Kelp Bay, Baranof Island

A forecast for strong winds in Chatham Strait sent us in search of a sheltered harbor. Kelp Bay, on the eastern side of Baranof Island, proved to be the perfect spot. With the first snow on the peaks, local brown bears know that winter's on its way, so they're eating virtually everything, and we spent much of the day watching. In the morning, we anchored near Pond Island and explored the outer bay by kayak and zodiac. From the silence of our watercraft we saw bears grazing on beach grasses and fishing in a small stream. We moved the ship to the South Arm of Kelp Bay for the afternoon, and went ashore. Landing next to a stream filled with pink and chum salmon, we found evidence of bears everywhere we looked. Holes in the meadow where roots had been dug, stubble of grazed beach grass, scat full of blueberries and watermelon berries, salmon remains that appeared to have been perfectly filleted and these tracks in the mud.