A rainbow at dawn...

was a good sign that this was going to be a terrific day:

We dropped anchor at the mouth of the Zhupanova River as the Kronotsky volcano erupted ash in pulses throughout the day to the north:

The best time of day is the morning reconnaissance, when the guide staff go onshore and investigate the landing site and decide which hikes are appropriate. It's precious time alone in a wilderness, and here's a shot of the Clipper Odyssey from my vantage point on a high cape:

Later in the morning, we lead our groups of passengers across the terrain to share the wonderful experience: