Red Bluff Bay and Saook Bay
Red Bluff Bay, on the eastern side of Baranof Island has colorful rock cliffs, steep forested hills, and a tall, tumbling waterfall. Before breakfast we cruised into the bay and along its shores – a wonderful way to begin the longest day of the year. Happy Summer Solstice!
As we traveled north in Chatham Strait, conditions were perfect for finding wildlife – calm water and light winds. We saw occasional loons, murres, harbor porpoises and black and white Dall’s porpoises. Then we sighted a humpback whale swimming to the north, and we travelled along with it for some time as it swam slowly along. We listened to its blows when it surfaced and watched the circular marks made by its tail flukes moving upwards as it swam just beneath the water’s surface. Finally it raised its tail flukes and went for a longer dive, and we continued on our way toward our afternoon destination.
Saook Bay is situated on the northern side of Baranof Island. It is a beautiful and wild place that we rarely visit, so for all of us it was a real ‘expedition’ stop. At the bay’s end there is a large meadow, punctuated with a patch of old forest. We began our exploration by kayaking, or going for Zodiac cruises. Later we walked through the seaside meadow along the shore; it was full of sedges and rye grass, and many June wildflowers - yellow, red, pink, white and even brown yes, brown flowers. More than anything, though, we found ample evidence it is home to brown bears – we saw a well-worn bear trail just inside the forest, we saw holes where bears had been digging for roots, we found their tracks and bear scat was plentiful everywhere!
