Pavlov Harbor & Chatham/Icy Strait
What a way to start the misty morning of our first day – humpback whales before breakfast! Today we sailed into Freshwater Bay and anchored in Pavlov Harbor. Morning decisions were made of whether to choose the long hike, short hike or kayaking. This was our first adventure into the Tongass National Forest and an up- close view of a salmon stream. Pink salmon were definitely putting on a show jumping high out of the water to make their way up the falls to spawn. Evidence of bear activity was all around, but they remained elusive for today.
Summertime and the livin’ is easy! Bright, hot, sunshine all afternoon! Cruising Chatham Straight looking for whales… what can be better than this? We were rewarded with a small group of humpback whales casually, perhaps lazily, feeding on a hot summer day.
Later in the afternoon, Linda Nicklin presented a lecture about the Tongass National Forest. No sooner had Linda finished, when four orcas were spotted. One was very young, born just this year! Each time the tiny fin appeared, cheers and proud approval erupted as if he or she were one of our own offspring.
Continuing to cruise up Icy Straight, Bette Lu Krause gave a talk titled Pacific Salmon Bear Forest, a perfect follow-up to our hike this morning. After dinner, more humpback whales were spotted by Point Adolphus.
BEARS
Poem by Katie Jackson, Guest (age 10)
Big
Eating
Animals
Roaming the beach,
Salmon Lovers!
