Chatham Strait And Hanus Bay, Southeast Alaska
Morning found us in Chatham Strait, that huge geological fault that partly bisects Southeastern Alaska. Off the northeastern coast of Baranof Island we slowly approached a marvelous waterfall called Kasnyku. Falling almost vertically down between massive Sitka spruce and western hemlocks, it empties directly into the ocean.
We continued our trip up northwest, and during the morning saw Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals and a great number of different seabirds, that graced our passage. Among them were white-winged scoters, marbled murrelets, various species of gulls and the more powerful, all-dominant bald eagle.
Before lunch we had a lecture by Kim Heacox, and after this our repast. We then stopped in Hanus Bay, to begin our afternoon activities, consisting of kayaking, hiking inland and Zodiac touring. Hiking was quite interesting as some of us followed the river all the way up to Lake Eva, through a partial old-growth forest, watching the river at times for salmon and dolly varden, and experiencing the first-class Alaska mud.
Many species of interesting plants were seen and tasted, as it is now berry time: salmon berry and blueberries were quite abundant along the path. But especially interesting were the three species of orchids seen on our walks.
Morning found us in Chatham Strait, that huge geological fault that partly bisects Southeastern Alaska. Off the northeastern coast of Baranof Island we slowly approached a marvelous waterfall called Kasnyku. Falling almost vertically down between massive Sitka spruce and western hemlocks, it empties directly into the ocean.
We continued our trip up northwest, and during the morning saw Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals and a great number of different seabirds, that graced our passage. Among them were white-winged scoters, marbled murrelets, various species of gulls and the more powerful, all-dominant bald eagle.
Before lunch we had a lecture by Kim Heacox, and after this our repast. We then stopped in Hanus Bay, to begin our afternoon activities, consisting of kayaking, hiking inland and Zodiac touring. Hiking was quite interesting as some of us followed the river all the way up to Lake Eva, through a partial old-growth forest, watching the river at times for salmon and dolly varden, and experiencing the first-class Alaska mud.
Many species of interesting plants were seen and tasted, as it is now berry time: salmon berry and blueberries were quite abundant along the path. But especially interesting were the three species of orchids seen on our walks.
