LeConte Bay and Petersburg, 7/13/2023, National Geographic Venture
Aboard the
National Geographic Venture
Alaska
We hit the water bright and early today. For many, this was the first time they had ever set eyes on icebergs. As Zodiacs wove through the ice, many guests were treated to the sight of a bald eagle perched atop an especially tall berg. National Geographic Venture then set sail for Petersburg, “the town that fish built.” Activities included cycling, hiking through muskegs, and harbor tours for a closer look at the fishing fleet. We finished the day with a crab feast.
Writers and photographers: Claire Dal Nogare, Luke Manson, and Joselyn Fenstermacher
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Today was an absolutely beautiful day here in Southeast Alaska onboard National Geographic Quest . We had the privilege of sailing in the pristine waters of Glacier Bay National Park. We picked up the park ranger early and then began with our first wildlife hotspot at South Marble Island. Here we were treated to views of humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and tufted puffins. We then continued into the bay and the natural history staff was able to find nine brown bears. The skies cleared as we reached the northern part of the park just in time to see Johns Hopkins Glacier. It was truly an incredible day here in one of Alaska’s most incredible parks.
Petersburg was shrouded in dense fog when National Geographic Venture docked in the wee hours of the morning. By the time our expedition leader had given the morning announcements, however, the fog was lifting to reveal the fishing boats and Norwegian-influenced architecture of this quintessential Alaskan fishing town. Petersburg (population 3,100) is located on Fredrick Sound near the LeConte Glacier. The bright blue icebergs calved from this glacier provided the ice needed to preserve fish back before the days of large-scale refrigeration. Since then, Petersburg has been known as “the town that fish built.” After breakfast guests set off on a variety of activities that included a Haa Aani cultural walk, muskeg walks, longer hikes, dock tours, and a guided bicycle ride of the town. A new experience for many was the muskeg; a soggy, eerie landscape of stunted shore pines, carnivorous plants, and a variety of berry bushes held in a mat of sphagnum moss. The only way to explore a muskeg without getting wet was via a system of boardwalks that allowed us to get up close and personal with the rugged inhabitants of this wetland system. Our day of exploration ended with a delicious, but incredibly messy, king crab feast.
This morning, we enjoyed a welcome break from the rain. Our team got everyone on shore to make the most of the weather. Hiking and kayaking were the name of the game this morning, and we did just that! We explored four incredible types of ecosystems at Halleck Harbor: the intertidal zone, teeming with anemones and sea stars; the temperate rainforest, rich with lush greenery and signs of woodland creatures; the open ocean’s surface, home to sea jellies and sea otters; and the Alaskan muskeg, known for its carnivorous plants. During our afternoon sail, we were greeted by some of the most iconic Southeast Alaska megafauna – killer whales and bubble net feeding humpback whales! A truly magnificent day onboard National Geographic Quest.
