Yesterday was one of the most stunning days you will ever see in Southeast Alaska, clear skies, no wind, and very comfortable temperatures! So, it was not a surprise that this morning the weather had change back to the more normal regiment, intermittent light rain, and mostly overcast skies. This is what we are used to on average, so it was “business-as-usual”! The National Geographic Sea Lion arrived at her anchorage near “Hobbit Hole” just before breakfast, and prepared for the morning’s activities. This morning we were going on an exploration of the Inian Islands in our fleet of inflatable boats, a very exciting and dynamic area just inside from the Gulf of Alaska. So, right after breakfast the first round of cruisers headed out to explore this small island group, looking for possible wildlife sightings, and experiencing one of the most dynamic tidal areas of Southeast Alaska!
It didn’t take very long before we started seeing some of the wildlife that use the Inian Islands as their home base for the summer months, or even throughout the year. First it was some of the sea birds, like pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots and several species of gulls, but soon our boats started encountering northern sea lions, and the charismatic sea otters, with their cute faces starring back at you!
But, as much as anything it is the raging tidal currents racing through the area that create a wild atmosphere, an exciting ride, and feed this incredibly productive ecosystem! It’s a unique place that not many visitor get to experience!
Once the last boat returned from exploring the waters surrounding the Inians, the National Geographic Sea Lion lifted her anchor and repositioned just a few miles away to an area that would be the focus of our afternoon activities. This was a place on the north coast of Chichagof Island named Fox Creek. It is situated on the western side of the entrance to Idaho Inlet. There is a salmon stream there, with a lot of bear activity in the whole vicinity; it’s always exciting to explore in these wild areas, walking on “bear trails”!
So, right after lunch we left for shore for medium and short hikes in this wilderness setting, along with a possibility to do kayaking one last time. It was still raining, but it had slowed considerably, and was very pleasant to once again explore the rainforest, and to marvel at what a special habitat it is, and how lucky we were to investigate it first-hand! Soon it was time to head home to our trusty ship and set sail for the town of Gustavus to pick up our National Park Ranger, and to get ready for a full day of learning, and exploring in Glacier Bay National Park. Another full and exciting day was slowly coming to an end, with anticipation of what lay ahead for tomorrow!
