On this mild, sunny morning in Southeast Alaska, we took a cruise from Ketchikan to Misty Fjords National Monument. Established in 1978 by the Carter Administration, this refuge protects two steep-walled fjords and their numerous coves within 2 million acres of the Tongass National Forest along the western edge of the North American mainland.
These fjords feed into Behm Canal, a broad channel that borders the northern and eastern sides of Revillagigedo Island. Known for their spectacular landscape, scenic waterfalls and sea bird rookeries, Rudyerd and Smeaton Bays (the two primary fjords) are accessed by boat or float plane. While it was a bit late in the summer for peak activity at the rookeries, I did observe a fair number of pigeon guillemots and glaucous-winged gulls on the cliffs and bald eagles were common along the waterways. Brown and black bears, wolves and Sitka deer are among other wildlife that inhabit the Monument.
Also of interest was New Eddystone Rock, rising in the middle of Behm Canal near the entrance to Rudyerd Bay. Named by the British explorer, Captain George Vancouver, in 1793, this erosional remnant of volcanic basalt towers above a small island where a dozen or so harbor seals lounged in the mid-morning sun. Though hump-backed whales often visit Behm Canal during the warmer months, none were observed today.
These fjords feed into Behm Canal, a broad channel that borders the northern and eastern sides of Revillagigedo Island. Known for their spectacular landscape, scenic waterfalls and sea bird rookeries, Rudyerd and Smeaton Bays (the two primary fjords) are accessed by boat or float plane. While it was a bit late in the summer for peak activity at the rookeries, I did observe a fair number of pigeon guillemots and glaucous-winged gulls on the cliffs and bald eagles were common along the waterways. Brown and black bears, wolves and Sitka deer are among other wildlife that inhabit the Monument.
Also of interest was New Eddystone Rock, rising in the middle of Behm Canal near the entrance to Rudyerd Bay. Named by the British explorer, Captain George Vancouver, in 1793, this erosional remnant of volcanic basalt towers above a small island where a dozen or so harbor seals lounged in the mid-morning sun. Though hump-backed whales often visit Behm Canal during the warmer months, none were observed today.
