LeConte Bay to Petersburg
There is no better way to start the day in Southeast Alaska than watching killer whales just off the bow. That’s exactly what the early risers did as we cruised into LeConte Bay. Even the later risers got a glimpse of the majestic rise and fall of stark black dorsal fins cutting like a surgeon’s knife through the cool, calm waters of early morning.
This was only the beginning of the Great LeConte-Petersburg Extravaganza. Our first scheduled event was a Zodiac cruise through a field of icebergs that have accumulated in Le Conte Bay. This was an amazing experience. The ice in the Bay ranged in size from ice cubes to blocks as big as a house. The colors varied from snow white to an almost unbelievable ethereal blue. Our naturalists on board explained that the blue was due to absorption of white light and selective retransmission of the blue wavelength, but a technical explanation was certainly not required for a profound appreciation for this amazing display of natural artistry. To top it all off, some of us saw a killer whale cruising amongst the bergs, perhaps seeking some of the seals that were abundant in the icy waters.
Docking in Petersburg, a fishing village with a Nordic heritage, we dispersed to several different activities. Many of us boarded helicopters and flew to the Patterson Glacier where we landed in an almost surreal world of glacial ice. Others took a seaplane journey out over the Le Conte Glacier where we saw the source of the morning icebergs, along with thousands of harbor seals that have chosen to make this nutrient-rich area their home. Returning from our airborne journeys we literally got down to earth examining the unique plants that make up the many bogs that surround the town.
Recap tonight was presented by Becky Knight and her son Casey. They gave us a genuine appreciation for what it is like to be a family that fishes for a living in Southeast Alaska.
Tonight we head north, looking forward to what tomorrow will bring around Point Adolphus and Idaho Inlet.
There is no better way to start the day in Southeast Alaska than watching killer whales just off the bow. That’s exactly what the early risers did as we cruised into LeConte Bay. Even the later risers got a glimpse of the majestic rise and fall of stark black dorsal fins cutting like a surgeon’s knife through the cool, calm waters of early morning.
This was only the beginning of the Great LeConte-Petersburg Extravaganza. Our first scheduled event was a Zodiac cruise through a field of icebergs that have accumulated in Le Conte Bay. This was an amazing experience. The ice in the Bay ranged in size from ice cubes to blocks as big as a house. The colors varied from snow white to an almost unbelievable ethereal blue. Our naturalists on board explained that the blue was due to absorption of white light and selective retransmission of the blue wavelength, but a technical explanation was certainly not required for a profound appreciation for this amazing display of natural artistry. To top it all off, some of us saw a killer whale cruising amongst the bergs, perhaps seeking some of the seals that were abundant in the icy waters.
Docking in Petersburg, a fishing village with a Nordic heritage, we dispersed to several different activities. Many of us boarded helicopters and flew to the Patterson Glacier where we landed in an almost surreal world of glacial ice. Others took a seaplane journey out over the Le Conte Glacier where we saw the source of the morning icebergs, along with thousands of harbor seals that have chosen to make this nutrient-rich area their home. Returning from our airborne journeys we literally got down to earth examining the unique plants that make up the many bogs that surround the town.
Recap tonight was presented by Becky Knight and her son Casey. They gave us a genuine appreciation for what it is like to be a family that fishes for a living in Southeast Alaska.
Tonight we head north, looking forward to what tomorrow will bring around Point Adolphus and Idaho Inlet.
