Leesoffskaia Bay, AK

Laura Domela — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:19:00 +0000

Airship Goes to Alaska

We liked Leesoffskaia Bay so much we stayed two nights!

We took turns in the kayak yesterday afternoon (it was kinda rainy so we were all Alaska'd up in our rain gear and Xtratufs). Tiffani made dinner last night (stove-top chicken pot pies…delicious!) and we sat on the top deck afterwards just watching the light change.

Earlier in the evening Kevin and Deke went out in the dinghy to put the crab traps out and came back with NEWS. They dinghied up to the swim step and said something like “Hey you guys. While we were out putting the crab traps down, some shit went DOWN.”

They saw something move on the tiny islet to our west. It was a big brown bear. They watched said brown bear as it shuffled down to the water, got IN the water, and swam about 200 yards across to the other island…about 30 yards from their dinghy! A SWIMMING GRIZZLY. They had no iPhones, no GoPro, no cameras of any kind. They did not even take a walkie talkie with them. If they had, they could have called and told us to look toward Swimming Grizzly Island because we could have seen it all right from Airship.

A swimming grizzly. No photos.

Baby Bear Bay, Sitka, Leesoffskaia Bay

Laura Domela — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 03:54:00 +0000

Airship Goes to Alaska

We left Baby Bear Bay around 9:30am, timing it to get to Sergius Narrows about a half an hour before slack tide. We slowed up and checked conditions through the binocs and it looked fine so we headed through with no issues.

Out past these islands…the Gulf of Alaska:

Tiffani spotted another brown bear on the shore and we went over to get a closer look:

We stopped in Sitka for an hour or so to get a little internet and do some work. We called the Harbormaster (Chuck) and asked if there was a spot where we could tie up for a little bit while we got some provisions, and he made some room for us on the dock between a sailboat and an aluminum fishing boat. He said today (June 30) is just about the busiest day of the year there because it’s the day before king salmon season opens (July 1) and everyone’s very busy readying their boats and stocking up on beer. Chuck was super nice and helpful and didn’t seem stressed at all, considering.

Tiffani and Deke went up to get a few things at the market while we caught up on work, and then we headed out to do a little trolling (caught nothing) on the way to Leesoffskaia Bay. I found this place on the map and the reviews sounded good, so we thought we’d check it out.

Lots of eagles around these parts:

Leesoffskaia Bay is fabulous! We wound in through rocky islets and anchored in the middle of the end of the cove in 20 feet of water. We’re completely surrounded by trees and mountains and eagles flying overhead and it’s SO QUIET.

Today's track from Baby Bear Bay to Sitka, then trolling, then to Leesoffskaia Bay (38 nautical miles):

Leesoffskaia Bay – Riveted

Leesoffskaia Bay, AK

Baby Bear Bay, Sitka, Leesoffskaia Bay