Leconte Bay & Petersburg
This morning the interconnectedness of nature and our bodies became evident.
Guests arrived at stretch class with many yawns, relaxed smiles, and were feeling comfortable. After yesterday’s rain, we were happy to be surrounded only by dense icebergs and fog. Many joined on the deck for stretch class as we anchored in the old terminal moraine of the Le Conte Glacier. Our first breath went deep filling our lungs and bellies. Ahhhhh, there is nothing like the Alaska air. Its chilled clean freshness, cool moisture, and fertility are undeniably unforgettable. While our hamstrings lengthened, we talked about the importance of taking care of our bodies to maintain our intimate relationship with nature. What can we do to contribute to the longevity of our adventures, hikes, and travel? While standing on one foot…. We said, “balance”. Balance is what our bodies and the planet are craving.
Later we took Zodiacs to explore the icebergs of Le Conte Bay. The low fog hid our ability to truly grasp our surroundings. Harbor seals spied on us during our investigation of their habitat. We played with our sense of perspective, as from a distance, what seemed to be small chunks of ice, soon towered over us like massive cobalt giants.
We arrived in Petersburg after lunch. This charming town instantly became a favorite. It has a prosperous fishing community. We mingled with local fisherman. Their swollen hands and red wind-burnt faces gave us some insight into how difficult this living can be. However, one fisherman said. “The wildlife and scenery never gets old, this may be the only reason why I come back year after year.”
Soon we took the Zodiacs across to the Wrangell Narrows, some people went for the bogs, others were forest dwellers, and some just wanted a fast walk for a good excuse to eat more ribs at dinner. We developed patience to listen to babbling brooks and chatty children. The bog was carpeted in peat moss. Shore pines lingered and we found carnivorous sundew flowers with sticky tentacles waiting for their next prey.
Our day was brought to an end when Andy Zabo from the Alaska Whale Foundation joined us for dinner. After we fed our stomachs, he fed our minds as he gave us an intriguing presentation about Alaska’s humpback whales.
