Idaho Inlet, Fox Creek, Inian Islands
Alas we awoke to sun kissed skies and calm waters in the Inside Passage. This morning the National Geographic Sea Lion started the day in an otter full way in the Idaho Inlet. Hot drinks in hand we made our way to bow and stern to observe a species that played an important role in the history of Alaska. Hunted near to the brink of extinction by the Russians from 1741 until protection in 1911, we felt honored to see in the wild a species that once faced annihilation.
Leaving the inlet, activity was spotted far out in Icy Strait and with confirmation via telescope we ventured near to visit with one of the more elusive creatures of these waters. Orcas both old and young entertained us with tail slapping and the occasional breach and spy hop. The activity of the pod was breathtaking as was the landscape that finally has been revealed from the veil of cloud cover.
We dropped the hook in the calm lee of Shaw Island near the mouth of Idaho Inlet where activities of the morn included walking in the tremendous temperate forest while others explored the shoreline of the island. In the woods we discovered habitual bear paths and places where bears had scratched the trunks of trees. Walking up the creek some of us could not resist a cool plunge on a warm day and before we even arrived at the waterfall some of the braver souls were already in the water. The other group, higher and drier explored the wonderful world of muskeg while others explored the treasures of the intertidal. Kayakers were equally rewarded with the creatures of the underworld and were revealed some of the amazing life that inhabits the most diverse ecosystem in the world.
We relocated to the nearby Inian Islands where Zodiac cruises once again revealed the richness of Alaskan waters. A haul out for Steller sea lions found us in the company of this curious pinniped. Playing with the boats we never knew where they were going to surface and amongst a group of humpbacks and otters it was difficult to focus! All of this with the Fairweather Range as a backdrop to paint the picture perfect, we might as well say we have come, done and seen almost everything we had hoped for!
Alas we awoke to sun kissed skies and calm waters in the Inside Passage. This morning the National Geographic Sea Lion started the day in an otter full way in the Idaho Inlet. Hot drinks in hand we made our way to bow and stern to observe a species that played an important role in the history of Alaska. Hunted near to the brink of extinction by the Russians from 1741 until protection in 1911, we felt honored to see in the wild a species that once faced annihilation.
Leaving the inlet, activity was spotted far out in Icy Strait and with confirmation via telescope we ventured near to visit with one of the more elusive creatures of these waters. Orcas both old and young entertained us with tail slapping and the occasional breach and spy hop. The activity of the pod was breathtaking as was the landscape that finally has been revealed from the veil of cloud cover.
We dropped the hook in the calm lee of Shaw Island near the mouth of Idaho Inlet where activities of the morn included walking in the tremendous temperate forest while others explored the shoreline of the island. In the woods we discovered habitual bear paths and places where bears had scratched the trunks of trees. Walking up the creek some of us could not resist a cool plunge on a warm day and before we even arrived at the waterfall some of the braver souls were already in the water. The other group, higher and drier explored the wonderful world of muskeg while others explored the treasures of the intertidal. Kayakers were equally rewarded with the creatures of the underworld and were revealed some of the amazing life that inhabits the most diverse ecosystem in the world.
We relocated to the nearby Inian Islands where Zodiac cruises once again revealed the richness of Alaskan waters. A haul out for Steller sea lions found us in the company of this curious pinniped. Playing with the boats we never knew where they were going to surface and amongst a group of humpbacks and otters it was difficult to focus! All of this with the Fairweather Range as a backdrop to paint the picture perfect, we might as well say we have come, done and seen almost everything we had hoped for!
