Pavlov Harbor, Chichagof Island
Our first day aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird was filled with a number of activities and sightings. After traveling from Sitka the previous night the ship was piloted along the east coast of Chichagof Island, where we had our first sighting of a humpback whale of the trip right at wake up call. The morning was spent traversing Chatham Straight between Admiralty and Chichagof in search of more marine mammals. A few more spouts could be seen in the distance and a glimpse of a river otter was also seen on shore.
The customary introductions, briefings, and safety drills were completed for all aboard while the ship was under way and heading towards our afternoon's destination. Later a brown bear was sighted but quickly ducked into the trees. The ship was anchored during lunch at Pavlov Harbor, where a fish ladder has been built to help salmon get up and into the lake above the impressive cascades. The options this afternoon were walks and kayaking. The naturalists showed us the many plants and their usages both to humans and the animals of this temperate rain forest. Those who kayaked enjoyed great views of the jumping salmon as the fish are getting ready to head into the lake to spawn a new generation of this great symbol of the Pacific Northwest.
Another view of a brown bear was available just before dinner. The young bear seemed more interested in the grass and the planes overhead than our ship and slowly made its way back into the green carpet of the island.
Our first day aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird was filled with a number of activities and sightings. After traveling from Sitka the previous night the ship was piloted along the east coast of Chichagof Island, where we had our first sighting of a humpback whale of the trip right at wake up call. The morning was spent traversing Chatham Straight between Admiralty and Chichagof in search of more marine mammals. A few more spouts could be seen in the distance and a glimpse of a river otter was also seen on shore.
The customary introductions, briefings, and safety drills were completed for all aboard while the ship was under way and heading towards our afternoon's destination. Later a brown bear was sighted but quickly ducked into the trees. The ship was anchored during lunch at Pavlov Harbor, where a fish ladder has been built to help salmon get up and into the lake above the impressive cascades. The options this afternoon were walks and kayaking. The naturalists showed us the many plants and their usages both to humans and the animals of this temperate rain forest. Those who kayaked enjoyed great views of the jumping salmon as the fish are getting ready to head into the lake to spawn a new generation of this great symbol of the Pacific Northwest.
Another view of a brown bear was available just before dinner. The young bear seemed more interested in the grass and the planes overhead than our ship and slowly made its way back into the green carpet of the island.
