Today we spent on the banks of Baranof Island. This island, huge yet isolated, exemplifies the Alexander Archipelago, with rich flora, a depauperate fauna, and intricate cultural history.
We spent the morning in Kelp Bay. This confluence of inlets is studded with islands, a few of which are fairly large. We landed on Pond Island. We crossed a narrow forested isthmus and entered a secluded seaside clearing. Exploratory hikers went back into the forest, eventually passing a series of beaver dams to a sedgy muskeg. At length they walked around the large pond that gives the island its name. Others hopped into our little rubber boats. We found scads of seals sunning on tiny islets, and low tide had exposed scads of bright orange sea anemones and multi-armed seastars.
Afternoon we stopped at the Lake Eva trail. This trail, though heavily graveled, is used by bears, and some of our more interesting tales come from this area. Bears show their appreciation for the trail in a variety of ways, including by chewing up the trail signs – quite evident at the trailhead! Many walkers set a brisk pace along and reached Lake Eva and its grove of huge Sitka spruce trees. They saw squirrels, sapsuckers, and a rare three-toed woodpecker. Meanwhile kayakers tucked into a quite lagoon and neared the waterfall.
Southeast Alaska is filled with extraordinary sights. Some are spectacular and so are unforgettable. Today we saw that the subtly and richness of the region can be equally fulfilling.
