The Alaskan Jewel! Welcome Aboard….You don’t Exist!

[jenseib]

Love the pictures. You had a very nice day for them. The scenery is lovely. Beaches or mountains: both are great areas for photography. Deserts, swamps, and plains not much but sometimes you can find beauty. I think why mountain areas top my list though is the wildlife. Hope you saw lots by the end of your trip.

It was a fabulous day really.
There really is beauty in all sorts of settings and it is always so nice to see new scenery and landscapes. Now where I live...that's boring.

Great trip report! Can't wait to hear the rest!

Thanks

Just caught up again.

I am slowly putting along. I would like to go faster but I just don't have the time....or I get sidetracked looking at Epcot tours. LOL.

I had to laugh at Claire's picture in Ketchikan when she was just about dead

She was so close to death i thought it best to get one last picture of her.

Like Mommy, like daughter

Sadly thats true.

Wow, you should frame that photo of Skip with the big smile on his face

I know. It was so nice to see him smile so much on this trip.

Beautiful pics, reminds me a lot of where I live as we are 45 minutes away from the Rockies.

Wow...how lucky! Ohio is so boring.

Great job on the report so far

Thanks

 

[jenseib]

We headed off to Auke Bay where we would catch the boat to take us out whale watching.


whale69 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Our driver told us about how he had been hiking a certain mountain recently and while he was there he ran into a Timber Wolf. He said it was really such a cool thing to see. Sounds a little scary though too.


Before long we were at our next destination.


whale68 by Jenseib, on Flickr


We made our way off the bus and onto the boat.


jun82 by Jenseib, on Flickr


The lower half of the boat has seats and is enclosed but it has windows all around it. The upper deck is outdoors and we are allowed to go up and down as much as we want.


whale31 by Jenseib, on Flickr


We soon started to take off.

This boat is from the Cayman Islands….that had a long trek here.


whale32 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Our Captain was Pete I believe. He told us today we were actually going out further than the normal area they go to as there has been reports of exciting activity. He said if we saw whales along the way he would most likely not stop as where we were going had more promising surprises for us. He said if by the time we got there it was done then we would back track to the other whales. Ok, then, this sounded exciting.


whale33 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy was our guide for this. She was a college student working here for the summer. I am not sure what her major is, but she knew A LOT about whales, which makes me think this is her field. The Captain even said he learns stuff from her every day.


whale67 by Jenseib, on Flickr


She started out by tell us safety rules and life jacket locations. She told us how cold the water is, so you really don’t want to go for a swim, but if you did fall in to try and stay calm. If you see someone fall in to yell and point your finger at them and never look away so that they would be able to pull the boat to them for a rescue. She said it’s amazing how fast you can lose sight of a person if you look away.


whale66 by Jenseib, on Flickr


She told us how this was an extremely clear day and this is not what it usually looks like here. She said normally you never see the tops of the mountains as there is usually a mist of fog. We saw the tops of the mountains pretty much all day long. Wow!


whale34 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy talked about the whales we would be seeing today…..Humbacks. She said many people come on this tour expecting to see orcas but this is not an area where orcas typically hang out. She said there is a 10% chance of seeing an orca on this tour, so don’t get your hopes up. Darn….but I actually knew that coming in.


whale35 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy pointed out different mountain ranges and we had a map that kind of helped us get our bearings.


map by Jenseib, on Flickr


The also offered free hot chocolate (and coffee too I believe) and some donut holes to snack on. Skip went up and got some …..well when he came back he wasn’t really sharing. He got cocoa for Claire but wasn’t going to share the donut holes and she had a few tears (lack of sleep was catching up to her) and he gave over a few, but none for me. So I got up and got myself some …and by then there were literally only a couple of donut holes left and then he was stunned I didn’t bring more back for him. There were a few tense moments over these stupid donuts….but life goes on.


whale36 by Jenseib, on Flickr


And who can get too mad with a view like this.


