Sitko Bay and Lake Eva Trail
The mists lingered in the tree tops as we sailed into Sitko Bay after cruising through Peril Straits during the night. After breakfast we had the choice to either spend the morning kayaking or to go for a leisurely Zodiac cruise. The Zodiac’s slowly made their way along the shorelines towards the beautiful lime green meadows at the head of Sitko Bay looking for wildlife. The tours ended their cruises near the remains of an abandoned salmon cannery.
The kayakers made their way along the shoreline enjoying the peace and quiet of this wilderness. Some of the kayakers went along the edge of the meadow to have a closer look at some harlequin ducks and mergansers. Eagles were soaring just above the sitka spruce tree tops as the kayakers poked their small boats in some of the shallow coves filled with rockweeds and spotted many lion’s mane jellyfish. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning, relaxing and enjoying the solitude.
During lunch we went back through Peril Straits towards Hanus Bay. Steve MacLean gave an excellent presentation about forest ecology. It was a fitting prelude to our afternoon’s landing for a hike through the majestic old growth forest along the Lake Eva trail. The long hikers made it all the way to Lake Eva enjoying a good leg stretch and were rewarded with wonderful views of the brilliant inland lake. They had all bonded with their rubber boots and didn’t even mind the boot sucking mud! The medium walkers enjoyed a more relaxed pace as they wandered along the trail. They stopped now and then to admire the mosses, lichens and incredible old growth trees of the forest. The short hikers had a wonderful time discovering many wildflowers along the shoreline and in the forests edge. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their last afternoon soaking in all the special wonders and beauty of an Alaskan coastal rain forest.
In the evening we had our last recap where many poetic words were said about our week’s journey together. It has been an amazing expedition exploring Alaska’s coastal wilderness.
The mists lingered in the tree tops as we sailed into Sitko Bay after cruising through Peril Straits during the night. After breakfast we had the choice to either spend the morning kayaking or to go for a leisurely Zodiac cruise. The Zodiac’s slowly made their way along the shorelines towards the beautiful lime green meadows at the head of Sitko Bay looking for wildlife. The tours ended their cruises near the remains of an abandoned salmon cannery.
The kayakers made their way along the shoreline enjoying the peace and quiet of this wilderness. Some of the kayakers went along the edge of the meadow to have a closer look at some harlequin ducks and mergansers. Eagles were soaring just above the sitka spruce tree tops as the kayakers poked their small boats in some of the shallow coves filled with rockweeds and spotted many lion’s mane jellyfish. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning, relaxing and enjoying the solitude.
During lunch we went back through Peril Straits towards Hanus Bay. Steve MacLean gave an excellent presentation about forest ecology. It was a fitting prelude to our afternoon’s landing for a hike through the majestic old growth forest along the Lake Eva trail. The long hikers made it all the way to Lake Eva enjoying a good leg stretch and were rewarded with wonderful views of the brilliant inland lake. They had all bonded with their rubber boots and didn’t even mind the boot sucking mud! The medium walkers enjoyed a more relaxed pace as they wandered along the trail. They stopped now and then to admire the mosses, lichens and incredible old growth trees of the forest. The short hikers had a wonderful time discovering many wildflowers along the shoreline and in the forests edge. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their last afternoon soaking in all the special wonders and beauty of an Alaskan coastal rain forest.
In the evening we had our last recap where many poetic words were said about our week’s journey together. It has been an amazing expedition exploring Alaska’s coastal wilderness.
