LeConte Bay & Petersburg
We woke up this morning aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird near the entrance to LeConte Bay, home to LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the northern hemisphere. Zodiac explorations brought us closer to the various sizes, shapes and colors of icebergs calving from this very actively retreating glacier – but not too close! Because water takes heat from the ice faster than air does, the iceberg melts faster below, and can turn or shift abruptly without notice. We got firsthand understanding of the oft-phrased “tip of the iceberg” as we looked beneath the surface of the beautiful green-hued glacial waters to the massive amounts of ice below.
After lunch we visited the nearby fishing town of Petersburg on Mitkof Island. Petersburg was settled at the turn of the century because of its proximity to LeConte’s ice for preserving the fish. Today this small community numbers approximately 3100 and processes $22 million of seafood each year. Today was the start of a weekend-long annual “Little Norway Festival” in honor of its Norwegian heritage. In the early afternoon we enjoyed a variety of activities: strolling the docks and shops, exploring larger swaths of the area via bicycle, taking an invigorating hike across the bay on Kupreanof Island, and float-plane touring over the face of LeConte Glacier.
Afterwards we gathered together along Main Street with many of the town’s residents in various forms of Norwegian regalia, to celebrate with food, art, and crafts. The culmination of the day was a parade, immediately followed by the grand finale – a bona fide herring toss! (think egg toss with a herring). Guests, crew and staff participated right along with the locals. Fishes flying, faces smiling, whoops and hollers erupting from the crowd. And as round three wound up, a slight drizzle began to fall. This seemed to be a good time to bring the celebrations indoors.
Back aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird, visitor Andy Szabo from the Alaska Whale Foundation shared the research they’re doing here in Southeast Alaska. At this writing we are about to roll up our sleeves for a delicious all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab feast. Yum!
Another amazing day here in Southeast Alaska.
