Pavlof Harbor and Chatham Strait
Our final day in Southeast Alaska was an epic day. Filled with wildlife, adventure, beautiful scenery, and sunny skies, it was a great way to end our trip. From an early morning landing to a late afternoon scenic cruise, it was a very rewarding day. Bears, whales, eagles, and porpoise were all enjoyed, with thousands of photos being taken.
A morning landing at Pavlof Harbor found us slowly approaching a waterfall with many salmon running. Multiple bears were feeding in this stream, and we spent many hours watching them feast on salmon. Each bear seemed to have a different style, and whether on foot, in a kayak, or by Zodiac, we all got incredible looks. The bears were way more interested in catching salmon than us, and allowed for very close viewing. A very satisfying morning for sure.
As we left Pavlof Harbor, we quickly ran into bubblenetting humpback whales. We were lucky indeed to have our second encounter with this cooperative behavior. A few times, the whales passed directly under us as we sat still. The sights and sounds were spectacular, and once again cameras were given a workout. Mid-afternoon we finally had to be on our way, and cruising in Chatham Strait we were rewarded with perfect conditions. Sunny skies with no wind and soon many were out on deck baking in the sun. Bow riding Dall’s Porpoise caused quite a stir, but mainly we enjoyed the scenery.
We entered Hood Bay on Admiralty Island for our final activity of the day before dinner. More whales, porpoise, eagles, and loons were spotted but mostly we just enjoyed being there. We reflected on our amazing week and our incredible weather and wildlife, and our lasting friendships we have formed.
