The Charter Boat Ursa Major in Ford's Terror Wilderness Area, Alaska - a...

We visited the Tracey Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area again in July 2015 on a charter trip, and captured this amazing video of the tidal rapids at Ford's Terror at (nearly) maximum flood.  At maximum flood (or ebb) in Ford's Terror, 6-8 ft standing (tidal) waves will form at the entrance to this narrow fjord approximately every 6 hours with the diurnal tides present at this latitude.

The Geological Puzzle of Southeast Alaska

Sawyer Glacier in the Tracy Arm/Ford’s Terror Wilderness Area, southeast Alaska

The geology of southeast Alaska is a complex puzzle that sets the background for everything we see and do in southeast Alaska aboard the Ursa Major.  From the Waterfall Coast of eastern Baranof Island, to the glacially carved mainland fjords of the Tracy Arm/Ford’s Terror Wilderness Area, our trips are framed by the interaction of land and sea.

The Mainland Coast Mountains of Southeast Alaska

Geologists are still pondering why southeast Alaska is shaped the way it is today.  The variety of rock found here is somewhat of a mystery, ranging from igneous (Mount Edgecombe near Sitka), to metamorphic (the mainland Coast Mountains of southeast Alaska), and to sedimentary (the limestone bluffs of Kuiu Island and Prince of Whales Island).

The Unique Ultramafic Igneous Rock of Red Bluff Bay, Baranof Island, southeast Alaska

On Baranof Island, Red Bluff Bay presents an interesting picture.  This type of red rock (ultramafic igneous rock) is found no where else in southeast Alaska, and is quite a site on approach to the bay.  The bright red color of the rock comes from the oxidation of the iron-rich rock surface.  Very little grows on the red rock, as the chemical weathering of the red rock produces poor soil and stunts plant growth.

For an interesting article from the Sitka, Alaska, NPR station regarding the unique geology of southeast Alaska, please click HERE.

A great book for additional information on the geology of Southeast Alaska is: “Geology of Southeast Alaska: Rock and Ice in Motion” by Harold H. Stowell.

The Beauty of Locally-Caught Alaskan Seafood

Nothing compares to being able to harvest our own seafood, especially right in our "backyard", otherwise known as the Inside Passage of southeast Alaska.  Aboard Ursa Major, we catch and/or procure all the seafood we serve aboard locally in southeast Alaska.
 

Whether is it shellfish such as Dungeness crab or (giant) Alaska Spot Prawns caught in traps set and harvested at anchor during our charter trips, or freshly-caught king salmon, halibut, or black cod, purchased in Petersburg, Alaska, from a locally-owned fish processor, it is hard to imagine nourishment more delicious and fresh.

And when it comes to our shellfish caught at anchor, our guests may assist the crew in setting and harvesting pots, and processing Dungeness crab or delicious (giant) Alaska Spot Prawns for their dinner that very night aboard the Ursa Major!

(Swimming) Grizzly Bears of the Inside Passage

 After going through all the wonderful photos from our past seasons in Alaska, I was pleasantly surprised to find more than just a few photos of grizzly (brown) bears swimming and/or playing in the water.  Most of these photos are from the beautiful bays on the eastern side of Baranof Island.  Grizzly bears are fantastic swimmers, and we have watched them many times pursuing salmon, or crossing a bay or stream with enthusiasm.

 

 

 

Another Great Alaskan Summer Aboard Ursa Major!

We just wrapped up yet another great summer in Alaska, the 15th season for Ursa Major!  Our last three Alaska Adventure trips of the season were a wonderful mix of paddling, hiking, and wildlife viewing.  The humpback whales were out in abundance, and were quite active in both their feeding and cavorting.

Denning, Sherry, David, and Kathy relaxing in the salon aboard Ursa Major after an afternoon of paddling and whale watching.

Humpback whale fluking (diving) near Five Finger Lighthouse, Frederick Sound, Alaska.

Rob and Tori on the bow of Ursa Major in Red Bluff Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

A lone sea otter relaxing in a bull kelp raft on the shores of Kupreanof Island, near Kake, Alaska.

Tori and Rob at Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

 Tori and Rob viewing humpback whales near Pybus Bay, Admirality Island, Alaska.

 

Humpback whale breaching in Chatham Straight, Alaska.

 

Pulling up our Dungeness crab pots at Deep Bay, Chichagof Island, Alaska.

 

Jane and Ben, from the U.K., paddling in the Magoun Islands State Marine Park near Sitka, Alaska.

 

Ben with his first Alaskan salmon ever! Way to go Ben!!!

 

Captain Josh out for a paddle on our last Alaska Adventure trip of the season!!!

Sumdum Glacier in Tracy Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area, Alaska

 

Sumdum Glacier. 1958. Millett, Marion T.. From the Glacier Photograph Collection. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

Sumdum Glacier. 2015. Ursa Major Charters. Digital media.

