Wildlife and waterfalls! What a day!
From sunrise to sunset our day was spent enjoying the finest of Southeast Alaska. Blue skies were a theme for the day, with blazing sun and warm temperatures making it feel like we were much farther south. However, distant snow-covered mountains reminded us of where we were. But of course, the whales, bears, sea lions, and other wildlife told us for sure we were here in Alaska.
At sunrise, we entered the incredibly scenic bay of Red Bluff Bay, and found our first bears of the day. Three distant bears were feeding on salmon, while many bald eagles were perched on the snags around them. Behind us, a massive waterfall plunged into the sea, and we were able to approach in the ship to within a few feet of it. Early morning light on the surrounding high peaks finished the scene for our pre-breakfast pleasure.
Later in the morning, we were cruising north in Chatham Strait. After enjoying some Dall’s porpoise, we encountered a few humpback whales. They began by feeding fairly shallow, but then moved off to a different area, passing incredibly close to our ship. A few acrobatics were performed including a tail throw and a full breach. Many showed their flukes, lifting them high as they took a deeper dive.
After lunch, we enjoyed the old-growth forest of Lake Eva. Here, we again experienced the temperate rain forest of Southeast Alaska, but this time with sunshine and 70-degree weather. A few river otters were spotted on the side of the stream, hanging out by a large group of salmon making their way up to spawn. Eagle eyes spotted a brown bear leaving the forest and entering the stream, right in front of some of us. The bear proceeded to stand on a log in the middle of the stream, and then swim across to the other side. Incredible!
As the sun began to set, we were cruising north back in Chatham Strait, on our way to tomorrow’s destination. The high peaks lit with alpenglow and the glassy sea reflected the pinkish hues. Our grand finale was a single humpback whale bubble-net feeding over and over in the fading light. Spectacular!
And for an encore, northern lights guided us for much of the night.
