A light fog surrounded the National Geographic Sea Lion as we cruised down Frederick Sound and anchored in Ideal Cove. Today was our first opportunity to go ashore and explore the Tongass National Forest. The low tide allowed for excellent intertidal opportunities and we saw many creepy-crawly critters such as amphipods, isopods, snails, and gunnels hiding beneath the rocks. For those who wanted to stretch their legs, the wellness specialist, Alexis, led a 4.5 mile aerobic hike down the Three Lakes Trail—a windy plank walk trail through the beautiful forest. Though the long hike was a bit slippery, it proved to be worth the effort; a male moose was spotted! Others enjoyed shorter hikes where they could take the time to photograph and appreciate the beauty of the towering trees, wild blueberries, flowers, ferns, and other rich vegetation. The rail began to fall as we emerged from the trailhead early afternoon—the perfect time to head back to our ship for a delicious lunch!
Our afternoon was filled with a variety of activities in the quaint town of Petersburg. Petersburg is known for its prosperous fishing industry and Norwegian heritage. At the turn of the century, a Norwegian man named Peter Buschman thought Petersburg would be the perfect place for a cannery; with Le Conte glacier nearby, the ice could be used to keep the fish fresh. It was this fishing and canning industry that drove the creation of the town. With a population just over 3000, fishing is still the backbone of the Petersburg economy today. During our afternoon visit, guests were able to take dock walks with the Undersea Specialist and a local fisherwoman to learn about the different fishing techniques and boats. Many vibrant invertebrates lined the floating dock and were fascinating to see up-close. While some joined our photo instructor, Ryder, on a photography focused walk to capture some of Petersburg’s unique Norwegian heritage, others decided to take a walk through the muskeg on Kupreanof Island across the channel. And for those who were seeking more of an adrenaline rush, flight seeing over LeConte glacier was an option! Of course, we couldn’t visit a fishing town without leaving with fresh seafood. We were treated with a Dungeness crab feast as we sailed out of the harbor-bon appétit! Fun fact: Dungeness crab is the state crustacean of Oregon.
To top off our incredible day, we had an encounter with a male orca. As we watched his large dorsal fin glide in and out of the water, we happily checked off another wildlife sighting from our Alaska bucket list. Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday!
