The Inian Islands & Fox Creek
Early morning found us a few miles east of the Inian Islands, facing the Pacific Ocean, steaming to the west against the strong winds and currents. Humpback whales, sea otters and Steller sea lions, plus a good variety of sea birds, were seen during those pre- breakfast hours. We eventually anchored at the “Hobbit Hole,” and in two groups visited a Steller sea lion haul-out, where we watched these magnificent animals fish in the raging currents flowing past their rocks. As they would capture a large salmon, they would come to the surface to shake the animal back and forth to break it in two manageable pieces, while the gulls would try to take pieces away. Interesting birds were seen; among them were pigeon guillemots, cormorants, gulls, and those lovely puffins.
During lunch we moved to Fox Creek, on the large island of Chichagof. Here we kayaked, hiked and enjoyed the incredible plants of Chichagof. Four species of orchids were found, as well as two species of violets. Another extremely interesting flowering plant to be seen was the groundcone, of the broomrape family. This plant lives off the roots of a nearby alder. A skeleton of a Sitka black-tailed deer made the end of the hikes more interesting.
