The guests aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion awoke to a beautiful and typical Southeast Alaska morning. Southeast Alaska is best characterized by fog, stillness, and brisk temperatures. The fog sits between topographical forest layers, framing each tree to show its height and majesty. The stillness of this portion of Alaska is nearly breathtaking. Since the open ocean is buffered by an island archipelago, the waters of the inside passage are most often serene and calm.
Morning activities took the National Geographic Sea Lion to Port Althorp, a secluded bay on Chichigof Island. Guests set off with enthusiasm for a variation of hikes or to kayak; some chose both. The long hikes were a real bushwhacking adventure. With no real trail to follow, the naturalists took to the forest on bear trails, worn down from year after year of use. One group even saw a fascinating work – perennial bear tracks. These are tracks that bears have used year after year, crushing down plant life in only these particular track spots and not an entire trail, making a natural scar in the forest’s aesthetic. Along the same hike many bald eagles were spotted, of both juvenile and mature phase, feeding on fish and scanning for prey from their respective perch.
For the afternoon the ship repositioned to the Inian Islands, an area well known for abundant wildlife. The strong current system from the Pacific Ocean floods and ebbs tide through the tight bottleneck the island chain provides. The exceptionally strong flow carries members of the plankton community, fish, and other marine organisms literally to the mouth of the larger animals in this ecosystem. Naturalists loaded into expedition landing crafts and prepared for an afternoon full of cruising, searching for wildlife and spectacular views. They were not disappointed – within one and a half hours guests saw Steller sea lions, humpback whales, sea otters, bald eagles, jumping salmon, and an array of birds.
At the end of a great day, the ship’s passengers gathered in the lounge for a cocktail and recap. Instead of joining the adults for dinner, the children aboard ate chicken nuggets and watched a movie; after all, who could say that today was not a fantastic day.
