This morning we docked in Petersburg and spent the morning exploring this charming town with its distinct Norwegian flavor. The rain didn’t dampen our spirits – while some us went flightseeing over LeConte Glacier, others strolled through town taking photos, walked the docks lined with commercial fishing boats, or visited an Alaskan bog (muskeg). We bicycled through town, and perused Petersburg’s wonderful bookstore. In the afternoon, our journey continued as we transited Wrangell Narrows, a narrow waterway marked by an inordinate number of red and green channel markers. In Snow Pass, we had fantastic views of humpback whales engaging in cooperative bubble-net feeding.
5/11/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Calvert Island
The Hakai Research Institute is a former fishing lodge that was converted to an ecological observatory in 2009. Nestled in beautiful coastal British Columbia, it is surrounded by pristine old-growth forest, white sand beaches, and tidal inlets. A gem of the Pacific Northwest, the Institute invited Lindblad Expeditions and our guests to visit and explore the remarkable ecology of her mountains and shores. National Geographic Quest made her maiden landing at the Institute today, and it was an incredible day. Guests were able to choose from a variety of casual, moderate, and aerobic hikes, traversing through temperate forest, muskeg, beaches, and tide pools along the way. For those interested in marine exploration, Zodiac cruises probed the glacially-carved edges of the island. All were then invited to explore the grounds of the Institute and talk with the directors, who were happy to share their passions and history with us.