Puffins, Bears and Turn Day Miracles: Another Wild Week in Southeast Alaska
Another week, another adventure in Southeast Alaska!
We kicked things off in Juneau, welcoming 80 excited guests aboard for what would turn out to be a fantastic week. The energy on embarkation day was high, the weather was cooperative, and everyone was eager to see what Alaska had in store for us.
Our first full day with guests took us into Glacier Bay National Park. We started the morning cruising past South Marble Island, where the sea lions were sprawled across the rocks and seabirds filled the air. The real highlight, though? Puffins! After what felt like a long wait, we finally had a week packed with puffin sightings. They never fail to put a smile on people's faces.
From there, we made our way past Gloomy Knob, where wildlife delivered once again. We spotted several mountain goats navigating the steep cliffs, along with a coastal brown bear sow and her cub making their way up the hillside. It's always impressive to see just how effortlessly these animals move through such rugged terrain.
The afternoon brought our usual Lamplugh Glacier operations. During one of the hikes, I climbed a ridge high into the snow and ended up following a Willow Ptarmigan along the trail for a while. It felt like I had my own little alpine tour guide. Definitely one of the more memorable moments of the day.
Monday found us in Neka Bay. We spotted another bear casually moving through the area, though this one clearly wasn't interested in becoming the center of attention. We kept our distance and didn't spend too much time watching it, but it still made for a great wildlife sighting during my Kayak 101 outing.
Tuesday brought us to Takatz Bay, one of my favorite destinations from last season. It's hard not to love this place. The fjord is surrounded by towering granite cliffs, dramatic peaks rise in every direction, and a beautiful tidal flat stretches across the back of the bay. As if the scenery wasn't enough, another coastal brown bear paid us a visit during an open paddle. Not a bad day on the water.
Wednesday took us somewhere new: Appleton Cove. It was a first visit for me and several other crew members. While exploring new locations always comes with a little uncertainty, Appleton Cove turned out to be a pretty nice spot.
Later, we headed into the North Arm of Hoonah Sound. This area featured more beautiful tidal flats tucked into the back of the bay and a picturesque waterfall hidden away in a small cove. It felt like one of those places that reminds you how many hidden gems still exist throughout Southeast Alaska.
One of the week's special treats came on Friday with a visit to Kalinin Bay. The hike there follows a massive tidal flat and river system before climbing into a muskeg landscape. My hiking group moved at a more leisurely pace, so I wasn't able to make it as far up the trail as I would have liked, but it was still a fantastic walk along the river. As the salmon runs continue to build throughout the season, this area is going to become a bear hotspot. I have a feeling we'll be seeing plenty of activity there in the weeks ahead.
Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to our guests in Sitka. After dropping everyone off, we turned the boat around and prepared for another turnaround day. This one felt noticeably smoother than some of our recent efforts. The crew seemed to be working in sync, and everything came together without much stress. It feels like we're finally settling into a good groove for the season.
Now it's time to welcome a new group of guests aboard and head back out into the wilderness. With puffins, bears, glaciers, and countless unexpected moments already making appearances this week, I'm excited to see what adventures next week will bring.
Stay tuned!
