This should be an Alaska postcard. We sent our small boats to get a closer look at the waterfall. I think this vision will be seared in my memory for a long time.
After raining all week, and putting our foul weather gear to the test, we got a moments respite. The tops of the mountains poked out, covered in a deep layer of snow still, and the waterfalls cascaded into the bay. We had this little cove all to ourselves. Prince William Sound still feels like the wild frontier. Our little secret. We took out kayaks and small boats to get a better look. Even though it wasn't raining, it felt like it when we got close to the falls. The power and force of that amount of water created its own wind and blasted us with mist. It was a scene to remember.
After water activities at the falls, it was time to get on land and hike to another waterfall. We landed on Esther Island, near a salmon fish hatchery that raises around 300 million salmon from eggs to smolts, before releasing them back into the wild. We trekked to a massive lake above the hatchery. By now the rains had settled in again. Everyone was pleased to see their investment in solid rain clothes was paying off.
A wooden boardwalk stretch as far as the eye could see through the bog habitat. Kettle ponds, left by glaciers long ago, dotted the land. While the wooden planks can get a bit slippery, I appreciate being elevated above this soft, wet environment. My group would have left a noticeable trail through the landscape if we hadn't had the boardwalk. It was also an easier way for some of the guests to make it to these unusual habitats.
It was a pleasant morning, exploring the wilds and waterfalls of Esther Island, here in Prince William Sound. Not a bad way to wrap up a wonderful week aboard our expedition ship.
Nobuko charging down the rocky shoreline for our pickup at the Esther Island State Marine Park.
Our group trekked through the rain, which keeps the rainforest here lush all year round.
You can see the raindrops hitting this kettle pond. The well maintained boardwalk is a welcome change from the usual trailblazing and bushwhacking which is normal here in coastal Alaska.
Boardwalks are hard to maintain here in the rainforest of Alaska. This one is pretty nice. We did have one guest slip and fall, but no lasting injuries. Luckily the loud crack that I heard was a hiking pole breaking in half...not a bone!
A short while ago, we were standing near the top of this waterfall. Now we are looking across the ravine at it.
The waterfalls are raging right now with all of this rain.
No such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices! We made good clothing choices so the rain just felt like liquid sunshine.
I wouldn't want to fall into this raging river on Esther Island.
This is Esther Lake, a beautiful, huge, high elevation fresh water lake on Esther Island. This boat would have been a great way to go explore, but the rains had just about filled the boat with water!
I swam in this lake once....I was not about to try it again today. The rain kept us pretty chilly, so I kept the group moving.
Finally, a bit of a break from the rain. The waterfalls are massive right now in Prince William Sound. The rains are combining with the snow melt to engorge the rivers and give us some pretty amazing scenes.That is me in the orange jacket, driving and raising my hand.
We even got a little opening of blue sky... I just had to take a picture.
The waterfall we discovered in the back of Cascade Bay.
Jack, our small boat captain, got a few of the crew to go out and enjoy some of the sights after the guests all finished with dinner.
Nobuko enjoying some alone time on a kayak as she explores the coastline of Cascade Bay in Prince William Sound.
Tim and Amy cruising together in front of a huge waterfalls.
Two of our guests sharing the memory of a lifetime.
Sending a sunset kayak tour out after dinner. The sun doesn't set until 10:30pm here in Alaska, so we are taking advantage.
Richard took me up on a solo paddle into a secluded Alaskan bay.
This is what kayaking in Alaska is all about: glassy calm conditions, rainforest covered hills, snow capped peaks, and secluded inlets.
A birds-eye-view of a towering waterfall in Alaska.
There was so much water coming off this waterfall. I had to send my drone up to get some different perspectives.
Our mobile home for adventure, the Safari Explorer, sitting all alone in this beautiful secluded bay in Prince William Sound.
As always, keep traveling and keep posting!
