Sitkoh Bay and Peril Straight
It was a warm, but wet, morning aboard National Geographic Sea Lion as we made our way toward Sitkoh Bay where we would enjoy our morning activities. Stretch class was held on the aft bridge deck, followed by a fresh berry smoothie and a breakfast buffet. After breakfast, we donned our rain gear and went ashore for hiking and kayaking. Sitkoh Bay is located at the southern end of Chichagof Island and instead of the bear trails we have become used to throughout the week, we walked along an old logging road. Thimbleberries and gooseberries lined the path and we had to watch our steps to avoid treading on pale yellow banana slugs. Banana slugs are actually mollusks and they can range in color from almost white to a dark, olive green with black spots. They thrive in the damp, lush forests of southeast Alaska, consuming fungi, devil’s club leaves, and other vegetation. The walks varied from aerobic, moderate, and leisurely, but all saw signs of bears, listened to birdsongs, and enjoyed the tranquility of the Tongass temperate rainforest.
During lunch we picked up anchor and headed back down Sitkoh Bay toward Peril Straight. It was a good afternoon for a massage or relaxing in the lounge. The bridge spotted a humpback whale and we spent half an hour on the bow watching it surface and dive as the sun shone intermittently behind the low clouds.
Just before dinner we anchored at a place called Deep Bay to await the slack tide we need to get us through Sergius Narrows, a narrow section of Peril Straight that separates Baranof Island from Chichagof Island. The current in this stretch of water can rush through at 6 to 7 knots, so a slack tide is necessary to navigate it safely. Peril Straight was named not for its danger of rapids, but because a large number of Aleut sea otter hunters died there in 1799 as a result of eating shellfish that were contaminated with a poisonous phytoplankton - also known as paralytic shellfish poisoning.
After our farewell dinner with Captain Dion, we picked up anchor once again and began our transit through beautiful Sergius Narrows. Safely through we continued on our way to our final destination - Sitka.
