The National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor in the lee of a small island; part of the Inian group located in Cross Sound south of Glacier Bay National Park. The anchorage provided some protection but we still felt the motion of the larger swells from the open Pacific nearby. This area is a key outlet to the ocean for ships that travel the Inside Passage and it also provides a pass through which the ebb and flow of tidal currents must squeeze in order to flush the thousands of fjords and minor inlets that exist within the area. This flow is critical to the wildlife, especially salmon who re-enter the area through this narrow gap. Awaiting the fish are hungry Steller sea lions who capture and devour them as they pass. We observed hundreds of these large pinnipeds lying on rocks or swimming nearby as we motored past in our expedition landing craft.
After our morning operations and lunch, we pulled the hook and sailed to Port Althorp, an inlet on the north end of Chichagof Island. Here, we set off for our afternoon adventures on land and in the water. Some hiked deep into the rain forest along a salmon stream. Others took a more casual stroll along the shore observing bear and deer tracks within the intertidal mud. Guests had an opportunity to kayak too, and for those seeking a more challenging assignment there were stand-up paddleboards. Quite a few took up the challenge and paddled in the quiet water while a light rain fell from the Alaskan sky.
