Just a week away from the Winter Solstice, and this lone humpback whale is hanging out in Skagway – at the very northern tip of the longest fjord in North America, the Lynn Canal.
To put it in perspective: in all of North America and the Pacific, this whale is as far from the open ocean as it can get (short of swimming up a river).
While most Southeast Alaska humpbacks are down south sipping mai tais or margaritas this time of year, it’s a rare and special sight to see one here in Winter. Not unheard of – but definitely unusual.
This is what climate change looks like – shifting patterns, unexpected behaviors, and wildlife adapting to a changing world. The debate is over. The only question left to answer is: Do we care? #sailnwadventures #svhopscotch #thisisskagway #lynncanal
Just finishing up a week sailing the wrong way up (or is it down?) the Lynn Canal, from Skagway to Juneau…and as always it was magical. If there’s a prettier 100 miles of sailing anywhere, it would be hard to imagine! #svhopscotch #sailnwadventures #skagway #thisisskagway
It’s not all wind and sunshine…although actually in Skagway it usually is! Today felt a lot more like the rest of Southeast Alaska…heavy rain and no wind (at least until the afternoon when it cleared with the breeze). But of course…even the rainy days are spectacular. We had a massive visiting humpback put on a show as our rainy day silver lining. #thisisskagway #svhopscotch #sailnwadventures #atmosphericriver #skagway
We had a visitor today that flew with us for almost 10 minutes as we sailed along. Such a rare treat, and awesome experience. There’s nothing I know of that quite connects you to nature like sailing. When you hoist the sails and turn off the engine you become part of the scene and not just a viewer of it. I think animals must know this also, and sometimes you can see their fear of humans, turn into curiosity. #svhopscotch #sailnwadventures #thisisskagway #skagway #taiyainlet
Temps hit 81F degrees in Skagway this week! We had so much wind, wildlife, and wonderful guests to share it with. Summer is here in Southeast Alaska! #sailnwadventures #svhopscotch #skagway #thisisskagway #trailandsail
Even in the middle of Winter SE Alaska is amazing! Just happened to be at the right place at the right time yesterday when this group of Orcas came by with their eye on a sea lion (who survived!). #sailnwadventures #skagwayalaska #svhopscotch
A surprisingly un-windy day on the Taiya Inlet today…but Fall is in the air, the leaves are changing quickly, and it’s as pretty as ever! #svhopscotch #sailnwadventures #skagwayalaska @mmtoursskagway
It’s not everyday we get to have a retired Navy Submariner aboard to tune our hydrophone! What a magical day we had listening to these giants! Hearing these humpbacks sing and chat ads another dimension to an already magical experience.
Just imagine a human trying to do that! Guests always ask what the difference between a Brown Bear and a Grizzly is. Answer: About 150 miles. “Grizzly Bears” are just brown bears that live in the “interior” (over the coastal mountains). Coastal Brown Bears (like the one shown here) are typically larger than Grizzlies, as they have access to lots more food (salmon!). #sailnwadventures #svhopscotch
Just finished a magical adventure with this crew from Utah. We sailed from Juneau to Skagway, just in time to make it to Skagway Pride 2023, which we were so proud to be a sponsor of. Put it on your 2024 calendar, you don’t want to miss the most beautiful, inclusive, and fun event of the year! #sailnwadventures #svhopscotch #skagwaypride2023 #pride #skagway
Epic first week of Day-Sails in Skagway! Lots of sun, a little rain, brilliant breeze, and tons (literally) of wildlife! Summer is here!
Whales, wind, and glacier capped mountains! Spring in the longest, deepest, and prettiest Fjord in North America doesn’t disappoint! #home #skagway #sailnwadventures #lynncanal #svhopscotch #alaskanseltzer
Sail Northwest Adventures specializes in crewed sailing adventures in SE Alaska, based In Skagway!
