Everyone that boarded National Geographic Sea Bird yesterday afternoon decided that watching videos or documentaries, looking at pictures in books and magazines was no longer good enough; it was time to head for Alaska, pull your boots on, set your feet on solid ground, and live the experience. No more vicarious moments from media materials, it was time for the real thing…and the real things started popping up almost immediately.
This morning as we navigated the narrows through Peril Strait, wildlife was sprinkled on land and sea. We spotted Sitka black tailed deer, browsing along the shoreline and swimming in the strait. A brown bear was spotted in a far meadow. Eagles were sprinkled liberally about the forest edges, as well as one that swooped to the water, apparently caught a fish, and lingered as it floated momentarily before a labored take off from the water. Sea otters swam near some of the smaller islets, Steller sea lions patrolled in small groups along the shore, and then the humpback whales stole the show. Tall columns of mist from powerful exhalations marked the spots where these animal surfaced, and then dove, lifting tail flukes high in the air before slipping effortlessly into the water. The unique patterns shown on the underside of the flukes of these animals told us we were observing at least three different individuals.
For the afternoon our experience seemed a bit unreal for Southeast Alaska, donning sunscreen, rubber boots, and for some, shorts, we hiked the trails at Lake Eva on Baranof Island. The warmth of today is quite unseasonal and the mosses and lichens of the forest told us there has not been rain for some time. The crispy edges of lichens were the giveaway.
As we paddled about in kayaks, hiked trails, and puttered around in our expedition landing craft, a brown bear meandered to the water’s edge and start munching on sedges. We were delighted to watch this iconic symbol of the Last Frontier pay no attention to the boats that silently paddled over. We wrapped up our observations of the bear as it continued to act as a large furry lawnmower.
We’ve jumped into Alaska with both feet, and have squarely landed into the sights and thrills that were before, pictures in a book or words in a video, today and now, it is all real.
