We enjoyed morning activities of hiking and kayaking in the sparkling sunshine. George Island has a lovely arch on the oceanside, our destination for kayaking. A shy sea otter and lone Steller sea lion visited our group briefly. Meanwhile, groups hiked “to the gun,” a canon located on the far side of the island and put in place to protect the West Coast during World War II. After lunch, we cruised around the Inian Islands to view wildlife, before heading to the Hobbit Hole to visit with Zach Brown at the Tidelines Institute. Zach’s place is a great example of low tech, low footprint, high education, and high activism. Zach, a PhD Stanford graduate, and his wife lead inclusive experiences in “the heart of wilderness.” Check them out at tidelinesinstitute.org.
5/7/2025
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Inian Islands, Port Althorp
The Inian Islands invoke sheer joy and excitement among the naturalists, which in turn, is transferred to the guests. We set out in Zodiacs, traversing in nearly unprecedented calm conditions through the narrow Mosquito Pass, then around North Inian Island. We observed over a dozen bald eagles and sea lions waiting for the inrushing tide to bring fish to the surface for easy pickings. We also saw a couple of male sea otters peacefully lying on the surface while fluffing up their fur to introduce air for insulation (they don’t have blubber). The weather was classic Alaska…sun grading to rain…then to partly cloudy. In the afternoon, we traveled to Port Althorp for kayaking and hikes. Again, very calm conditions with intermittent sun and rain. The hikes were beautiful, winding across the mud flats and into the thick rainforest painted with several shades of green. Bear trails were observed and used by us as convenient paths to follow. Kayakers slowly paddled across glassy water to enjoy the peace and solitude. The day ended with soft sun.
