George Island, Elfin Cove, the Inian Islands
The Sea Lion gently rocked in small swells heading towards her morning anchorage just off of George Island. We were located at the most western point of our trip, slightly north of Chichagof Island and facing Cross Sound. Our very full day began with kayaking and hikes on George Island. Once all the kayaks were staged on the beach, both hikers and kayakers were brought ashore, ready for the day's first set of activities.
A small group of hikers headed out into the quiet forests of the island. We explored some of the old sites where approximately 40 military personnel lived, while protecting Cross sound from Japanese invasion during WWII. Finding our way to the north side of the island our view took in the expanse of Cross Sound with Brady Glacier in the far distance. The beach was small but gave us a chance to explore some of the unusual flower communities found close to exposed sections of land that are continually buffeted by storms from the Pacific Ocean.
Kayakers and Zodiac cruisers had an opportunity to explore the outer coast of George island, watch and listen to sea birds, catch the occasional humpback whale in the distance and watch the weather shifts brought by the changing moods of the Pacific Ocean. Just before lunch, a guest was brought to the Sea Lion from the small town of Elfin Cove. Mary Jo Lord Wild came aboard to give us an introduction to her life of over thirty years living on the outer coast of Southeast Alaska. Mary Jo, along with seventeen other full time residents spent this last winter of 2007 in an enormous snowfall of 290 inches, part of many winter storms to hit the Northwest coast! During the summers the population of Elfin Cove swells to nearly 130 people who enjoy the white nights of summer, and a much milder climate, not to mention the bounty that the salmon harvest brings each year to this part of North America. As Mary Jo was finishing her stories the Sea Lion was on approach to Elfin Cove. Our Zodiacs had followed our ship the short distance with drivers and were ready to take all interested parties ashore to the small boardwalk community of Elfin Cove. We walked, talked with locals, shopped in the general store and took a short time to just touch on what it must be like to live in one of the more remote communities of Southeast Alaska.
Once all Zodiacs and guests were back aboard, the Sea Lion headed out into Cross Sound and made her way back into the Inian Islands. Our late afternoon was spent visiting this Stellar sea lion haul out area by Zodiacs. The clouds lifted, the light was lovely, the seas calm and conditions could not have been better for fabulous views of several groups of playful sea lion boys. They gathered together to challenge each other, cavort in the water and feast on migrating salmon making their entry from the Pacific Ocean heading for their natal streams to spawn. A visual and auditory feast was to be had, not to mention the scent of ocean and sea lion haul outs mixed in! Two rounds of Zodiacs left the Sea Lion making their way through the Hobbit Hole, and into Inian Pass. At this point many options were available to all drivers and guests… but what to choose? The Stellar sea lions were hauled out on a central island but also had taken over several secret beaches, roaring, wrestling and playing with each other, both on land and in the water. The Fairweather Range of mountains were visible in the distance. Humpbacks traveled casually in the calm seas. Sea otters watched sometimes only with one eye open, other times lifting up in righteous indignation watching the Zodiacs watching them. A world called Alaska showed its beauty, its inhabitants and gifted us with a fleeting chance to experience a wild place, where human beings were the guests.
The Sea Lion gently rocked in small swells heading towards her morning anchorage just off of George Island. We were located at the most western point of our trip, slightly north of Chichagof Island and facing Cross Sound. Our very full day began with kayaking and hikes on George Island. Once all the kayaks were staged on the beach, both hikers and kayakers were brought ashore, ready for the day's first set of activities.
A small group of hikers headed out into the quiet forests of the island. We explored some of the old sites where approximately 40 military personnel lived, while protecting Cross sound from Japanese invasion during WWII. Finding our way to the north side of the island our view took in the expanse of Cross Sound with Brady Glacier in the far distance. The beach was small but gave us a chance to explore some of the unusual flower communities found close to exposed sections of land that are continually buffeted by storms from the Pacific Ocean.
Kayakers and Zodiac cruisers had an opportunity to explore the outer coast of George island, watch and listen to sea birds, catch the occasional humpback whale in the distance and watch the weather shifts brought by the changing moods of the Pacific Ocean. Just before lunch, a guest was brought to the Sea Lion from the small town of Elfin Cove. Mary Jo Lord Wild came aboard to give us an introduction to her life of over thirty years living on the outer coast of Southeast Alaska. Mary Jo, along with seventeen other full time residents spent this last winter of 2007 in an enormous snowfall of 290 inches, part of many winter storms to hit the Northwest coast! During the summers the population of Elfin Cove swells to nearly 130 people who enjoy the white nights of summer, and a much milder climate, not to mention the bounty that the salmon harvest brings each year to this part of North America. As Mary Jo was finishing her stories the Sea Lion was on approach to Elfin Cove. Our Zodiacs had followed our ship the short distance with drivers and were ready to take all interested parties ashore to the small boardwalk community of Elfin Cove. We walked, talked with locals, shopped in the general store and took a short time to just touch on what it must be like to live in one of the more remote communities of Southeast Alaska.
Once all Zodiacs and guests were back aboard, the Sea Lion headed out into Cross Sound and made her way back into the Inian Islands. Our late afternoon was spent visiting this Stellar sea lion haul out area by Zodiacs. The clouds lifted, the light was lovely, the seas calm and conditions could not have been better for fabulous views of several groups of playful sea lion boys. They gathered together to challenge each other, cavort in the water and feast on migrating salmon making their entry from the Pacific Ocean heading for their natal streams to spawn. A visual and auditory feast was to be had, not to mention the scent of ocean and sea lion haul outs mixed in! Two rounds of Zodiacs left the Sea Lion making their way through the Hobbit Hole, and into Inian Pass. At this point many options were available to all drivers and guests… but what to choose? The Stellar sea lions were hauled out on a central island but also had taken over several secret beaches, roaring, wrestling and playing with each other, both on land and in the water. The Fairweather Range of mountains were visible in the distance. Humpbacks traveled casually in the calm seas. Sea otters watched sometimes only with one eye open, other times lifting up in righteous indignation watching the Zodiacs watching them. A world called Alaska showed its beauty, its inhabitants and gifted us with a fleeting chance to experience a wild place, where human beings were the guests.
