Red Bluff Bay and Pond Island
A – Awesome
L – Large
A – Animals
S – Sitka Spruce
K – Killer Whale
A – Adventure
By Adam, age 10
Today we woke up to a foggy and peaceful morning inside Red Bluff Bay of Baranof Island. The calm water reflected images of the forested cliffs, including a spectacular waterfall that cascaded down the mountainside. A few eagles perched up high watched our progress, while marbled murrelets and a pair of red-throated loons took to flight as the Sea Bird approached.
As soon as we left the protected bay, fog engulfed us as we made our way through Chatham Strait on our way to Pond Island. This was the perfect time for one of naturalists, Melanie Heacox, to share with us her remarkable experiences as a long-time resident of Alaska. Later, scientist Andy Szabo arrived in a Zodiac and spoke of his Ph.D. research about humpback whale behavior.
After lunch, we arrived at Pond Island. This was an excellent opportunity to stretch our legs and hike to a magnificent beaver dam. Although this animal is shy and rarely seen, it has a greater impact on the natural environment than any other animal in Southeast Alaska. At Pond Island it has transformed the entire center of the island from a forest into a 60-acre lake. The exploratory hikers discovered a hidden gem of a bog way off the beaten path, while Kim Heacox took a group of eager photographers on a photo safari of the island. Others opted for a kayak adventure, checking out the picturesque shoreline of the island.
After an entertaining recap, we ate another delicious dinner and headed off to bed to dream about wide open spaces in the Alaska wilderness.
A – Awesome
L – Large
A – Animals
S – Sitka Spruce
K – Killer Whale
A – Adventure
By Adam, age 10
Today we woke up to a foggy and peaceful morning inside Red Bluff Bay of Baranof Island. The calm water reflected images of the forested cliffs, including a spectacular waterfall that cascaded down the mountainside. A few eagles perched up high watched our progress, while marbled murrelets and a pair of red-throated loons took to flight as the Sea Bird approached.
As soon as we left the protected bay, fog engulfed us as we made our way through Chatham Strait on our way to Pond Island. This was the perfect time for one of naturalists, Melanie Heacox, to share with us her remarkable experiences as a long-time resident of Alaska. Later, scientist Andy Szabo arrived in a Zodiac and spoke of his Ph.D. research about humpback whale behavior.
After lunch, we arrived at Pond Island. This was an excellent opportunity to stretch our legs and hike to a magnificent beaver dam. Although this animal is shy and rarely seen, it has a greater impact on the natural environment than any other animal in Southeast Alaska. At Pond Island it has transformed the entire center of the island from a forest into a 60-acre lake. The exploratory hikers discovered a hidden gem of a bog way off the beaten path, while Kim Heacox took a group of eager photographers on a photo safari of the island. Others opted for a kayak adventure, checking out the picturesque shoreline of the island.
After an entertaining recap, we ate another delicious dinner and headed off to bed to dream about wide open spaces in the Alaska wilderness.
