Sitkoh Bay and Chatham Strait
Sunshine is a thing to remark upon, in an area known for its immense amounts of rain. Our hardy travelers were treated to an entire day of this unusual sight! We hiked, we kayaked, we basked and we enjoyed the spectacular scenery surrounding us on our explorations today.
The day began as a calm, clear morning and continued, unending into the evening. We took advantage of it by maximizing our time outside to its fullest potential! Florence Harbor, in Thomas Bay, was our stop for the morning. The dense foliage lining an old logging road gives a tremendous amount of opportunity for exploration. One of the favorite finds, which became a regular site on the trail, was the ubiquitous banana slug. A lover of detritus, this terrestrial mollusk grazes all along the path. Most commonly known to be yellow or brown (or a combination of both), many of the slugs found in Sitkoh Bay are almost solid white, making them stand out against the green foliage.
Our kayakers found solitude, exploring the intertidal zone along the shores of the bay. The water, which was incredibly clear, yielded numerous water jellies, whose translucent bodies moved slowly around the bay. Many kayakers took the challenge of paddling halfway down the length of Sitkoh Bay, coming to rest across from the historic Chatham Cannery.
After our departure, the afternoon was filled with more sunshine and time for exploration. Many of our party spent time on deck, supplementing their Vitamin D and enjoying the vistas. We visited Kasnyku Falls, a large cascade at the northeast corner of Baranof Island, and later, Sara enlightened us on what it must be like to live in Alaska as a coastal brown bear.
Alberto began a presentation about the wonderful nature of birds, only to be supplanted by a small pod of killer whales spotted off our starboard side. Killer whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. They were surprisingly engaging, coming up to the ship on several occasions. A small group of mothers and calves, they rolled and lob-tailed repeatedly in the time that we watched. The calm water also made it possible to follow their movements under the surface! We were surprised to note that one of the calves was silver in color, strikingly contrasted with all of its family members. We witnessed a variety of behaviors and cameras clicked non-stop throughout the afternoon.
As a final cap to the day, we cruised into the waters of Red Bluff Bay before dinner. This bay takes its name from the russet cliffs at its entrance and boasts a spectacular waterfall at its head. Once again, Southeast Alaska lived up to its reputation, treating us to a sampling of diverse and bountiful wilderness.