whale37 by Jenseib, on Flickr


With this tour they really respect the whales and she told us that they only approach the whales from the side as to not scare them and also will only get so close to them. I understand how that is important. However I saw several of the smaller boats on this tour get pretty darn close and that would be pretty cool….but I will respect the whales.


whale38 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy talked the whole time. She had kind of a dry sense of humor as she would spew out all this info and then throw in a joke in a serious tone and see if we were listening and I would look up at her each time…thinking that can’t be right…and sure enough she would crack a smile.


whale39 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Coming up next is Point Retreat Light. I took about 4 million pictures and also headed upstairs for a few.


whale40 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale41 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Point Retreat Light provides aid in navigation through the Lynn Canal.


whale42 by Jenseib, on Flickr


A look out the other way.


whale43 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Zooming in.


whale44 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale27 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale28 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale29 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I just found this fascinating as you can see.


whale30 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale45 by Jenseib, on Flickr


And then there was a sighting. But this was not one of those sightings we were going to pass by…this was one of those 10% chance sightings…An Orca! Claire and I RAN up the steps to get a look.


whale46 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Now it was hard to get pictures because a lot of people were up top and trying to do exactly what I was trying to do, but we managed.


whale47 by Jenseib, on Flickr


It was a pod! We would see them come up and then lose them for a bit and then they would pop up somewhere else. The Captain was good about swinging the boat around to see them and to let both sides of the boat see them.


whale48 by Jenseib, on Flickr


There is one WAY over there.


whale49 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale8 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale9 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy was incredibly excited so you knew this was a pretty cool thing when a girl who comes on these tours daily is excited.


whale10 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale11 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Up next…..more exciting whale sightings!

 

[dizneeat]

Yeah! You got your whale sighting!!!! And I guess there are more whales in store for you to see. Can't wait to see more of your stunning photos!

 

[linetbo]

Wow, you saw orcas, we only saw humpbacks. But it was amazing!!!!

 

[jedijill]

Stunning scenery! Great luck with the whale sightings...so cool to see the orca!

Jill in CO

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I'm so glad you got to see the Orca's. That's what I'd want to see in Alaska.

 

[pepe3penelope]

I had been away so long and am finally trying to catch up!!! I'm finally at the end of page 14!!! I completely under stand when you were in Ketchikan and Claire was "dying" of starvation! I get cranky when I'm hungry!

I seriously LOVE Skip's picture during the excursion w/the crab. It appeared to be the only picture of him smiling. He was sooooo happy and in his element!

 

[pepe3penelope]

Ok...caught up!!! Whew!!! Loving the beautiful scenery! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[bcwife76]

Oh yay, so glad you saw Orca's!!! Such beautiful creatures, they really are. Can't wait to read your next installment and see more gorgeous pics!

 

[jenseib]

Yeah! You got your whale sighting!!!! And I guess there are more whales in store for you to see. Can't wait to see more of your stunning photos!

I was so happy! And yes more to come!

Wow, you saw orcas, we only saw humpbacks. But it was amazing!!!!

We were really lucky. It was such a treat!

Stunning scenery! Great luck with the whale sightings...so cool to see the orca!

Jill in CO

it was a really good day all around!

I'm so glad you got to see the Orca's. That's what I'd want to see in Alaska.

I was so excited. Luck was finally on my side.

I had been away so long and am finally trying to catch up!!! I'm finally at the end of page 14!!! I completely under stand when you were in Ketchikan and Claire was "dying" of starvation! I get cranky when I'm hungry!

Glad you are back!!!
I get that way too so she gets it honestly. Though I am more cranky than dying.

I seriously LOVE Skip's picture during the excursion w/the crab. It appeared to be the only picture of him smiling. He was sooooo happy and in his element

he loved it and it was so nice to see him so happy.

Ok...caught up!!! Whew!!! Loving the beautiful scenery! Can't wait to hear more!

Yay!! it was such an amazing trip.

Oh yay, so glad you saw Orca's!!! Such beautiful creatures, they really are. Can't wait to read your next installment and see more gorgeous pics!

