Fox Creek & the Inian Islands
Rain in the rainforest? Does it really happen? Why did we bring these rubber boots, rain pants, gloves, and hats? Do we really need to wear them? If it does rain, will we still go out? Can we kayak in the rain? Do whales still surface in the rain?
Today was a day to explore southeast Alaska doing what it does best - raining! Off and on for most of the day, a fine dose of liquid sunshine. And yes, we bundled up with all that stuff that weighed down our suitcases, and we explored and experienced what the rain provides.
The rain nourishes the lush virgin rainforest of Fox Creek on Chichagof Island. The moss around the bear tracks, the towering Sitka spruce, and the beautiful beach pea all grow thanks to the precipitation. The pink salmon choking the stream wouldn’t be here without it. The bald eagle nesting in a tall western hemlock, the sea otters feeding on crabs, and the chestnut-backed chickadees feeding on grass seeds wouldn’t delight us.
The rain also assists with the food web of the Inian Islands, helping with the plankton bloom that nourishes the entire ocean food web. The Steller sea lions approach the Zodiacs for views of these weird visitors, all decked out in multi-colored attire. Rhinoceros auklets, black-legged kittiwakes, and pelagic cormorants are all dependent on the rain to nourish this ecosystem. And yes, the whales still do surface in the rain.
Rain in the rainforest? Does it really happen? Why did we bring these rubber boots, rain pants, gloves, and hats? Do we really need to wear them? If it does rain, will we still go out? Can we kayak in the rain? Do whales still surface in the rain?
Today was a day to explore southeast Alaska doing what it does best - raining! Off and on for most of the day, a fine dose of liquid sunshine. And yes, we bundled up with all that stuff that weighed down our suitcases, and we explored and experienced what the rain provides.
The rain nourishes the lush virgin rainforest of Fox Creek on Chichagof Island. The moss around the bear tracks, the towering Sitka spruce, and the beautiful beach pea all grow thanks to the precipitation. The pink salmon choking the stream wouldn’t be here without it. The bald eagle nesting in a tall western hemlock, the sea otters feeding on crabs, and the chestnut-backed chickadees feeding on grass seeds wouldn’t delight us.
The rain also assists with the food web of the Inian Islands, helping with the plankton bloom that nourishes the entire ocean food web. The Steller sea lions approach the Zodiacs for views of these weird visitors, all decked out in multi-colored attire. Rhinoceros auklets, black-legged kittiwakes, and pelagic cormorants are all dependent on the rain to nourish this ecosystem. And yes, the whales still do surface in the rain.
