Fox Creek and The Inian Islands
It seems as though one remarkable day just follows another as we continue to discover and appreciate the wildlife and natural beauty of Southeast Alaska. As we anchored on this cool misty morning in the north end of Idaho Inlet, a brown bear appeared on the beach just south of Fox Creek, not far from our walking trail. Hikers found much to talk about as there were signs of recent bear activity everywhere we walked. From grazing on the beach rye grasses to digging up the bulbous roots of skunk cabbage, evidence that we were in the house of the great coastal brown bear was unmistakable. The bear reappeared later in the morning and those on shore had a special opportunity to watch and to photograph the bear watching us. Brown bear sightings have increased in the last two weeks, and we think the chilly spring kept them in their dens a bit later than usual.
In the afternoon, the mists lifted and we took to the Zodiacs to have a closer look at the Inian Islands. Located on the dramatic outer coast, this small island grouping constricts the tidal flow coming from the Pacific Ocean into Icy Strait, creating waves and whirlpools that stir up nutrients and funnel the incoming fishes into the mouths of hundreds of hungry Steller sea lions and thousands of seabirds. Bald eagles swoop in for fish and the scene is chaotic, noisy with bird calls and altogether an unbelievable reaffirmation of life- from the deep green plankton-filled sea to the blow of the humpback whale and the backdrop the fifteen thousand foot Fairweather Mountains, this place is breathtaking.
