Cascade Creek & Petersburg
The intrepid travelers on board the National Geographic Sea Lion woke to a stunningly beautiful morning in the protected waters of Thomas Bay. Cradled by sheer cliff walls, the calm waters sparkled under clear blue skies. All around, the sun brought the lush, bright greens of Alaska’s rainforest to life. We could not wait to get onshore to explore the rugged banks of Cascade Creek. Everybody donned boots, layers and packs and followed our naturalists into the woods. The hikes started nice and easy, along a sturdily crafted and well-maintained path bordered by plants in the throes of reproduction. While the local black bears stayed out of sight, we encountered the dwarf dogwood, learned about the chocolate lily, dodged several complex root traps, read moose signs and marveled at poisonous newts. By the time we reached the waterfalls that give Cascade Creek its name, our heart rate and spirits were way up. The falls were gushing in full force, fueled by snowmelt off the mountains, dusting the forest’s moss in glistening dew. Fallen trees stifled the ambitions of our long hikers, but we all returned to the beach and enjoyed the inter-tidal zone and its riches of mussels, barnacles and plants.
Back on board, Elise Lockton took us on a whirlwind tour through history. From the Pliocene to modern statehood, Elise painted a colorful canvas of Alaska’s past and captivated our imagination. Our arrival in Petersburg, a small fishing community, brought us back to present times. Some of us took the opportunity to visit a nearby glacier by helicopter, others stayed close to home and watched eagles fly and sea lions play in Petersburg harbor; many followed the boardwalk trail to Petersburg Creek and just as many indulged their instincts by exploring the local shopping scene. Smoked cod, artisan jewelry and local art were hunted and gathered today.
The day ended with a visit by Dr. Fred Sharpe of the Alaskan Whale Foundation, who shared his passion and knowledge of Alaska’s humpback whales with us. Fred left us with newfound insights into these animals and we will see them in a different light when we encounter them in the next few days.
