. We loaded into our Zodiacs and ventured in between the icebergs, studying the various textures and nuances of each chunk of ice. Retiring to National Geographic Quest to get warm, we docked the ship in the town that fish built: Petersburg, Alaska. The afternoon encompassed a plethora of options including bog walks, aerobic hikes, dock walks, bike riding, and exploring the town on foot. We finished the day with a large crab feast where everyone onboard could enjoy the fruit of this quaint town of Petersburg.
7/18/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Freshwater Bay, Chichagof Island
This morning before breakfast, the bridge team of National Geographic Quest spotted orcas in Freshwater Bay. Eager to see this iconic whale species, the bow was quickly occupied by excited guests, staff, and crew. We could not have asked for better conditions. A sunny, calm morning with at least a dozen orcas! Wow! After breakfast we went ashore at Kennel Creek on Chichagof Island and split into aerobic, moderate, and casual walking groups. After yesterday’s wet forest at Fox Creek, we welcomed the firm, dry ground of an old logging road. Along our walks there were abundant signs of brown bears. One of the two aerobic walks had fresh bear tracks on top of their footprints upon their return. In the afternoon cruising down Chatham Strait, we enjoyed time on deck soaking up the sun when an eagle-eye naturalist spotted a group of humpbacks ten miles away! As we approached, we could see that this was no small group, as twenty-three whales were bubble net feeding! This day will long be imprinted in our memories of wild Alaska.
