Red Bluff & Kelp Bay
The National Geographic Sea Lion nosed its way into Red Bluff Bay early this morning, where the thickly vegetated, steep rock walls typically hide many long cascades. Today we had to search a little harder within the fjord because the weather has been so atypical for southeast Alaska and there have been so many days of sun in the past three weeks. The most awe-inspiring waterfall was near the top of the bay, and it provided many a Christmas card-worthy photo opportunity. This bay is clearly named for the bluffs that mark its entrance, a stark contrast against the snow-covered mountain tops and the rich green hillsides.
We then set our course for Kelp Bay and an afternoon filled with kayaks, wildlife and epic views. The paddlers were dropped off on a beach with a waiting fleet of brightly colored kayaks, paddles and kayaking life vests. As the ship motored further into the bay, the kayaks and their human motors entered the water to follow. In all, the kayakers went about 3 miles from take-off to landing, following the ins and outs of the shore and enjoying the simple joy of its peacefulness and the success of reaching our destination.
Those that stayed on the ship saw an amazing array of wildlife activity before even stepping onto shore. From the ship’s decks, it was easy to see the brown bears grazing in the meadow near the water. In addition, there was a Black-tailed Sitka deer cautiously approaching the meadow, which showed off its magenta shooting stars and yellow buttercups in the early spring blooms.
On the walks that later ventured into the Hemlock, Sitka spruce and Alder forest, there was further evidence of the animals seen earlier on the shore. The large clawed paws of brown bears, their fresh, grassy scat, and the rounded droplings of the deer as well as their hooved prints were clues to their journeys along the same paths.
As we all congregated back on the ship, the full day and the warm weather made us all consider a dip in the sparkling, cool water that brought us here today.
The National Geographic Sea Lion nosed its way into Red Bluff Bay early this morning, where the thickly vegetated, steep rock walls typically hide many long cascades. Today we had to search a little harder within the fjord because the weather has been so atypical for southeast Alaska and there have been so many days of sun in the past three weeks. The most awe-inspiring waterfall was near the top of the bay, and it provided many a Christmas card-worthy photo opportunity. This bay is clearly named for the bluffs that mark its entrance, a stark contrast against the snow-covered mountain tops and the rich green hillsides.
We then set our course for Kelp Bay and an afternoon filled with kayaks, wildlife and epic views. The paddlers were dropped off on a beach with a waiting fleet of brightly colored kayaks, paddles and kayaking life vests. As the ship motored further into the bay, the kayaks and their human motors entered the water to follow. In all, the kayakers went about 3 miles from take-off to landing, following the ins and outs of the shore and enjoying the simple joy of its peacefulness and the success of reaching our destination.
Those that stayed on the ship saw an amazing array of wildlife activity before even stepping onto shore. From the ship’s decks, it was easy to see the brown bears grazing in the meadow near the water. In addition, there was a Black-tailed Sitka deer cautiously approaching the meadow, which showed off its magenta shooting stars and yellow buttercups in the early spring blooms.
On the walks that later ventured into the Hemlock, Sitka spruce and Alder forest, there was further evidence of the animals seen earlier on the shore. The large clawed paws of brown bears, their fresh, grassy scat, and the rounded droplings of the deer as well as their hooved prints were clues to their journeys along the same paths.
As we all congregated back on the ship, the full day and the warm weather made us all consider a dip in the sparkling, cool water that brought us here today.
