The night’s rain clouds opened up in the early morning, just in time for our early risers to catch some golden rays and shimmering, illuminated whale flukes. As the skies parted further, a brilliant double rainbow formed right off the coast of Chichagof Island to our south. We anchored at Fox Creek and headed off on morning hikes through the misty temperate rain forest. We followed bear trails along the edge of the beach and then turned inland, following the small creek and watching for signs of bear activity. As we were about to cross the shallow creek in our rubber boots, we looked down and realized there were hundreds of salmon swimming upstream to spawn! We followed the stream to a small waterfall and then headed back to the boat after enjoying the scenic view.
In the afternoon we anchored near the Inian Islands, where Icy Strait opens to the Pacific Ocean. We loaded in expedition landing craft and headed out to find the abundant wildlife in this rich ecosystem. Despite the rain and turbulent currents, we had an amazing time playing in the waves with sea lions, cormorants, and sea otters. We got to witness firsthand the incredible natural forces that shape this ecosystem and give rise to such a wealth of biodiversity.
