Psagshack Whale Watching Trip

Today dawned a day that makes you want to live forever.  It was one of those glorious days that make your cares seem far away and inspires .....nay demands that you spend some time in the good ole' out of doors!  It also is the time of year that Gray Whales make there reappearance in the Kodiak Island Area following a centuries old instinct to migrate.

That being said, Pasagshack is the place to go to find these critters.  It's also the end of the road in Kodiak.  Packing up snacks, water, and diet coke I drove down the road towards Psagshack.  Along the way, horses had gotten on the road and were interested in any handouts I might have in my car.

Note to self...Don't stop the car unless you want the road blocked by soft nosed creatures looking longingly in your car for a forbidden tidbit or two.

Continuing on I hit a Y in the road and just to prove that there is such a place as Pasagshack and that yes, I have indeed, spelled it correctly - I took a picture of the sign:)

Lucy bundled up and rarin to go!

After traveling a few more miles down a paved road, you will hit the Kodiak Launch Center.  You actually have to travel along a dirt road(now you are really at the end of the road!)  Parking here I met up with my friends Mike and Katie Buchinger (and Lucy Goosey too:).

Let's Go Dad!

Bison overlooking the beach

There were bison on the side of the hill on one side and the start of the trail on the other.

Start of the Trail to Narrow Cape

Straight ahead was the ocean of course and what a site it was.  Sparkling and Glimmering in all it's glory.  Days like these really make me realize just how lucky I am to live in Kodiak.

We headed up the trail, which was a little steep but the views were worth it!  When we got to the top, we headed for the first WWII bunker along the way.  These are found scattered all along the island.  Most are still in relatively good condition, which just goes to show that the military knows how to build them right:)

Whale from Two year's ago at Dig Afognak

We saw whales all around in the distance.  They were kind of hard to see as they were in the distance but once you know what to look for, the ocean was calm enough that you could see them spouting with the naked eye and using binoculars offered a better view of them coming up for air.  We were hoping to see the whale breach (jump up and fall back in the water) but didn't have any luck.  I was hoping to take good photos of the whales like I did in Dig Afognak but they were to far.  I included both photos for comparison.

Whale spout in middle of photo.

Still no breaching whales.. There was lots of other wildlife though.

We walked along the edges of the cliffs and looking down the power of the ocean takes your breath away.  The waves create varying colors in the ocean and around the rocks.  The sound could lull me to sleep any day.









Further down the cliff we looked down and saw a deer munching on some sea weed.  He looked right at us.  The sides are relatively steep and we were a little concerned about Juneau(the dog) trying to find her way down to the water.  (Juneau likes to swim...ALOT) .  I was wondering where the rest of the herd might be as there was only one of the beach.

We continued on and looking behind us...there was the deer.  It had scrambled right up that steep cliff.












We spent a lot of time on those bluffs nosing around before I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of people...So here's a family portrait of the folks I was with!  Don't think there are any whale spouts in the background though!

After the spouts settled down a bit. I raised my face to the sun and was able to catch the next few pictures of some local Eagles enjoying the day.  

Juvenile eagle (no white head yet)

Pair of eagles circling next to the cliff

Finally we realized the time and headed back to the cars for some much needed flip flops and dinner.   Lucy got her first taste of Fig Newtons courtesy of you know who:)  and she liked them very much.  Juneau go tot run around and beg us all for snacks with liquid eyes.. poor puppy..NOT!   On the way back, Mike was very careful to let Juneau know what a great puppy she is.  She listened intently of course.  Who doesn't like to hear all that praise?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juneau packing her snacks on her back.

Finally we left for home.  Even though the sun was still high in the sky it was around 7:00 P.M.  So easy to lose track of time in the spring and summer here!  I gotta say I love the sunshine though!
  While we were packing up I was talking to Mike.  He asked me a question and I turned to answer him when I say a LARGE dark shape landing, Splash!  back in the water.  I had seen a breaching whale.  Mission Accomplished but of course the camera was in the car and my "oooh ooh oh!" came too late for anyone else to have seen it.  Still breaching whale can be crossed off of the bucket list!  Last week climbing a mountain... this week breaching whale...who knows what the future will hold!