Our 5th trip to Tracy Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area of 2015 brought with it clear views of Sumdum Glacier.  This was the 3rd trip aboard Ursa Major for our fearless travelers from Ohio and Indiana, and their first to Dawe's Glacier in Endicott Arm.  On their 2nd trip with us in 2013, we visited Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm.  On this trip into Endicott Arm, we also had the pleasure of anchoring in one of our favorite places, Ford's Terror.  The tidal drop in Ford's Terror was 22 feet during our stay there, and we were treated to visits by numerous harbor seals, pigeon gillemots, and harbor porpoise while at anchor.

Our fearless group of 3rd time visitors to Ursa Major! Welcome back to Alaska!

Stellar Sea Lion Research Trip

Following our Summer Solstice trip, Ursa Major was the mothership for an Alaska Department of Fish and Game Stellar Sea Lion research trip in southeast Alaska.  Over the course of the 16-day trip, we traveled to a wide variety of Stellar Sea Lion haulout and rookery sites, some of which were new to us, and very much off the beaten path of our usual cruising grounds amongst the beautiful islands of southeast Alaska.  It was an amazing trip for everyone!

 The Alaska Department of Fish and Game crew!

Summer Solstice in Tracy Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area, Alaska

Our annual Summer Solstice trip brought us to Tracy Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area for paddling amongst the floating ice.  We visited North and South Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm with our guests for the week, George and Polly, celebrating their honeymoon aboard Ursa Major.

George and Polly are seen here relaxing in the Alaskan sunshine in Frederick Sound, where an enthusiastic group of 25-30 humpback whales joined us for lunch.  While George and Polly enjoyed Alaskan B.L.A.T. sandwiches on the sundeck of Ursa Major, the humpback whales were observed feeding via single bubble net.   

George and Polly spent hours on the bow of Ursa Major photographing wildlife such as humpback whales, Dall’s porpoise, Stellar sea lions, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, and a wide variety of birds.

Humpback Whales Bubble Net Feeding

We saw our very first humpback whales bubble net feeding of the season last week aboard Ursa Major!  There were six individuals working together via social cues to collectively herd herring.  Before emerging from the water as a group, these humpback whales exhaled air from their blowholes as they swam in a spiral formation.  The trapped exhaled air forms a roughly cylindrical bubble net, or trap.  In the above photo, the humpback whales are emerging from the water after following their bubble net to the surface in an attempt to catch as much herring as possible in one gulp.  For more information on humpback whales in Alaska, please visit the website of the Alaska Whale Foundation, (a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of Alaskan marine mammals), by clicking HERE.

 

Our guests on this week's trip, Scott and Joan, of Vancouver, Washington, seen here at Kasnyku Falls, near the Hidden Falls Hatchery on Baranof Island, Alaska.

 

After three weeks of hanging the hummingbird feeder on Ursa Major, we saw our first rufous hummingbirds of the season.  We encountered a "swarm" of them  in Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, and enjoyed watching them battle one another and empty the feeder multiple times.

 

Rufous hummingbirds migrate north to southeast Alaska in the late spring/early summer from Mexico, and usually leave Alaska by September to migrate back to Mexico for the winter.  They remain in southeast Alaska long enough to enjoy the short bloom cycle of the wild flowers here in the summer.

Ursa Major Red Bluff Bay

The Waterfall Coast of Baranof Island

We just wrapped up a truly amazing trip to the Waterfall Coast of Baranof Island, and to Tracy Arm to view calving glaciers.  Our guests this week on Ursa Major were from New Zealand and Australia, and we enjoyed beautiful paddles, hikes, and hot springs.

Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm, Alaska with our guests Bev, Gordon, Shan, and Tony

Takatz Bay, one of many beautiful anchorages on the Waterfall Coast of Baranof Island

 Paddling in Ushk Bay, Peril Straight, with Gordon and Bev

Hiking in the Brothers Islands, Stevens Passage, on our trip last week

 

Petersburg, Alaska with Tony and Shan

Ursa Major returns to Alaska!!!

Our early May arrival in Alaska for our charter season allowed us to experience the best of the early summer here, including the Little Norway Festival in Petersburg, Alaska, and the Memorial Day celebrations in Sitka, Alaska.  Petersburg and Sitka are two of our favorite towns in southeast Alaska, and we utilize both towns our departure and arrival points for our charters.

 We made our Alaska landfall aboard Ursa Major in Ketchikan, Alaska

Little Norway Festival; May 14-17, 2015; Petersburg, Alaska

 

 Little Norway Festival; May 14-17, 2015; Petersburg, Alaska

 Little Norway Festival "Lop the Loop" 7K Run; May 14-17, 2015; Petersburg, Alaska

Little Norway Festival "Lop the Loop" 7K Run; May 14-17, 2015; Petersburg, Alaska

Sitka, Alaska this morning with Mt. Edgecombe in the background