Idaho Inlet and Chichagof Island
Our day started a bit early again today (0630) as Steve Gould, our expedition leader, announced we had breaching and lob-tailing humpback whales off the bow near Pt. Adolphus, located at the northern tip of Chichagof Island. As we clamored up on deck we were struck not only by the actions of the whales around us, but also the stunning multiple shades of gray from wispy clouds draped over the forest, dotted with spotlights of sunlight. Everywhere we looked we saw humpback whales! Our attention was immediately drawn to several whales that were repeatedly breaching and lobtailing; we wondered if they ever tired of this activity. The sheer beauty of these ‘gentle giants’ impressed us and we marveled at seeing (and hearing the trumpet blows) of whales so close to the ship. We could see the water roll off their massive backs and cascade like waterfalls off the trailing edge of their flukes. They surfaced and dove in such beautiful and synchronous formation! Several groups of Steller sea lions were also feeding in the area, adding to the excitement of the sighting. After this fantastic show, we had a stimulating lecture given by our guest lecturer, Dr. Ellen Porzig, Developmental Biologist from Stanford University. We learned about the evolution of birds, the origins of flight, how feathers work and generate lift, and dynamic soaring, all adding to our appreciation of the many birds we have been seeing on our expedition.
Just when we thought we had seen everything, we sighted rafts of sea otters, arguably one of the cutest of all marine mammals. Several rafts of this furry creature were scattered throughout the entrance to Idaho Inlet, swimming, diving, rolling, grooming and frolicking, enticing shutterbugs to capture their endearing qualities.
The beauty of our morning continued into our afternoon where the Sea Bird was anchored near Fox Creek (above photo), providing opportunities for us to paddle our kayaks and drift silently among the graceful moon jellies pulsing among the thick bull kelp. We also strolled through a rich tapestry of lush (and still very moist) forest draped with carpets of mosses, we hiked along and across creeks, and carefully stepped along ancient bear track depressions.
We returned to our floating home, nourished by our closeness to the natural world, eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s adventure, and feeling very fortunate to be in this wild place.
