Red Bluff Bay, Chatham Strait, Lake Eva
Its 6:00 a.m., and the National Geographic Sea Lion is heading across Chatham Strait, on its way toward Red Bluff Bay, and an early morning exploration of this beautiful area of Baranof Island. There has been plenty of wind and fog during our transit across from Frederick Sound, but as we make our approach into the bay we find shelter from the southerly winds, and the fog lifts just enough to give us a view of the shore, while keeping a mysterious feel to the surrounding landscape.
As we get deeper into this narrow inlet, the Captain navigates the National Geographic Sea Lion close to a towering waterfall that is tumbling down the mountainside through the low clouds. Everywhere you look there is a scene worthy of a photo, and the cameras and photographers are out in full-force!
Soon we’re heading back out of the bay to continue toward our afternoon landing, when a number of Bald eagles are sighted in trees near a stream. The ship turns to get a closer look, and to everyone’s surprise there is a sow Brown bear with two cubs resting at the mouth of the stream. The bears seem totally unconcerned with our presence, and continue to lie there, only stirring to get a drink of water from the stream. Finally, the cubs start playing and the sow decides it’s time to see if there are any salmon that have moved into the stream. As the family works their way into the forest, we turn the ship around and leave this wonderful bay, and head north in Chatham Strait.
After several hours of traveling through heavy fog and some rain, the visibility improves, and our first Humpback whales of the voyage are spotted. We spend some time enjoying these large marine mammals, but they’re busy feeding, and not coming very close, so the decision is made to continue on toward our afternoon landing at Lake Eva.
Just as lunch was finishing, the National Geographic Sea Lion set anchor, dropped Zodiacs and kayaks, and got ready for an afternoon full of activities. First the long, fast hikes started up the trail, then the medium/photo hike, and finally the shorter interpretive and photo hikes. Once the hikers were off, the kayakers were launched to explore Hanus Bay and the lagoon at the mouth of the salmon spawning stream flowing down from Lake Eva. There were hundreds of Pink and Chum salmon working their way upstream to the spawning beds, as well as magnificent views of this temperate rainforest. About three and a half hours later it was time to head back to the ship to get ready for cocktail hour, recap and another delicious dinner. But before the last group left the beach they were rewarded with the appearance of a Mom and cub Brown bear coming out of the woods and walking along the very beach we had just left. Another exciting day in Southeast Alaska!
