Sitkoh Bay and Kelp Bay
As the early risers peered through binoculars into the shadowy meadows at the head of Sitkoh Bay and savored mugs of hot coffee, the first rays of sunlight crested the adjacent hills and lit the back of a large cinnamon-colored brown bear foraging in the long grasses. Thus began our first morning of this already memorable voyage. The light expanded and more bears were revealed. A mother and cub near the forest edge and five, no six, additional brown bears dotted the beautiful Alaskan landscape before us. Brown bears are the same species as grizzly bears though they are several hundred pounds larger here on the coast. Beginning with the first salmon runs in mid-July and continuing until the end of September, these animals will consume as many fish as possible before their winter dormancy beginning in October.
A bit later in the morning near the confluence of Peril Strait and Chatham Strait, two humpback whales surfaced near the ship. We were awed by the sound of their breath and charmed by the distinctive black and white markings on their tail flukes. Marine biologist Berit Solstad told us of their journey from Hawaii’s warm breeding and calving waters to Southeast Alaska’s rich feeding grounds and how pictures of the unique ventral surface of the tails of these large cetaceans are used to identify individual whales.
The long, beautiful sunny afternoon was spent hiking and kayaking in a remote arm of Kelp Bay, one of the naturalist history staff’s favorite stops in spring. Today, the wildflowers were stunning. We walked through acres of shooting stars, lupines and the delightful chocolate lily pictured here is at the peak of its bloom. This plant goes by several names, notably northern rice root as its bulb resembles a ball of white rice and was an important food source for nearly all northwest coast native peoples. Another nickname is the outhouse lily. Its carrion-colored petals and unusual scent attracts flies to pollinate the lovely purple-brown flowers.
All in all, this was an exquisite first day.
As the early risers peered through binoculars into the shadowy meadows at the head of Sitkoh Bay and savored mugs of hot coffee, the first rays of sunlight crested the adjacent hills and lit the back of a large cinnamon-colored brown bear foraging in the long grasses. Thus began our first morning of this already memorable voyage. The light expanded and more bears were revealed. A mother and cub near the forest edge and five, no six, additional brown bears dotted the beautiful Alaskan landscape before us. Brown bears are the same species as grizzly bears though they are several hundred pounds larger here on the coast. Beginning with the first salmon runs in mid-July and continuing until the end of September, these animals will consume as many fish as possible before their winter dormancy beginning in October.
A bit later in the morning near the confluence of Peril Strait and Chatham Strait, two humpback whales surfaced near the ship. We were awed by the sound of their breath and charmed by the distinctive black and white markings on their tail flukes. Marine biologist Berit Solstad told us of their journey from Hawaii’s warm breeding and calving waters to Southeast Alaska’s rich feeding grounds and how pictures of the unique ventral surface of the tails of these large cetaceans are used to identify individual whales.
The long, beautiful sunny afternoon was spent hiking and kayaking in a remote arm of Kelp Bay, one of the naturalist history staff’s favorite stops in spring. Today, the wildflowers were stunning. We walked through acres of shooting stars, lupines and the delightful chocolate lily pictured here is at the peak of its bloom. This plant goes by several names, notably northern rice root as its bulb resembles a ball of white rice and was an important food source for nearly all northwest coast native peoples. Another nickname is the outhouse lily. Its carrion-colored petals and unusual scent attracts flies to pollinate the lovely purple-brown flowers.
All in all, this was an exquisite first day.
