LeConte Bay and Petersburg, Alaska
We awoke to blue skies and a bright morning sun rising over the LeConte Glacier. LeConte glacier is the southern most tidewater glacier in North America. We watched as many pillars of ice calved from the face of the glacier. These icebergs that float down bay to the terminal moraine provide beautiful obstacles for the Sea Lion to maneuver around. To get a better look at the ice, we took to our Zodiacs and explored the area near the mouth of the bay. We learned the differences between icebergs, bergie bits, and growlers. The different colors, densities, and shapes of the icebergs were studied and enjoyed by all. During the ice tours we saw many species of seabirds including marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots, king fishers, great blue herons, and bald eagles. The luckiest of us even spotted a harbor seal.
After lunch we found ourselves dockside at the small Alaskan fishing community of Petersburg. Petersburg is located at the northern most point of Mitkof Island, and harbors one of Alaska’s most successful fishing fleets. The importance of the fishing industry is apparent all around the town with its canneries, people outfitted in high boots and overalls and the boats that fill the harbor. We enjoyed the hot summer day by walking through the small community, shopping at the numerous stores that dot the main street, or taking a nature hike along a nearby boardwalk through the muskeg. Some guests had the opportunity to take to the skies to get another perspective of the nearby glaciers. As the Sea Lion threw lines, and pulled away from the dock, a Dungeness crab feed was enjoyed by all.
We awoke to blue skies and a bright morning sun rising over the LeConte Glacier. LeConte glacier is the southern most tidewater glacier in North America. We watched as many pillars of ice calved from the face of the glacier. These icebergs that float down bay to the terminal moraine provide beautiful obstacles for the Sea Lion to maneuver around. To get a better look at the ice, we took to our Zodiacs and explored the area near the mouth of the bay. We learned the differences between icebergs, bergie bits, and growlers. The different colors, densities, and shapes of the icebergs were studied and enjoyed by all. During the ice tours we saw many species of seabirds including marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots, king fishers, great blue herons, and bald eagles. The luckiest of us even spotted a harbor seal.
After lunch we found ourselves dockside at the small Alaskan fishing community of Petersburg. Petersburg is located at the northern most point of Mitkof Island, and harbors one of Alaska’s most successful fishing fleets. The importance of the fishing industry is apparent all around the town with its canneries, people outfitted in high boots and overalls and the boats that fill the harbor. We enjoyed the hot summer day by walking through the small community, shopping at the numerous stores that dot the main street, or taking a nature hike along a nearby boardwalk through the muskeg. Some guests had the opportunity to take to the skies to get another perspective of the nearby glaciers. As the Sea Lion threw lines, and pulled away from the dock, a Dungeness crab feed was enjoyed by all.
