Cascade Creek-Petersburg-LeConte Bay
This morning we awoke to another unusually sunny day in Southeast Alaska. It is hard to believe that we would be spending our day exploring a temperate “rainforest.” The Tongass National Forest is the nation’s largest national forest (the forest comprises 17 million acres). After breakfast we went ashore to explore the area surrounding Cascade Creek. Hikers walked along the trail up to a cascading waterfall sending water in to the stream below.
The afternoon was spent exploring the town of Petersburg – Alaska’s Little Norway. This small fishing village, once boasted as having the most millionaires per capita, still holds one of Alaska’s most successful fishing fleets. Pulling into the harbor it was clear how important fishing is to the community. Canneries line the waterfront, and numerous fishing vessels were gathered in the harbor. We explored the many small shops and visited the community of Petersburg. Helicopter and floatplane rides were enjoyed by those that chose the optional excursion. It was a perfect day to take to the air, as many of the snow-capped mountains were in view because of the unusually clear day.
Walks were also offered across Wrangell Narrows at Petersburg Creek. Lichens, ferns, mosses and wild berries were abundant along the boardwalk. The highlight of the hikes was reaching the muskeg, or bog. The moss-covered wetlands were in bloom: buckbean, bog orchid, and bog cranberry were spotted. We were excited to find some of the insect-eating round leaved sundew. We came back to Sea Lion to find that the hotel staff had prepared a fresh Dungeness crab feast.
The day was not over yet; after dinner we cruised the nearby LeConte Bay. LeConte glacier, found at the end of the bay, is the southernmost active tidewater glacier. Calving off enormous icebergs, we weaved in and out of the ice, enjoying the views of the great blue ice, waterfalls, and occasional harbor seal. A fantastic day that was anything but ordinary—it was extraordinary!
This morning we awoke to another unusually sunny day in Southeast Alaska. It is hard to believe that we would be spending our day exploring a temperate “rainforest.” The Tongass National Forest is the nation’s largest national forest (the forest comprises 17 million acres). After breakfast we went ashore to explore the area surrounding Cascade Creek. Hikers walked along the trail up to a cascading waterfall sending water in to the stream below.
The afternoon was spent exploring the town of Petersburg – Alaska’s Little Norway. This small fishing village, once boasted as having the most millionaires per capita, still holds one of Alaska’s most successful fishing fleets. Pulling into the harbor it was clear how important fishing is to the community. Canneries line the waterfront, and numerous fishing vessels were gathered in the harbor. We explored the many small shops and visited the community of Petersburg. Helicopter and floatplane rides were enjoyed by those that chose the optional excursion. It was a perfect day to take to the air, as many of the snow-capped mountains were in view because of the unusually clear day.
Walks were also offered across Wrangell Narrows at Petersburg Creek. Lichens, ferns, mosses and wild berries were abundant along the boardwalk. The highlight of the hikes was reaching the muskeg, or bog. The moss-covered wetlands were in bloom: buckbean, bog orchid, and bog cranberry were spotted. We were excited to find some of the insect-eating round leaved sundew. We came back to Sea Lion to find that the hotel staff had prepared a fresh Dungeness crab feast.
The day was not over yet; after dinner we cruised the nearby LeConte Bay. LeConte glacier, found at the end of the bay, is the southernmost active tidewater glacier. Calving off enormous icebergs, we weaved in and out of the ice, enjoying the views of the great blue ice, waterfalls, and occasional harbor seal. A fantastic day that was anything but ordinary—it was extraordinary!
