After yesterday’s brief spate of atypical Southeast Alaska weather (i.e. sunny) this morning began with status quo conditions of; light overcast skies and low clouds clinging to the adjacent peaks of Icy Strait as we sailed along Chichagof Island towards Fox Creek. Here we set out shortly after breakfast to explore the coastal wilderness of Southeast Alaska. Our ship’s company would be split into two parties, one hiking and strolling through the temperate rain forest and the other setting out from nearby Shaw Island via kayaks, with each group having the option to switch halfway through the morning to partake in both activities. As we pulled into the Idaho Inlet humpback whales and the occasional sea otter greeted us as they foraged and took advantage of the abundant resources of these rich waters. Even as we shuttled guests to and fro the ship whales breached and surfaced all around us.
On shore hiking groups split into several factions of interest to take advantage of all the landing at Fox Creek had to offer. From lush and diverse intertidal meadows packed with wildflowers and delicious berries to the forests where one experiences a dramatic shift for all the senses to absorb. Towering Sitka spruce shade the forest floor with various understory plants accenting the scene with bursts of green. We all were literally walking in the footsteps of coastal brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer as their generations old trails were all there was to lead us deeper into the forest and along the creek. The kayakers off the shore of Shaw Island were blessed with glass calm conditions and the occasional breach or surfacing of nearby feeding humpback whales.
It would seem that the senses couldn't possibly take any more input, but after a hearty lunch and bit of time to rest and relax we were all ready for the finale of the day at the Inian Islands. This archipelago of forest-covered granites is situated at the northwestern end of the Inside Passage and Icy Strait. Timing our arrival here with the flooding tide we set out in our inflatable craft to witness the explosion of life that thrives in these rich and turbulent waters. It is here that the interaction of the currents of the Gulf of Alaska and protected waters of the Inside Passage come to a broiling head stirring up the nutrients and bringing the marine food web to the surface; from phytoplankton blooms to the one ton Steller sea lions feasting on migrating salmon. Throw into the mix thousands of nesting seabirds, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and sea otters and you have spectacle of nature that is hard to fathom until you place yourself smack-dab in the middle of it.
