Le Conte Bay and Petersburg, Alaska
Blue ice contrasted with soft gray wisps of morning fog near the entrance to Le Conte Bay, our morning anchorage. Zodiacs whisked us away for close-up looks at icebergs and the smaller bergie bits and growlers that had calved off from the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America. The glacier itself lies miles inland, choked off by floating ice that blocks easy access to its present terminus. Bald eagles and harbor seals watched as we cruised among sculptured bergs grounded on an old moraine now mostly obscured by the sea.
Kim Heacox, representing National Geographic on this voyage, treated everyone to a wonderful presentation before lunch. He intertwined captivating stories and quotes with spectacular slides to draw our attention to the importance of Alaskan wilderness.
The afternoon was devoted to exploration around Petersburg, a quaint fishing village with a distinctly Norwegian flair. Native Tlingits discovered the riches of the sea here almost two thousand years ago. The town was named after Peter Buschmann, who settled at this site around the turn of the century. Other Norwegians followed, lured by the productive forests, halibut and salmon, ice from the nearby glacier, and the protection afforded by the sheltered harbor. Today fishing continues to dominate the lives of the local people. One group from the Sea Bird toured the harbor to learn more about the seiners, trollers, tenders, and crab boats that crowded the docks. Aging buildings, like the one shown in the photo, stood on stilts, framed by magenta spikes of tall fireweed. Flightseers took to the air in floatplanes and helicopters. Seeing glaciers from above provides a totally different perspective, and just riding in these aircraft can be a thrill. Hikers set off to see a different type of habitat, the muskeg. Unusual plants survive in these acidic bogs, and it was fascinating to find tiny carnivorous sundews and draping cranberries within the soggy mats of sphagnum moss. A resident came aboard to describe her fishing lifestyle and answer questions. After a hilarious recap about crabs by our Hotel Manager, we feasted on these delicious creatures along with ribs and blueberry cake, a tasty finish to our visit to Petersburg.
Blue ice contrasted with soft gray wisps of morning fog near the entrance to Le Conte Bay, our morning anchorage. Zodiacs whisked us away for close-up looks at icebergs and the smaller bergie bits and growlers that had calved off from the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America. The glacier itself lies miles inland, choked off by floating ice that blocks easy access to its present terminus. Bald eagles and harbor seals watched as we cruised among sculptured bergs grounded on an old moraine now mostly obscured by the sea.
Kim Heacox, representing National Geographic on this voyage, treated everyone to a wonderful presentation before lunch. He intertwined captivating stories and quotes with spectacular slides to draw our attention to the importance of Alaskan wilderness.
The afternoon was devoted to exploration around Petersburg, a quaint fishing village with a distinctly Norwegian flair. Native Tlingits discovered the riches of the sea here almost two thousand years ago. The town was named after Peter Buschmann, who settled at this site around the turn of the century. Other Norwegians followed, lured by the productive forests, halibut and salmon, ice from the nearby glacier, and the protection afforded by the sheltered harbor. Today fishing continues to dominate the lives of the local people. One group from the Sea Bird toured the harbor to learn more about the seiners, trollers, tenders, and crab boats that crowded the docks. Aging buildings, like the one shown in the photo, stood on stilts, framed by magenta spikes of tall fireweed. Flightseers took to the air in floatplanes and helicopters. Seeing glaciers from above provides a totally different perspective, and just riding in these aircraft can be a thrill. Hikers set off to see a different type of habitat, the muskeg. Unusual plants survive in these acidic bogs, and it was fascinating to find tiny carnivorous sundews and draping cranberries within the soggy mats of sphagnum moss. A resident came aboard to describe her fishing lifestyle and answer questions. After a hilarious recap about crabs by our Hotel Manager, we feasted on these delicious creatures along with ribs and blueberry cake, a tasty finish to our visit to Petersburg.
