Today we visited a wilderness area called the Inian Islands, which were named in 1879 by W.H. Dall as part of a U.S. Coast Guard and Geological Survey. This is one of the few places where the Inside Passage opens to the Pacific Ocean. The tide creates a lot of upwelling, making it an easy place for wildlife to find food. We saw Steller sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, and harbor seals on our morning Zodiac cruises. After lunch, we visited nearby George Island, the location of a World War II outpost and a large gun that was never fired. At George Island, we offered two sets of hikes and kayaking.
5/14/2024
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Cascade Creek and Frederick Sound
Today was classic southeastern Alaska. A light rain greeted us as we woke and continued until we retired to bed. But rather than being annoying, it magically transformed the jaw-dropping landscape to a higher level. Three hikes were offered: casual, moderate, and strenuous. No one stayed aboard, all donned appropriate gear and humbly walked through the majestic coastal rain forest, closely observed by stately centuries-old Sitka spruce and western hemlock, as well as a diverse assemblage of understory shrubs, mosses, lichens, and fungi. Many of us also saw the often-overlooked rough skinned newt. The afternoon consisted of cruising for wildlife through Fredericks Sound and briefly watching a single humpback whale. During the mid-afternoon, we listened to two presentations on whales. Of course, a pod of Dahl’s porpoises ‘interrupted’ one of them, but in a most welcome manner. Several swam alongside the ship, affording a great view for those watching out the lounge windows. And before cocktails and recap, we encountered a solitary humpback that was actively diving and showing its distinctive fluke. After dinner, we participated in a trivia contest with subjects ranging from Alaskan history, natural history, ship characteristics, and the staff. It was a lively way to end the day.