This morning we explored the shoreline and forest of Hanus Bay, on the northeastern end of Baranof Island. The forest trail winds through beautiful forest, past an inner lagoon rimmed by abundant wildflowers, and up along a stream. Today the buttercups and Indian paintbrush colored the lagoon’s edge with yellow and red blooms. In the shade of large trees, white flowers of queen’s cup lily and ground dogwood brightened the forest floor. Long walkers ventured up to Lake Eva, to a grove of enormous, old growth spruce trees.
Kayakers paddled along the shores of the bay, and watched a harbor seal mother and pup resting on a tiny, algae covered islet. Other people cruised along the shore in small boats, and looked closely at sea stars, chitons and limpets clinging to the low intertidal rocks. Bald eagles flew over the treetops, and one carried a branch to add to its nest. Bird songs drifted out from the forest.
During the afternoon, we cruised west in Peril Strait, towards the channel called Sergius Narrows. Our late afternoon transit was at slack water, in order to avoid navigating through strong currents. As we traveled, Steve Morello spoke to us about the Alaska Whale Foundation’s important conservation and research work in this region, which is funded in part by contributions from our guests. As the ship glided past countless small, tree covered islands, we sighted a humpback whale, and a river otter scampered out of the salt water and under the trees. On deck in the late afternoon, we breathed in Alaska’s wonderfully fresh air, as we neared the end of our southeast Alaska adventure together.
