July 12, 2016 | Captains bLOG | Author: Captain Rob

With the winds barely strong enough to tickle the waters of Bartlett Cove, we decided to play it safe and anchor for the night in Glacier Bay National Park—because who doesn’t love a good, quiet slumber party with a side of glacial beauty? Our day began with a crash course in park rules at headquarters, where we learned the essential survival skills, like how to politely ask a bear for directions.

Even for research, the list of “don’ts” is longer than a CVS receipt. We only spent half a day splashing around in the park waters before high-tailing it to the Inian Islands in search of more harbor porpoises. Honestly, the waters outside the park were more like a whale and porpoise party—everyone was invited! Sadly, we were kept out of the upper park waters where the glaciers are busy calving; I guess they don’t want us interrupting their ice show. While the park topography was indeed a postcard moment, Star and I can’t help but feel that Prince William Sound throws a much grander beauty pageant with its awe-inspiring coves and mountains, leaving Southeast Alaska in the “meh” category.

Part of the research is to collect DNA data for genetic mapping of South East Harbor Porpoises. As amazing as it sounds by collecting water samples where the porpoises breach DNA can be collected! A straining process is done on board Dream Catcher, water is discarded and the filters are then stored until they will be processed by a lab.

The team was following a pod of transit Orcas with a few juveniles in the group. Alexa was sitting on the zodiac tube when one surfaced right beside her, eyeing her in a sideways approach. She was slightly startled! The whales were quite curious about the team, swimming around them and under the skiff for a period of time. The pod also caught a sea lion which it played with for while then let it escape for some reason. Yes, the sea lion was injured as to how badly we couldn’t ascertain.

Star caught this hysterical seal teasing seagulls. He or she would surface with a salmon in the middle of the gulls, the gulls would converge for snacks and then the seal would submerge with his catch only to reappear a few seconds later! This went on for a number of minutes.

There is no shortage of whales here at all! They are everywhere. Star caught some great breeches the other day with the camera…then discovered she hadn’t put the data card back in the camera from downloading! She was not a happy camper to say the least!

In a lower bay by Hoonah we cruised around an island with a rock amply named, Chimney Rock. It was a very photo graphic rock formation carved by the sea-waves over the eons.

We still have a few more days of research before returning to Juneau. Last night we spent the night in Inian Cove a beautiful hidden jewel. Tonight might be in Mud Bay but regardless I’m sure we will be lulled to sleeping by whales exhaling as they feed around us.

till later,
Rob