Today we explored the spectacular George and Inian Islands. These islands at the northern reaches of the Inside Passage stand with Cross Sound and the Gulf of Alaska to the west and Icy Strait to the east. Our first stop was George Island, where, in 1942 the U.S. Navy established a gun emplacement to defend against a Japanese invasion that never came. Although the skies had threatened to bring rain, the clouds soon parted and let the sun through. Our kayaks were launched, affording us opportunities to explore the shoreline and observe the rich invertebrate life as we floated over the waves. Many of us hiked through the lovely forest to see the 18-ton naval weapon and its commanding view over Cross Sound, enjoying a chorus of song birds along the way. Others visited an ocean-swept intertidal zone and rolled rocks to find shore crabs and eel-like pricklebacks hiding beneath them.
In the afternoon, we sailed towards the Inian Islands. Waters flowing through the narrow passages separating the islands from the mainland create turbulent eddies that churn nutrients and fish to the surface. Pinnipeds, seabirds, and eagles congregate here to take advantage of the ocean bounty. From our inflatable boats, we watched sea lions cavorting in the ocean swells while others grumbled and jockeyed for position on the nearby rocks. Sea otters, too, raised their heads among kelp fronds, occasionally bringing basket stars and urchins to the surface to feed. A few of us were even lucky enough to spot a tufted puffin, with its delightful bill and cherry-red feet.
In the evening as the sun slowly descended into the horizon, naturalist Emily prepared a presentation on the sea otters from earlier in the day; however, the folks on the bridge soon spotted whales on the horizon and our plans changed. For the rest of the night, we stood on the bow and watched humpback whales blowing tall spouts and throwing their tails into the air while the sun cast a warm glow on our cheeks and the surrounding mountain peaks. What a wonderful way to end the day.