They are just beautiful. So neat to see them in the wild.

 

[jenseib]

We continued spinning around in the area watching the orcas appear and disappear.


whale12 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale13 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale14 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I just wanted one to jump up like Shamu but we had no such luck.


whale15 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale16 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale17 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale18 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale19 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale20 by Jenseib, on Flickr


It was so exciting but the Captain finally said we had to move on if we wanted to see humpbacks.


Claire and I went back downstairs and sat with Skip. It had been pretty windy up top, which made it a bit colder too. He said he could see them through the windows just fine and was in fact spotting them before a lot of us up top were and pointing them out and then the Captain would head where he was pointing. For all I know he was lying, but he we will give him the benefit of the doubt and believe him. LOL!


We traveled on out further to find the humpbacks.


whale1 by Jenseib, on Flickr


As we came to the area where they were supposed to be, Claire and I ran back up top again.


I believe this was the sister ship to ours.


whale50 by Jenseib, on Flickr


There were a couple of boats in the area so you knew there had to be some sightings going on.


whale51 by Jenseib, on Flickr




whale25 by Jenseib, on Flickr

Sammy came up top with us and she said to watch where the birds are as they often will hover over where the whales are.


We kept scanning around, of course with one eye watching the birds…and then splash…there they are!!!!



whale52 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale53 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy proclaimed they were bubble net feeding.


whale54 by Jenseib, on Flickr


She said they hadn’t seen them do this since June and thought they were done for the year. She was super excited about this.


whale55 by Jenseib, on Flickr


What is bubble net feeding you ask? Well……Bubble Net Feeding is a unique feeding technique employed by Humpback Whales, in which a group of whales swim in a shrinking circle blowing bubbles below a school of fish. This shrinking column of bubbles surrounds the school of fish forcing them upward. The whales spontaneously swim upward through the bubble net, mouths wide open, catching thousands of fish in one gulp.


And here they come!


whale56 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Those are mouths!


whale57 by Jenseib, on Flickr


This is where I wish we could’ve gotten just a bit closer as I have a pretty good zoom lens on my SLR but it was still a stretch to get some of the shots.


whale58 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sammy said there were 8 whales.


whale59 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale60 by Jenseib, on Flickr


It was such an amazing sight.


whale61 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale62 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale63 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale64 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale22 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale65 by Jenseib, on Flickr


They would dip back down every so often and we would have to wait and see where they would surface next.


whale23 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale21 by Jenseib, on Flickr


And when you would see all the tales go up that meant they were getting ready for another bubble net.


whale24 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I believe Sammy said there was 1 female and she would lead when they would go down and once she gave the signal they all went down.


whale71 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale72 by Jenseib, on Flickr


They would be down for around 5 minutes and then break the water with mouths wide open. It was so neat.


Up next…more bubble net feeding!

 

[jedijill]

How cool you got to see the bubble feeding! I find it really fascinating! Sounds like you learned a lot from Sammy.

Jill in CO

 

[dolphingirl47]

The scenery is really stunning. How lucky to see the orcas. I still have not managed this. The bubble feeding is really neat. I have seen female humpback whales with their calves before, but never a group like this.

Corinna

 

[jenseib]

How cool you got to see the bubble feeding! I find it really fascinating! Sounds like you learned a lot from Sammy.

Jill in CO

It was so amazing to see. I was pretty happy.

The scenery is really stunning. How lucky to see the orcas. I still have not managed this. The bubble feeding is really neat. I have seen female humpback whales with their calves before, but never a group like this.

Corinna

Alaska just is gorgeous!
I was pretty excited to see the orcas. We really had a lucky day.

 

[jenseib]

We really spent a lot of time here watching them. I can see how you could spend a whole day here and never get tired of watching them.


whale73 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale74 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale75 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale76 by Jenseib, on Flickr


As you can see this littler boat went much closer.


whale77 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale78 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale79 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale80 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I had really hoped I would get a nice whale tale picture and I was pretty happy that I got several.


