Today we explored two sights along Chatham Strait, Pond Island and Sitkoh Bay. The morning was dedicated to water sports while the afternoon was a chance to hike to our heart’s content along a logging road and see how the forest grows back after industrialized logging has taken place.
Pond Island is a small island in Kelp Bay. It contains plenty of small beaches from which you can launch kayaks. The kayakers enjoyed a peaceful paddle along the shores, watching out for harbor seals, eagles, and scoters. Small boat cruises were also offered for a chance to see the same wildlife and to look out for the first of the salmon this summer season as they return from the ocean. Late in the morning, a scientist named Andy Szabo stopped by in his skiff to tell us about the Alaska Whale Foundation and the work he is doing on behalf of humpback whales in the region. He stayed for lunch as the ship repositioned north to Sitkoh Bay.
Sitkoh Bay was the location of the Chatham Cannery almost 100 years ago. The canning of salmon for mass consumption was quite different than today’s rating of salmon as a delicacy. The decaying buildings and tree-infested docks showed us some of the human history in this area. We anchored near an access point to a logging road that was built in the 1970s (a section cut was done for the Sitka spruce and western hemlock). We explored the succession of alders and other plants that grow in a timbered area. The logging road was great for the adventurous hikers as they sped along the road impressed by the size of the red alder that had grown back over the years. The filtered light was very nice for photography. Later in the evening we ventured north into Chatham Strait.
