As we made our way to our anchorage off George Island this morning, we awoke to a beautiful low mist moving in and out of the small islands of Icy Strait and Cross Sound. The open Pacific beckoned to the west, and we felt the swell of the ocean for the first time on our trip. After landing on George Island, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders took to the water as hikers and photo walkers explored the land. A short reposition during lunch landed us a mere two miles away at Hobbit Hole. We were ready to explore the Inian Islands on Zodiac cruises. Sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and other types of wildlife were waiting for us on the rocky shores and in the churning waters. It was a lovely day to explore the northernmost entrance to the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska!
7/22/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Sitka Sound
Early risers aboard National Geographic Sea Lion were treated to a stellar show of humpback whales this morning as we made our way south down the mountain-studded coast of Baranof Island. The long, lazy swell that lulled us to sleep overnight contrasted spectacularly with the fast breaches, tail slaps, and fluking displays that surrounded us as we rounded Cape Edgecumbe and entered Sitka Sound. Sea otters and fishing boats galore greeted us as we slipped into the calm waters of the sound, bound for Magoun Islands State Marine Park for an afternoon of Zodiac cruising and hiking. The hikers found ample evidence of recent bear presence in the form of fresh scat and tracks, but no bears were to be found. Most of us were quite relieved not to surprise a bear! The Zodiac cruisers were treated to gorgeous intertidal habitats littered with mussels, barnacles, sea stars, and clams. After warming up a bit at lunch, a record thirty-one brave souls jumped into the frigid waters for our polar plunge! As we arrived in Sitka this evening, we admired the snow-capped mountain tops normally shrouded in mist. Steller sea lions cavorting around the dock served as reminders of our adventures.