Eastern Frederick Sound
During the night we retraced our route through Icy and Chatham Straits in order to reach the eastern shores of Frederick Sound. First morning light and early risers discovered a sea of glass and overcast skies but sunrise peaking through the clouds. Following breakfast we anchored off Cape Fanshaw which delimits the southeastern corner of the wide body of water called Frederick Sound. For the morning we went ashore on a dark sandy beach to explore the rocks exposed by the low tide and to walk along the upper beach and into the forest. The group split into long walkers and beach strollers. A few ventured into the intertidal areas to look for marine organisms. Many of the children took advantage of the sand and the small rounded rocks to make up their own activities.
As we left our morning anchorage a small research vessel named Evolution approached. It was arranged that we would later meet the researchers on the vessels and hear about their projects studying humpback whale feeding behavior and social structure. Right after lunch Dr. Fred Sharpe presented some of his findings and gave us some extremely interesting information about the whales we have been seeing. As we listened to the presentation the ship continued into Port Houghton for the afternoon’s activities.
The setting at the end of this bay is one of the most beautiful in all of Southeast Alaska. Surrounding our anchorage were steep slopes heavily forested with old growth spruce and hemlock. At the end of the bay was a large expanse of grass meadow. In the distance towering over this foreground were high jagged mountain peaks with dots of winter snow remaining after a relatively warm summer. Kayaks were pulled ashore and Zodiacs began running shuttles to the shoreline of the meadows. As small groups ventured across the meadows, others slid into the kayaks and paddled quietly along a small inlet where the meadow joined the steep forested hills. bald eagles called over the heads of the kayakers and pink salmon struggled in the shallows below. After another lovely excursion ashore and on the water we picked up anchor to cruise along the shores of eastern Frederick Sound in search of more adventure and wildlife.
During the night we retraced our route through Icy and Chatham Straits in order to reach the eastern shores of Frederick Sound. First morning light and early risers discovered a sea of glass and overcast skies but sunrise peaking through the clouds. Following breakfast we anchored off Cape Fanshaw which delimits the southeastern corner of the wide body of water called Frederick Sound. For the morning we went ashore on a dark sandy beach to explore the rocks exposed by the low tide and to walk along the upper beach and into the forest. The group split into long walkers and beach strollers. A few ventured into the intertidal areas to look for marine organisms. Many of the children took advantage of the sand and the small rounded rocks to make up their own activities.
As we left our morning anchorage a small research vessel named Evolution approached. It was arranged that we would later meet the researchers on the vessels and hear about their projects studying humpback whale feeding behavior and social structure. Right after lunch Dr. Fred Sharpe presented some of his findings and gave us some extremely interesting information about the whales we have been seeing. As we listened to the presentation the ship continued into Port Houghton for the afternoon’s activities.
The setting at the end of this bay is one of the most beautiful in all of Southeast Alaska. Surrounding our anchorage were steep slopes heavily forested with old growth spruce and hemlock. At the end of the bay was a large expanse of grass meadow. In the distance towering over this foreground were high jagged mountain peaks with dots of winter snow remaining after a relatively warm summer. Kayaks were pulled ashore and Zodiacs began running shuttles to the shoreline of the meadows. As small groups ventured across the meadows, others slid into the kayaks and paddled quietly along a small inlet where the meadow joined the steep forested hills. bald eagles called over the heads of the kayakers and pink salmon struggled in the shallows below. After another lovely excursion ashore and on the water we picked up anchor to cruise along the shores of eastern Frederick Sound in search of more adventure and wildlife.
