Misty Fjords National Monument
Bursts of rooster tails lit up the waters of Behm Canal this morning as Dall’s porpoise fed in the fish rich waters just outside of Misty Fjords National Monument. As we made the turn into Rudyard Bay, the steep fjord walls buffered us from the morning’s winds and the stillness of the waters embraced the ship. Back in time, geologic time, ice carved and polished the fjord walls that surrounded the ship.
Shortly after breakfast we set out in kayaks and Zodiacs to explore details of the eastern end of Rudyard Bay. Blue skies, cascading waterfalls, western red cedar dripping with lichens and moss and the yellow smoke of pollen masting from the Sitka spruce dominated the upper reaches, while the intertidal palette of barnacles, algae and marine lichen created bands of color above the waters edge. The still waters reflected abstract ripples of the colors and shapes, creating a psychedelic mirror image of the bay.
The visual beauty of the fjord was further enhanced by songs from our avian friends. Varied thrush called from just inside the forest canopy and common mergansers paraded along the shoreline contemplating springtime love. Slate colored juncos buzzed and American robins sang from the over-hanging branches as we maneuvered along the fjord walls. By the time we returned to the ship, we were all overwhelmed and dazed by the beauty of Misty Fjords.
During the afternoon we left Rudyard Bay and headed out into the waters of Behm Canal and sailed around Revillagigedo Island. Although our day’s travels took us through Southeast Alaska’s “wet belt” (162 inches of rain per year), the day could not have been brighter or more beautiful.
Bursts of rooster tails lit up the waters of Behm Canal this morning as Dall’s porpoise fed in the fish rich waters just outside of Misty Fjords National Monument. As we made the turn into Rudyard Bay, the steep fjord walls buffered us from the morning’s winds and the stillness of the waters embraced the ship. Back in time, geologic time, ice carved and polished the fjord walls that surrounded the ship.
Shortly after breakfast we set out in kayaks and Zodiacs to explore details of the eastern end of Rudyard Bay. Blue skies, cascading waterfalls, western red cedar dripping with lichens and moss and the yellow smoke of pollen masting from the Sitka spruce dominated the upper reaches, while the intertidal palette of barnacles, algae and marine lichen created bands of color above the waters edge. The still waters reflected abstract ripples of the colors and shapes, creating a psychedelic mirror image of the bay.
The visual beauty of the fjord was further enhanced by songs from our avian friends. Varied thrush called from just inside the forest canopy and common mergansers paraded along the shoreline contemplating springtime love. Slate colored juncos buzzed and American robins sang from the over-hanging branches as we maneuvered along the fjord walls. By the time we returned to the ship, we were all overwhelmed and dazed by the beauty of Misty Fjords.
During the afternoon we left Rudyard Bay and headed out into the waters of Behm Canal and sailed around Revillagigedo Island. Although our day’s travels took us through Southeast Alaska’s “wet belt” (162 inches of rain per year), the day could not have been brighter or more beautiful.
