Another sunny day greeted us, this time in a bay on the north side of Icy Strait. Dundas Bay lies within the 3.3 million acres of Glacier Bay National Park. Views of towering peaks from the southern end of the Fairweather Range delighted us, their visages rising upwards of 12,726 feet. Mount La Perouse, Mount Crillon, Mount Bertha, and others remind us that great geologic forces are still at work in this National Park area, recognized as a World Heritage Site. We savor our time here, enjoying kayaking, tours by Zodiac, and hiking in the meadows adorning the bay. Our bootsteps land in those of brown bear, moose, and wolves. This truly is a wilderness to behold.
Sep 21
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Chatham Strait, Baranof Island, Hanus Bay
The National Geographic Sea Lion continued through Chatham Strait during the night. Our ship was making its way toward our morning anchorage of Hanus Bay on the northeast tip of Baranof Island. Recently the hiking trail to Lake Eva has been beautifully renovated, allowing for many levels of hikers an opportunity to walk in a wonderfully protected section of temperate rainforest. Forests located on salmon rivers are protected allowing for the successful return of many species of Pacific salmon. We were divided into several levels of hiking and each group made its way up a small hill and into a forest of blow downs, mushrooms, ripe-red huckleberries, feasting squirrels and at least two species of salmon at their final destination, having returned to their natal stream to spawn the next generation of salmon. We walked, we stopped, we observed and heard about a world called a temperate rain forest from our staff. We all made our way up towards Lake Eva, stopping along the way, taking in the stories of all the different components that are part of this unique forest environment. During the afternoon we made our way a short distance to Saook Bay for water activities. Kayaks, paddleboards, and Zodiacs all provided for a chance to explore a quiet hidden bay. The perfect choice as, during the late morning hours, the wind had increased. A little quiet place to spend our afternoon protected, comfortable and safe was a wonderful way to finish our day.
