Whale Watching in Alaska

This Series Whale Watching in Alaska

After a morning of milling about on Mendenhall Glacier and a quick trip up the Mount Roberts Tramway we departed from Auke Bay harbor for a whale-watching expedition in Stephens Passage and Lynn Canal.

A Pod of Killer Whales

About halfway out to where humpback whales had been sighted earlier in the day we came upon a pod of four female killer whales. The captain identified them as such due to the short height of their fin. The males, he said, have very long fins up to six feet in length. These four females swam fairly close together and often seemed synchronized, surfacing rhythmically, one after another, in a wave-like fashion.

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Sea Lions on a Buoy

We passed an old lighthouse on Benjamin Island before intercepting our first humpback whale. We saw a total of three on this trip, with two of them travelling together as possibly a mother and calf. Evidently they travel Alaska's Inside Passage in summer, then head to Hawaii for the winter. It's possible (but very unlikely) that I've seen these same whales while back home in Hawaii, perhaps on that sunset cruise from Hale'iwa.

Whale Stalkers

That's what we did, while maintaining a respectful distance, much like paparazzi stalking celebrities. And whales are certainly celebrities — rare, beautiful, graceful mammals of significance, gliding effortlessly under scrutiny. Unfortunately, most of the photos we capture are when they breach or show a bit of tail. And photos tend to only be a single frame of that action.

Whale-Watching Expedition Summary

Although it was a typically cold and overcast Alaskan day, the scenery was magnificent. Highlights include the aforementioned lighthouse, numerous islands and distant glaciers (like Herbert and Eagle Glaciers) high up in the surrounding mountains. We passed Shelter and Lincoln Islands against the panoramic backdrop of the Chilkat Mountain Range in the west. But the stars of the show were the local wildlife like orca, humpback whales, sea lions, and bald eagles.

If you have the opportunity, see the whales down in Hawaii during sunny weather conditions.

Tags Boating, Ocean