land & sea.
Warmer Waters Ahead
It’s the season — here’s how to catch a glimpse of migrating gray whales that are heading south for the winter. By Molly O’Brien
74 december 2021 marin living.
MARINITES WON’T BE THE ONLY ONES traveling south to warmer weather with their pod for a break this winter. December brings the start of the massive southern migration of around 20,000 California gray whales from the Arctic down along the Pacific coast (through Marin waters) and toward Mexico each year. These gentle giants will swim 5,000 miles south during December and January to leave behind the freezing northern feeding grounds of the Alaskan seas for the comfort of the warmer, more shallow waters off Baja California to birth their calves. For those who want to catch a glimpse of the action, there are a few ways to have the ultimate whale watching experience. “The Whale Trail” (www.thewhaletrail.org) is a series of sites along the Pacific coast where people can see whales and other marine mammals from land. Whale watching in the Point Reyes headlands is a spectacular show. There’s a network of viewing spots along this trail, from Puget Sound to the coastal waters of the Pacific. The Point Reyes Peninsula extends 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean, which allows land-based visitors one of the best oppor-
www.stock.adobe.com/Jim Glab
A gray whale breaks the surface
