Pavlof Harbor, Chichagof Island/Peril Strait and Sergius Narrows
Those who slept in this morning missed the rarest sighting of the expedition – a few drops of rain. It was a fleeting observation and then the sun shone for most of our activities in Pavlof Harbor, situated in Freshwater Bay on the east side of Chichagof Island.
Kayakers explored the shoreline and the stream below a lovely waterfall. Much of the intertidal zone was exposed, showing several species of algae as well as barnacles, mussels and other invertebrates. In shallow rocky bottoms, large white anemones with flower-like tentacles fed as paddlers passed above them.
The hikers examined plants along the beach and also in the forest. In bloom were sea milkwort, paintbrush, dwarf dogwood, western coralroot, and pinesap. People had good sightings of a red-breasted sapsucker and a quick view of a hermit thrush. Some hikers climbed above the waterfall and continued to scenic Pavlof Lake, with its backdrop of snow-patched mountains. We found a beaver lodge at the edge of the lake. There had been some recent activity, and while we didn’t see the beaver, its tracks were nearby, along with those of deer, mink and brown bear. While walking through tall sedges along the lake, we came across a frog, the second amphibian of the week, having discovered a rough-skinned newt on the walk above Cascade Falls. The frog appeared to be an introduced species that has been spreading on Chichagof Island.
Later in the afternoon Dall’s porpoises frolicked in the bow wave of the Sea Lion as we cruised south in Chatham Strait. A brilliant rainbow graced the sky in Peril Strait. We safely navigated Sergius Narrows shortly before dinner, zipping through with an ebbing tide then found a quiet bay in which to anchor for the night. A rare Alaskan tan and lasting memories will go home with us from this trip of a lifetime.
Those who slept in this morning missed the rarest sighting of the expedition – a few drops of rain. It was a fleeting observation and then the sun shone for most of our activities in Pavlof Harbor, situated in Freshwater Bay on the east side of Chichagof Island.
Kayakers explored the shoreline and the stream below a lovely waterfall. Much of the intertidal zone was exposed, showing several species of algae as well as barnacles, mussels and other invertebrates. In shallow rocky bottoms, large white anemones with flower-like tentacles fed as paddlers passed above them.
The hikers examined plants along the beach and also in the forest. In bloom were sea milkwort, paintbrush, dwarf dogwood, western coralroot, and pinesap. People had good sightings of a red-breasted sapsucker and a quick view of a hermit thrush. Some hikers climbed above the waterfall and continued to scenic Pavlof Lake, with its backdrop of snow-patched mountains. We found a beaver lodge at the edge of the lake. There had been some recent activity, and while we didn’t see the beaver, its tracks were nearby, along with those of deer, mink and brown bear. While walking through tall sedges along the lake, we came across a frog, the second amphibian of the week, having discovered a rough-skinned newt on the walk above Cascade Falls. The frog appeared to be an introduced species that has been spreading on Chichagof Island.
Later in the afternoon Dall’s porpoises frolicked in the bow wave of the Sea Lion as we cruised south in Chatham Strait. A brilliant rainbow graced the sky in Peril Strait. We safely navigated Sergius Narrows shortly before dinner, zipping through with an ebbing tide then found a quiet bay in which to anchor for the night. A rare Alaskan tan and lasting memories will go home with us from this trip of a lifetime.
