Sitkoh Bay & Lake Eva
The early morning mist did nothing to dampen our spirits aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion. We spent the morning cruising Chatham Strait in search of wildlife, being lucky to spot humpback whales early on! This to us was a great sign of things to come during our first full day in picturesque Southeast Alaska.
Chatham Strait is the longest and deepest fjord in North America, spanning over 150 miles and waters as deep as 200 feet. The different islands and inlets shared with us the beauty and wilderness appeal that Southeast Alaska possesses.
After enjoying a relaxing lunch onboard, Captain Nettles anchored the ship in Hanus Bay, off the northeast end of Baranof Island, for some onshore adventures! Hanus Bay is home to Lake Eva, which is a mossy, damp forest that is brimming with so many opportunities to witness nature at its finest. With the option to kayak or hike, we boarded the Zodiacs to head ashore to see what was waiting for us.
The hike at Lake Eva makes you feel like you are stepping into a sylvan forest full of magic and wildlife just waiting to share its insides with you. The old growth forest trees towered over us as we walked through muddy, wet trails. The recent rainfall has left the lake full, allowing us to get a glimpse of spawning pink salmon in their natural element. The sounds of eagles and the running water combined with our surroundings left us with a sense of peace and a little closer to Mother Nature than we had been before.
One of the most exciting events of the day occurred on the hike when a large brown bear was spotted in the forest. Having been startled by something in the forest, this wild animal took off into the woods, continuing on his way, but not before allowing us to catch a close look at an animal we were all hoping to see and getting very excited for our luck to see it so close!
Kayaking Lake Eva was a little damp, but nonetheless very exciting and enjoyable. Harbor seals poked their heads out of the water every once in a while to check us out and see what we were up to. We spotted eagles overhead, soaring in the misty sky, having the advantage of a bird’s eye view we were surely jealous of!
After a full day of activities, we headed back to the National Geographic Sea Lion to dry off and get into some warm clothes. Everyone was excited to share stories from their day and learn about some of the things we saw on the trail and in the water. After a decadent meal, it was off to bed to dream about what we would see tomorrow in a place that has already proven to be magnificent!
