The first work boat trip to the Sound. We climbed a ladder down the side of the ship to reach the small boat. (Photo by Jen Boehme)
The zodiak in front of the huge mountains of Tasu Sound. (Photo by Mark Wells)
To give you some idea how big these mountains are; there is a barely visible speck in the water in the opening between the two mountains. That is the zodiak. (Photo by Mark Wells)
Can you tell that Natalie and I are happy to not be filtering chlorophyll samples? (Photo by Jen Boehme)
View of the Thompson from the zodiac headed to Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Entrance to Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Mountains surrounding Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
An abandoned mine in Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Me and Natalie entering Tasu Sound in the zodiac. (Photo by Lisa Pickell)
The ride out was great; bouncing on the swells and sea spray in the face. I noticed several hours after returning that my glasses were still covered with salt. The fjord was amazing; steep cliffs towering over the shore, soaring eagles and a basking sea lion. The mountains were unlike anything on the east coast, steep with jagged peaks. In the miles of shoreline visible, I could see only 2 structures; one left from an abandoned mine and the other a small camp. We went behind a little island and the Third Mate turned off the motor when he was switching the gas tanks. It was sunny and warm. The water was calm and quiet. I could have stayed there for a long time….
With few exceptions, all of us have been working really hard, particularly this last week. It was generous on Mark’s part to let us take a couple of hours to go exploring. We had a nice zodiac ride, good company and incredible scenery. All I can say is thanks to Mark, the Captain, Jay, Robert and everyone else who made the trip possible.
Because my camera with a fully charged battery was sitting on my desk in my cabin, all of these photos were taken by my cruise mates.
Track the last reported location of our ship, the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. CLICK HERE TO TRACK
Email comments or questions to:mailto:kathleen.umaine@gmail.com
Entrance to Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Mountains surrounding Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
An abandoned mine in Tasu Sound. (Photo by Traci Haddock)
Me and Natalie entering Tasu Sound in the zodiac. (Photo by Lisa Pickell)QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS, BC (June 3, 2007): I went up to the bridge early in the morning as we approached the Queen Charlotte Islands and Tasu Sound. The sky was still pink and the mountains looked huge in the early morning light. I was shocked when Robert said that we were still 20 miles away. Tasu Sound is surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks with steep cliffs leading to the water. Later in the morning, Mark, Tatiana and Bethany, the three Principal Investigators (PIs) still on the ship, along with some of the students, took the small boat into the Sound to take seawater samples.
Mark decided last night that everyone who wanted to would be able to take a trip to the mouth of the Sound, so the plan was to take the work boat and make several trips. But, when the boat returned from the first trip, the wind had picked up, so the Captain decided that the small boat could only make one more trip. So, the rest of the science crew hopped into the zodiak. The boat was pitching a bit as we went down the ladder. I am not very coordinated and in my efforts to get into the boat and stay upright, I accidentally stepped on both the Third Mate's and the assisting AB's feet. And we were in such a rush to board the boat, that I didn’t have time to run up to may cabin and get my camera.
The ride out was great; bouncing on the swells and sea spray in the face. I noticed several hours after returning that my glasses were still covered with salt. The fjord was amazing; steep cliffs towering over the shore, soaring eagles and a basking sea lion. The mountains were unlike anything on the east coast, steep with jagged peaks. In the miles of shoreline visible, I could see only 2 structures; one left from an abandoned mine and the other a small camp. We went behind a little island and the Third Mate turned off the motor when he was switching the gas tanks. It was sunny and warm. The water was calm and quiet. I could have stayed there for a long time….
With few exceptions, all of us have been working really hard, particularly this last week. It was generous on Mark’s part to let us take a couple of hours to go exploring. We had a nice zodiac ride, good company and incredible scenery. All I can say is thanks to Mark, the Captain, Jay, Robert and everyone else who made the trip possible.
Because my camera with a fully charged battery was sitting on my desk in my cabin, all of these photos were taken by my cruise mates.
Track the last reported location of our ship, the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. CLICK HERE TO TRACK
Email comments or questions to:mailto:kathleen.umaine@gmail.com
