Bubble Nets and Orcas in Southeast Alaska

Creek Street, Ketchikan

Sunset at 9:45pm in Alaska

  After a wonderful break spent hiking Mount Rainier and the Grand Canyon it was time to head back to work aboard the Wilderness Explorer in Southeast Alaska. It felt good coming back with most everything dialed in and done at least once. Also the company put me up at a swanky little lodge overlooking the cute town of Ketchikan where I was to meet the boat the following day. So I took the time to decompress from camping for two weeks, got a hot long shower, and even slipped in a 3D showing of Jurassic World.

Male Orca

Pod of Orcas

  The next week was a blur of wildlife and activities with both rain and sunshine. Whale sighting occurred almost every day including a great orca encounter in the calm waters of Sea Otter Sound, and my first ever sighting of Humpback Whales bubble net feeding!!!! Luckily one of my fellow crew mates rushed down below to wake me up around 5:30 in the morning so I wouldn't miss it. I even managed to snag a picture!

Bubble Net Feeding Humpbacks

Humpback at our bow

    Bubble net feeding is an amazing show of cooperative feeding among humpbacks. One will swim down below a school of fish and create a circle of bubbles. As the bubbles rise it entraps the fish and forces them to school very densely. Then all of the whales swim strait up through the bubbles with their mouths opening swallowing all of the fish into their huge mouth.

  Beautiful vistas, reflections on the water, massive old growth trees, and misty mountains graced our trip this week. Now it is time to break some new ground with a trip from Juneau to Sitka taking in some of the sights of Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Straight, and the beautiful city of Sitka. I hear there is even a surfable wave in Sitka. Something that might be worth checking out.