The day began with wonder as an early announcement told of the many bears walking the low tide line of Port Althorp. First there was a sow walking along with two yearling cubs trailing behind her, looking healthy and spry, and then a large male appeared to add drama to the event. Trailing behind the trio with great intention, the naturalists explained that the male could very well be hunting the cubs. As backwards as this may seem, it is part of the natural cycle of the brown bears’ existence, but luckily the mother wisely took her cubs into the obscurity of the woods – and we wish them safe travels. Landing on the beach, guests were treated to bear prints, a myriad of salmon running up the stream, and even the rarely seen Humboldt squid washed up upon the shore.
After lunch, we anchored off the Inian Islands – a place like no other in Alaska. Being the northern most point where the waters of the open Pacific journey into the interior waters, it literally floods with life. With juvenile eagles and kitty wakes above, sea otters bobbing characteristically with their sea urchin lunch upon their stomach, and humpback whales breaking the surface to breathe, the Inians never fail to put on a show. Perhaps most dynamic were the Stellar sea lions lifting their heads curiously toward our Zodiacs to see who was visiting before taking a salmon in their maw and slapping them to bits. It was a day to be remembered, as most are in Alaska, and we look eagerly to what is yet to come.
