Sitkoh Bay & Hanus Bay
Fortunate just doesn’t start to describe the luck that we have had with the weather here in Southeast Alaska. Yet another beautiful day greeted us as we cruised into Sitkoh Bay on the southeast corner of Chicagof Island. Our early morning arrival on the falling tide paid dividends as we spotted two bears foraging on the shore. An early wake-up call went out quietly across the National Geographic Sea Lion, “bears on the beach”!
Our view was perfect, as the captain expertly maneuvered the ship into position. After observing their foraging for awhile, quite unexpectedly both bears rose simultaneously on their hind haunches peering and sniffing in the same direction. Off on the forest margin we saw the darting of a deer caught by the surprise of coming upon the bears. Eventually the brownies moved out of sight – but what a way to start the day!
This has to be the perfect place for exploring the forest on foot. Logging roads provide quick access to otherwise remote interiors where the re-emerging forest can be explored. Bear tracks, squirrel cone middens, banana slug slime trails and nursery trees all bespeak of nature’s persistence as life abounds here even after human interference.
One of our shore parties actually had a nearby brown bear sighting! Following their bear safety briefing to a tee, the group instinctively knew what to do: encircled their guide and protected the naturalist! Really, cool heads prevailed; staff naturalist provided excellent leadership; and proper wilderness procedures were followed. This resulted in a safe encounter and many fine pictures in several cameras; and the beautifully awesome brown bear going on its way without further incident.
Conditions for our afternoon of exploration were no different – perfect. Hanus Bay has a lake-fed stream just waiting for the life giving salmon that are starting to arrive: we witnessed them swimming by just inches below the water’s surface. The incoming tide allowed us to explore upstream by kayak and Zodiac. Those hiking also reached the tumbling cascades and the old-growth spruce upstream near Lake Eva.
All of us who are returning home tomorrow will cherish this our last full day in Southeast, which is a most amazing ecosystem deserving of our protection and care. Here’s to the ‘lasting frontier’!