Here they come!!!!!


whale81 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale2 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Look at that big guys mouth wide open.


whale26 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale3 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale4 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I stood next to Sammy for quite a while and she was just so fun to talk to. She said this was an amazing tour and not something you get to see normally.


whale5 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale6 by Jenseib, on Flickr


whale7 by Jenseib, on Flickr


We watched them for a bit more and then the Captain said we had to head back since we had a ship to catch yet today and because we were out further than where they normally go it was going to take a bit longer to get back.


We headed back downstairs to warm up and talked to Skip. This was just so fabulous, but we knew that this excursion was more for us girls than Skip. He didn’t have that big silly grin on his face today like he did when we were out crab fishing. Today I was wearing that grin.


Sammy talked some more on the way back. She was so pumped about everything. She said normally they don’t see 8 whales together, let along bubble feeding too. And the fact that we saw Orcas as well just made this tour all the more exciting.


She went on with more info about whales and they also had some stuff for sale and another gal came up and talked about that. They also had some snacks for free. I think it was salmon on a cracker and you could buy the cans of salmon if you liked it. It was pretty good. Claire refused to try it. I think we got some more cocoa as well.


Finally we made it back to shore and I was watching my watch. It was getting late and I knew we were cutting it close getting back to the ship, but thank goodness this was a ship excursion.


When we got back we tipped Sammy and headed back to the bus. Now tips are totally optional, but most of the kids working on these excursions, that is…. the ones helping out, are college kids trying to earn money for the next year. I never felt pressured to tip anyone though it was always announced that they were working hard and we could tip them if we felt they did a good job. So far, everyone really went above and beyond and we were happy to give them a few bucks to help them along.


On our way back to Juneau.


jun91 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun92 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun93 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Our bus driver was just as chatty on the way back and gave us some history on the city.



jun94 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun95 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun83 by Jenseib, on Flickr


I believe he said that Juneau’s capital building is the smallest state capital building used in the US.


jun84 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Sadly as we got into town I knew we wouldn’t have any time to look around or shop. I had really wanted to go to Tracy’s Crab Shack for a leg of king crab, but it wasn’t meant to be. I should’ve gotten crab yesterday in Ketchikan…darn it!


jun85 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun86 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun87 by Jenseib, on Flickr


We were basically pulling up at the all aboard time….eek!!!! cutting it close.


jun88 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun89 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Until we saw this line.


jun90 by Jenseib, on Flickr


Yep it was wrapped all the way down to the buses. We decided to wait it out and go to the bathroom before jumping in line.


jun96 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun97 by Jenseib, on Flickr


The line was moving pretty fast and we jumped in it then as the end got near the bathrooms.


jun98 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun99 by Jenseib, on Flickr


jun100 by Jenseib, on Flickr


As we waiting I was trying to upload photos to facebook from my phone. The funny thing is I had better cell reception on the whale watching boat than I did at the dock here.



Up next….Some lunch and some more beautiful scenery!

 

[pepe3penelope]

Wow, Jen! I can't imagine how amazing seeing the orcas and whales in person were!!! Incredible! I would have been just as mesmerized looking at the Mendenhall glacier! Whenever I see posted pictures, they look bluish. Is that an illusion or real?

 

[jenseib]

Wow, Jen! I can't imagine how amazing seeing the orcas and whales in person were!!! Incredible! I would have been just as mesmerized looking at the Mendenhall glacier! Whenever I see posted pictures, they look bluish. Is that an illusion or real?

Glaciers do have a bluish tint. I think it's the way the light goes through it...or something technical like that.

 

[jedijill]

An absolutely amazing excursion! You certainly got yours money's worth!

Jill in CO

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a shame that you did not get your crab, but I am sure what you got to see that day more than made up for it.

Corinna

 

[ilovedevin]

YAY I am so glad you were finally able to see not only whales but orcas, that is awesome!



Julie