Our morning started on the bow, taking in the rich landscapes and spotting eagles and our first sea otters as we entered Port Althorp. This embayment falls on the north coast of Chichagof Island, where the day’s adventures kicked off. From here we explored by kayak and on foot. Some guests set out on a true bushwack, heading inland through dense forest and alder thickets, while others combed the intertidal zone and shoreline to get a closer look at this dynamic meeting point of land and sea. On the coastal walk, we saw perennial bear tracks and salmonberries getting ready to ripen.
The afternoon we made our way to the Inian Islands. These islands sit at the tidal pinch point of Cross Sound, where the Gulf of Alaska’s nutrient-rich waters squeeze through the narrow channels into the calmer Inside Passage. This tidal bottleneck creates currents that supercharge these productive waters and attract marine life. Our Zodiacs saw many Stellar sea lions hauled out on the rocks and more than a few sea otters floating in the kelp. With numerous bald eagles soaring above, this day was nothing short of exceptional.
