At sunrise, we entered a gorgeous little inlet named Gut Bay and were quickly blown away by the scenery. A massive glaciated peak loomed above us, and tall trees lined the shoreline in every direction. We were here to wake up and do some scenic cruising, and this spot did not disappoint. A full rainbow added to the morning’s excitement as we headed out into Chatham strait.
Humpback whales have made a remarkable comeback in Southeast Alaska since the end of the whaling days. These whales, after wintering in Hawaii, spend all summer here feasting. We encountered a group of four to six whales surface feeding very close to shore. Repeatedly, these whales would lunge, mouths agape, random body parts flailing in the air. Sometimes, they even showed the beautiful pink roof of their mouths. It was incredible to be looking right down the throat as they were feeding. And what were they feeding on? Well, closer analysis of the photos revealed many small pink things trying to escape the gaping mouths. KRILL!!!!! Over and over, these whales were feasting on krill, and we collectively took thousands and thousands of photos. What a morning!
Later in the day, it was time to enter the forest. The trail at Lake Eva allows for access not only to a salmon stream, but also to some huge old-growth trees. Here, four different species of salmon spawn, and these fish bring ocean nutrients to feed the forest. Lining the stream were Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees, some nearly 200 feet high. Many of these trees would easily be over 500 years old. We attempted to capture them in photographs, a difficult task for sure. Easier was the macro world. Everywhere one looked was a shot. From mosses and lichens, to mushrooms and berries, the small world below was equally exciting as the cathedral above.
From sunrise to sunset, today was an exciting day of discovery.
