Kelp Bay & Lake Eva
Early in the morning as we entered Kelp Bay, we saw several humpback whales blowing in the distance. Three whales were seen. One breached just minutes before we saw a coastal brown bear. As we looked in awe from the bow of the National Geographic Sea Bird, the bear fed on sedges growing above the intertidal zone. We got great looks for about fifteen minutes until it slowly walked into the woods. Here we also explored the bay by kayak and silently enjoyed the solitude as harbor seals discreetly broke the water’s surface. We also ventured on a meadow hike where there was evidence of bear activity everywhere. The meadows were flattened by the bears feeding on the sedges and their tracks were seen imprinted in the mud. One of our guests spotted an adult brown bear in the distance feeding in the same meadow where we were hiking. It was about a mile away, but all the hikers got a good look through their binoculars.
Today we also visited the north end of Baranof island, a place we know as Lake Eva. This trail had plenty of brown bear activity as well. The forest here is majestic, old and diverse. Walking through bear trails is an exciting experience which produces an ineffable feeling of wilderness. We hiked along the shoreline of a stream to the lake. We had a wonderful time as we explored the temperate rain forest of Southeast Alaska.
Early in the morning as we entered Kelp Bay, we saw several humpback whales blowing in the distance. Three whales were seen. One breached just minutes before we saw a coastal brown bear. As we looked in awe from the bow of the National Geographic Sea Bird, the bear fed on sedges growing above the intertidal zone. We got great looks for about fifteen minutes until it slowly walked into the woods. Here we also explored the bay by kayak and silently enjoyed the solitude as harbor seals discreetly broke the water’s surface. We also ventured on a meadow hike where there was evidence of bear activity everywhere. The meadows were flattened by the bears feeding on the sedges and their tracks were seen imprinted in the mud. One of our guests spotted an adult brown bear in the distance feeding in the same meadow where we were hiking. It was about a mile away, but all the hikers got a good look through their binoculars.
Today we also visited the north end of Baranof island, a place we know as Lake Eva. This trail had plenty of brown bear activity as well. The forest here is majestic, old and diverse. Walking through bear trails is an exciting experience which produces an ineffable feeling of wilderness. We hiked along the shoreline of a stream to the lake. We had a wonderful time as we explored the temperate rain forest of Southeast Alaska.
