Kuiu & Baranof Islands
This morning the National Geographic Sea Bird entered the Bay of Pillars on Kuiu Island for a morning of exploration. On the bow we stirred with coffee in hand admiring the forest thick and wild draping over pristine shores. Sea otters stirred calm waters while feeding amongst kelp and we could not help but admire the cuteness of this weasel.
Dropping the hook we soon embarked on “exploratory” walks and Zodiac excursions. The forest of Kuiu is amazing and humbles the spirit with its depth, grandeur and passage of the ages…if only trees could talk.
Following bear trails we felt as if we were going where few (wo)men had gone before. By Zodiac, shipmates explored the inner reaches of the bay discovering denizen of river otter, bear and the amazing inter-tidal.
After lunch we made our way west to Baranof Island and were distracted by the presence of a humpback in Chatham Strait. Heavy breathing and a few shows of hump and fluke made us even happier to be living wild Alaska!
Exploring the east coast of Baranof Island we ducked into the narrow entrance of Gut Bay and were amazed by the steep walls and ruggedness of this large island. The more adventuresome of our crew jumped on the spontaneous opportunity to take a polar plunge on this unusually warm day in Southeast Alaska.
Leaving Gut we headed north for another gem (and bay) of Baranof Island. Entering Red Bluff Bay we observed bald eagles on a nest and a multitude of salmon jumping out of emerald green water. The derelict of an old herring reduction plant helped to paint the picture of the past as we crept quietly into the inner chasm where water fell from rugged heights.
If the forests of Kuiu Island and the bays of Baranof were the only experiences we had in Southeast Alaska, I think we all would walk away with an amazing appreciation for this land.
