We woke this morning in Totem Bay at the southern end of Kupreanof Island. After morning stretches and breakfast, we were ready for active fun in Totem Bay on kayaks, standup paddleboards, and in hiking shoes. Totem Bay has an agate beach with interesting geology. After lunch, some of explored Bushy Island by Zodiacs while others bushwhacked their way inland, encounter wildflowers and other beauties of Southeast Alaska’s temperate rain forest. We capped a lovely day with a crab feast and cocktails back onboard National Geographic Sea Bird.
5/15/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Inian Islands, AK
The drizzling rain of the early morning cleared off for the start of our Zodiac tours through the dazzling Inian Islands. The Islands are incredibly special due to their geographic location. As the northernmost opening to the Inside Passage, tons of billions of gallons of water funnel in from the Pacific Ocean and cause an oceanic phenomenon called upwelling, where cold, nutrient dense water rises to the surface. Marine animals flock to these waters for the availability of food and resources. We were able to view sea otters, sea lions, and many bird species. The Zodiac tours had some of the most amazing views of the coastal waters, spruce covered islands, and wildlife. We ended the morning with a visit to the Tidelines Institute, a non-profit educational institute founded by Lindblad Naturalist and PhD in climate science, Zach Brown. The afternoon was filled with presentations, briefings, and our guest slideshow to end the evening during our transit up to Sitka. It was a fantastic ending to a great trip.