We rose early in the morning to find a sky full of rare Alaskan sunshine. The day promised a bevy of opportunities to see nature in action around the Inian Islands, a favorite spot among the many stops of National Geographic Sea Lion. Setting off, guests needed little time before encountering sea otters bouncing buoyantly upon the water – feeding on what the depths were able to lend on their latest dive. Among the vast beds of bull kelp, the otters bobbed, seemingly unconcerned with the smiling faces that greeted them while bringing their cameras to their eyes in order to get that perfect shot.
Farther out, we began to encounter the gregarious Steller sea lion en masse. Rifling through the water, they chased after the king and sockeye salmon making their way in from the open ocean. Others perched upon their rocks, hauled out to dry in the sun and practice sparring with the up and coming youth who are keen to take their place within the mating pool.
A host of birds sailed overhead, some finding their place on the water’s surface, others taking in the lay of the land from a perch high up in a Sitka spruce - among these were the bald eagle, pelagic cormorants, marbled murrlets, and pigeon guillemots. We were even treated to some humpback whales, showing up in order to take advantage of the rich food that the incoming tide is known to bring. It was an arena of wildlife, in which guests had a hard time deciding which way to look in order to take in what surrounded them.
After a bit of cruising, and a delicious lunch, we tucked into the narrow pass that led us to Bohemian Basin. Coming ashore, guests were challenged by an immediate uphill climb that resulted in the abundant payoff of a true Alaskan landscape. Steeped in the muskeg, they took in the stunted trees that grew among the saturated acidic soil and the broad views of the inlet that their journey up had afforded them. Though dry from lack of rain, the muskeg proved itself to be a place of varied wonder with shore pines, yellow pond lilies, and the rare insectivorous plant known as the butterwort. We venture into these places to discover the wild, and today was no letdown.
After hiking, some guests enjoyed an explorative small boat journey deeper into Stag Bay, full of fjords that provided mountains high enough to throw a kink in one’s neck. The day ended with some late day cruising around the fjords and a stop in the legendary Alaskan town of Pelican.
