Misty Fjords National Monument, Rudyard Bay
So long rain, hello sunny, majestic Misty Fjords National Monument! We are now in full swing south with the morning spent cruising Behm Canal en route to the day’s destination, Rudyerd Bay. Taking an easterly turn into the bay this morning, we found ourselves face to face with the shimmering granite facade of Punchbowl Cove. Thanks to local efforts in the 1980’s this part of the wilderness area was protected from an open pit-mining proposal that would have no doubt blemished what has proven to be a geologic marvel. Steep, waterfall-streaked walls guided us deeper and deeper through the fjord until we reached the eastern most end of Rudyerd, and our day’s kayaking/Zodiac-ing spot.
With the sun beating down and the glassy water whispering her name, our naturalist Sharon lead a pre-kayaking charge into the 58 degree glacial runoff providing an early adrenaline rush to those of us willing to take the plunge. Little did we know that that would not be the last of the adrenaline boosts for the day. After loading up in the kayaks and humbling ourselves by skirting the base of the fjord’s 3,500 ft. vertical walls, we made our way up one of the bay’s tributaries. Gliding upstream through the gentle waters, we passed one pale salmon carcass after another until we reached the source of at least a few of these casualties. On the north bank of the river, we spotted a brown bear in the midst of a mid-day snack with not a single care other than his/her fish. This apparent lack of interest in us allowed a closer than usual look at Alaska’s top predator. Drifting there in the late summer sun, the usual forest sounds- cascading water, chirping birds, creaking trees- were joined by the most unnerving sound of cracking fish carcass and bear grunts. After about 20 minutes, our friend returned to his forest hideout, leaving us giddy with awe!
On this, our last day in Alaska, we could not ask for a more beautiful farewell. So long majestic, stunning Alaska, hello gorgeous British Columbia!
So long rain, hello sunny, majestic Misty Fjords National Monument! We are now in full swing south with the morning spent cruising Behm Canal en route to the day’s destination, Rudyerd Bay. Taking an easterly turn into the bay this morning, we found ourselves face to face with the shimmering granite facade of Punchbowl Cove. Thanks to local efforts in the 1980’s this part of the wilderness area was protected from an open pit-mining proposal that would have no doubt blemished what has proven to be a geologic marvel. Steep, waterfall-streaked walls guided us deeper and deeper through the fjord until we reached the eastern most end of Rudyerd, and our day’s kayaking/Zodiac-ing spot.
With the sun beating down and the glassy water whispering her name, our naturalist Sharon lead a pre-kayaking charge into the 58 degree glacial runoff providing an early adrenaline rush to those of us willing to take the plunge. Little did we know that that would not be the last of the adrenaline boosts for the day. After loading up in the kayaks and humbling ourselves by skirting the base of the fjord’s 3,500 ft. vertical walls, we made our way up one of the bay’s tributaries. Gliding upstream through the gentle waters, we passed one pale salmon carcass after another until we reached the source of at least a few of these casualties. On the north bank of the river, we spotted a brown bear in the midst of a mid-day snack with not a single care other than his/her fish. This apparent lack of interest in us allowed a closer than usual look at Alaska’s top predator. Drifting there in the late summer sun, the usual forest sounds- cascading water, chirping birds, creaking trees- were joined by the most unnerving sound of cracking fish carcass and bear grunts. After about 20 minutes, our friend returned to his forest hideout, leaving us giddy with awe!
On this, our last day in Alaska, we could not ask for a more beautiful farewell. So long majestic, stunning Alaska, hello gorgeous British Columbia!
