We spent today exploring the waters of the Ford’s Terror Wilderness Area, both from the expedition landing crafts in front of Dawes Glacier and, for a few brave polar plungers in the cold, icy water of Endicott Arm. The ship was a welcome sight after being out in the chilling wind and rain, making our way through the ice filled fjord to get up close to the face of the glacier in the smaller boats in the morning. We moved to slightly warmer water for the plunge in the afternoon, and then made our north towards our final destination and end of the expedition in Juneau.
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.