Chatham Strait, Red Bluff & Saginaw Bay
This morning has brought the expedition and its guests to the midway point of the voyage. With each day the rhythms on board National Geographic Sea Lion become more like everyday life for guests and crew alike. Early risers make their way to the bow to begin soaking in the sights, always keeping a watchful eye out in hopes to glimpse something new and exciting. Today’s ebb and flow on board would be no different. Sailing the near glass waters of Chatham Straits all the while passing the majestic landscape that this waterway cuts through makes for a wonderful start to the day. A swath of blue skies struck its course over head with building convective clouds clinging to the forested and icy topped slopes forming a dramatic causeway for us to navigate under. With the calm seas and a very low minus tide, the life that occupies these waters appeared to be taking the morning in casual strides. An occasional blow from humpback whales could be spotted as they made their way into the affairs of the day. Seabirds of all kinds were scattered about on the glassy surface, perhaps awaiting the incoming tides to begin their work. As we have come to learn, life in this part of the world often revolves around the daily routine of the shifting tides.
Taking advantage of the calm morning and the time in between the tides, our friendly shipboard Geologist, Al Trujillo gave an informative and entertaining presentation on Glaciology of Southeast Alaska. A more than fitting subject matter considering every inch of this landscape has been molded and influenced by glaciers past and present. This particular Naturalist took the time allowed to sit bow watch and absorb the passing sculpted landscape and keep lookout for any curiosities that may arise. No sightings merited an interruption of Al’s talk but there were distant blows of the massive whales, Pacific loons, Common murres, and Bald eagles perched like sentinels on the tops of the Sitka spruce. The simple pleasure of being surrounded by this stunning setting and the inhabitants that call it home was reward enough.
To add to the experience of immersion in this landscape, our Expedition Leader and crew had planned a detour into one of the many fjords that feed into the grand passage way of Chatham Strait. Were one to simply sail along the coast they might slip right by the entrance to Red Bluff Bay. This winding and very narrow fjord is hidden by a small island and shoulders of erosion resistant bedrock. The real benefit of traveling in an expedition vessel like National Geographic Sea Lion is that natures little secrets can be further investigated, where as other larger ships must sail right past such gems as Red Bluff. As the bow filled with on lookers gazing up at the sheer walls adorned with spruce forests and laced with ribbon falls the songs of Hermit and Varied thrushes, Wilson’s warblers, and Golden-crowned kinglets could be heard. Near the back of the fjord a raging waterfall plummets from the vertical face of the fjord walls. Captain Dion and the crew positioned the bow of ship just a few meters from the falls, allowing for a great photo opportunity and bit of a shower at the same time. The ship soon had to leave this incredible notch in the bedrock of Southeast Alaska for our next phase of today’s exploration.
Crossing the Strait and heading into Fredrick Sound to the east we were to sail back in time over 250 million years on the shores of Saginaw Bay. Pre Cambrian sea floor deposits scraped off the plates as they collided with Alaska, uplifted and left exposed on the shores of this lovely bay. But geology was not the only fare of the day. Surrounding these ancient rocks is a blanket of old growth temperate rainforests with some of the largest and oldest Western hemlocks in the area. Eric Guth, our photo instructor, led an in depth photography walk. Al turned the guests attentions to the rocks and secrets trapped within while others explored by Zodiac and kayaks. For certain the ancient story of this bay has many more chapters to unfold.
For the younger set on board, and coincidentally a few staff members, a movie party was held in the forward lounge while the ‘adults’ dined in the dining room, complete with mac & cheese, chicken strips and Shirley Temples. Thank you Galley and Hotel staff.
