Inian Islands, Idaho Inlet & Point Adolphus
Looks like another great morning for Zodiac cruises through the Inian Islands! After we dropped anchor near Hobbit Hole, the Zodiacs are lowered and we are soon underway with the first round of cruising. Today we’re looking for sea otters and Northern sea lions and, luckily, there is no disappointment. Barely away from the ship, the first sea otters come into sight, some sleeping, some feeding and a few just traveling along. After observing and taking pictures for a few minutes, we’re on our way again to the next encounter, this time with sea lions. While we motor along toward the haul-out rock that is our destination, we are greeted by several younger ones that are playing and wrestling with each other. Finally, we are approaching the haul-out rock and before we can slow down a call “ whale” comes over the radios, and we turn to see a humpback coming into the channel just on the other side of the rock. At last, after watching the whale for a few minutes, we finally get to observe the large group of sea lions laying, standing and sparring in front of us, what a sight. If all this was not enough, there were bald eagles everywhere, and on the next go-around of cruises we had a group of four whales feeding in the channel. What a morning!
We repositioned over to Idaho Inlet, and after lunch the group was split in half, some kayaking, and the rest going on walks into the forest of Chichagof Island. The kayakers got to paddle around several small islands a short distance offshore, the sea conditions were perfect! While the kayakers did their thing, the walkers entered the temperate rainforest of Chichagof Island along, of all things, a well used brown bear trail. Our naturalists pointed out interesting things along the way, and told us stories of bears and salmon. As we returned from the woods to the beach we were surprised to find fresh bear tracks that crossed our trail right behind the landing beach. And if that was not good enough, while loading the last Zodiac, the call comes in "bears on the beach". We cruised a few hundred yards around a small point and discovered a mother bear with three one and a half year old cubs grazing on grass just on the upper edge of the beach. Outstanding!
It was a long, action packed day, but it wasn’t over yet. After dinner we arrived at Point Adolphus to “whale watch” until we ran out of light or energy. What a day!
Looks like another great morning for Zodiac cruises through the Inian Islands! After we dropped anchor near Hobbit Hole, the Zodiacs are lowered and we are soon underway with the first round of cruising. Today we’re looking for sea otters and Northern sea lions and, luckily, there is no disappointment. Barely away from the ship, the first sea otters come into sight, some sleeping, some feeding and a few just traveling along. After observing and taking pictures for a few minutes, we’re on our way again to the next encounter, this time with sea lions. While we motor along toward the haul-out rock that is our destination, we are greeted by several younger ones that are playing and wrestling with each other. Finally, we are approaching the haul-out rock and before we can slow down a call “ whale” comes over the radios, and we turn to see a humpback coming into the channel just on the other side of the rock. At last, after watching the whale for a few minutes, we finally get to observe the large group of sea lions laying, standing and sparring in front of us, what a sight. If all this was not enough, there were bald eagles everywhere, and on the next go-around of cruises we had a group of four whales feeding in the channel. What a morning!
We repositioned over to Idaho Inlet, and after lunch the group was split in half, some kayaking, and the rest going on walks into the forest of Chichagof Island. The kayakers got to paddle around several small islands a short distance offshore, the sea conditions were perfect! While the kayakers did their thing, the walkers entered the temperate rainforest of Chichagof Island along, of all things, a well used brown bear trail. Our naturalists pointed out interesting things along the way, and told us stories of bears and salmon. As we returned from the woods to the beach we were surprised to find fresh bear tracks that crossed our trail right behind the landing beach. And if that was not good enough, while loading the last Zodiac, the call comes in "bears on the beach". We cruised a few hundred yards around a small point and discovered a mother bear with three one and a half year old cubs grazing on grass just on the upper edge of the beach. Outstanding!
It was a long, action packed day, but it wasn’t over yet. After dinner we arrived at Point Adolphus to “whale watch” until we ran out of light or energy. What a day!
