George & Inian Islands

I opened my eyes this morning to golden light streaming through the window. Sun! A peek outside revealed layer upon layer of clouds and sky in pale shades of gray, white and blue, with that brilliant, golden, often-elusive orb painting the clouds and water below with golden orangey-yellow streaks. Likewise, the mountains in the distance were layered with fog, mist, cloud cover and sunshine, contributing contrasting dark tones of greens and blacks to the lighter shades of gray. It is hard to describe the textured beauty and majesty of the scene, but this typical magical Southeast Alaskan moment got me out of bed earlier than planned.

The sun continued to play peek-a-boo while we anchored off George Island and devoted our morning to exploring sea and land by kayak and on foot. Situated at the entrance of Cross Sound, this tiny island was used as a lookout during World War II and the long and medium hikes took us up and down the craggy route to the best vantage point where a military gun emplacement still resides.

After lunch the National Geographic Sea Bird cruised in search of wildlife on her way to our afternoon anchorage in Hobbit Hole at the Inian Islands. Zodiacs were lowered to the water and we spent the rest of the day exploring this nutrient-rich ecosystem. Our timing was perfect, with the Gulf of Alaska waters beginning to flood into this constricted maze of islands, carrying nutrients and fishes to the hungry animals and birds waiting within. Steller sea lions zipped through the currents, grabbing and shredding their prey, while greedy gulls hovered above, diving down to snatch scraps.

Eagles soared and dove, grasping their catch with sharp talons. In a quieter area this sea otter rested in a comfy kelp bed while snacking on a king crab. The air, sea, and cliffs were dotted with all manner of seabirds. To complete the scene, humpback whale blows were seen and heard in the distance.

Back onboard we were greeted with hot chocolate, and gathered in the lounge to share stories with family and friends. Another rich day in Southeast Alaska…