Lake Eva Trail and Kelp Bay, Baranof Island
The bear sightings were numerous today as we visited two areas well known for their high concentration of brown bears; Lake Eva and Kelp Bay. It can take a few hours to go from one spot to another by ship, but the distance the bears have to cross on this section of Baranof Island is not far at all.
Amongst gray and windy skies, although a rainbow did appear for a moment, we ventured into the Lake Eva trail. Later in the summer the salmon spawn here in the thousands, but today the bears were seen only when we approached the anchorage. The full moon had pulled the sea back exposing the amazing intertidal life on the flat rock shorelines. This expanse would be flooded upon our return from our walks. A mink was seen cruising along in search of a morning treat before the waters returned. Our walk showed us just what an old growth forest looked like with huge Sitka spruces and old hemlocks surrounded by smaller and varied trees and bushes. For those who made it to the lake, a beaver was seen splashing across the waters.
Once back on board, the ship went south to Kelp Bay where the number of bear sightings increased. As we readied to anchor, five bears on different parts of the shore were seen down on the meadows. By the time we finished kayaking and were back aboard, a total of 9 bears were sighted. The A-B-C islands of Southeast Alaska (Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof) really deliver a unique bear experience.
The bear sightings were numerous today as we visited two areas well known for their high concentration of brown bears; Lake Eva and Kelp Bay. It can take a few hours to go from one spot to another by ship, but the distance the bears have to cross on this section of Baranof Island is not far at all.
Amongst gray and windy skies, although a rainbow did appear for a moment, we ventured into the Lake Eva trail. Later in the summer the salmon spawn here in the thousands, but today the bears were seen only when we approached the anchorage. The full moon had pulled the sea back exposing the amazing intertidal life on the flat rock shorelines. This expanse would be flooded upon our return from our walks. A mink was seen cruising along in search of a morning treat before the waters returned. Our walk showed us just what an old growth forest looked like with huge Sitka spruces and old hemlocks surrounded by smaller and varied trees and bushes. For those who made it to the lake, a beaver was seen splashing across the waters.
Once back on board, the ship went south to Kelp Bay where the number of bear sightings increased. As we readied to anchor, five bears on different parts of the shore were seen down on the meadows. By the time we finished kayaking and were back aboard, a total of 9 bears were sighted. The A-B-C islands of Southeast Alaska (Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof) really deliver a unique bear experience.
