Lowe Inlet Marine Provincial Park & North to Alaska
Moody skies were the backdrop for our final full day in British Columbia, as we dropped anchor in one of the most scenic fjords along the inside passage, Lowe’s Inlet, also part of the Marine Provincial Park. Shortly after breakfast, hikers headed out first to take on a rugged muddy trail along the surging Verney Falls, then bushwhacked further up towards two pristine lakes, and made a wide circle back to the starting place. Kayakers were happy, inhaling lots of negative ions during an up close view of the falls from center stage, and continued along the shore for more delights. The Zen quality of still waters, absence of noise pollution, surrounded by verdant forests with snow capped peaks, gives one an opportunity to really enter and be a part of a true wilderness world that most people only read about or watch on a screen.
Whether in a kayak, Zodiac or hiking, in the course of our morning, most were able to spot some hide and seek behaviors of the harbor seals and some feisty river otters not seeming to mind an audience in a mating session close to shore – after all, it is spring! Afterwards, the male was observed diving repeatedly then intermittently coming up on land for his feast of crab and other aquatic invertebrates. He seemed to have certainly worked up an appetite! A few guests were privileged to view some slinky mink coming and going about their busy day. Many types of birds were also sighted inland and along the shores and waters of the fjord such as the Northern pintail, harlequin duck, Barrow’s goldeneye, common merganser, common loon, red-necked grebe, Western grebe, bald eagle, mew gull, glucous-winged gull, rufous hummingbird, belted kingfisher, common rave, swallows, winter wren, hermit thrush, American robin, varied thrush, orange-crowned warbler, green-winged teal, hooded meranger, and Wilson’s snipe.
The afternoon was spent cruising through Grenville Channel, an extremely narrow passageway, providing more opportunities for viewing and experiencing the beauty of this rugged wild region. Chair massages were a popular activity in the lounge, and later Elise Lockton gave us an interesting overview on the history of Alaska, focusing on the people, land and important events that shaped this largest and most remote state. In the spirit of their motto, “north to Alaska, north to the future!” Alaska, here we come!
Moody skies were the backdrop for our final full day in British Columbia, as we dropped anchor in one of the most scenic fjords along the inside passage, Lowe’s Inlet, also part of the Marine Provincial Park. Shortly after breakfast, hikers headed out first to take on a rugged muddy trail along the surging Verney Falls, then bushwhacked further up towards two pristine lakes, and made a wide circle back to the starting place. Kayakers were happy, inhaling lots of negative ions during an up close view of the falls from center stage, and continued along the shore for more delights. The Zen quality of still waters, absence of noise pollution, surrounded by verdant forests with snow capped peaks, gives one an opportunity to really enter and be a part of a true wilderness world that most people only read about or watch on a screen.
Whether in a kayak, Zodiac or hiking, in the course of our morning, most were able to spot some hide and seek behaviors of the harbor seals and some feisty river otters not seeming to mind an audience in a mating session close to shore – after all, it is spring! Afterwards, the male was observed diving repeatedly then intermittently coming up on land for his feast of crab and other aquatic invertebrates. He seemed to have certainly worked up an appetite! A few guests were privileged to view some slinky mink coming and going about their busy day. Many types of birds were also sighted inland and along the shores and waters of the fjord such as the Northern pintail, harlequin duck, Barrow’s goldeneye, common merganser, common loon, red-necked grebe, Western grebe, bald eagle, mew gull, glucous-winged gull, rufous hummingbird, belted kingfisher, common rave, swallows, winter wren, hermit thrush, American robin, varied thrush, orange-crowned warbler, green-winged teal, hooded meranger, and Wilson’s snipe.
The afternoon was spent cruising through Grenville Channel, an extremely narrow passageway, providing more opportunities for viewing and experiencing the beauty of this rugged wild region. Chair massages were a popular activity in the lounge, and later Elise Lockton gave us an interesting overview on the history of Alaska, focusing on the people, land and important events that shaped this largest and most remote state. In the spirit of their motto, “north to Alaska, north to the future!” Alaska, here we come!
