Thomas Bay and Petersburg
Just before breakfast we are treated to a close look at Baird Glacier (named after a pioneer American naturalist noted for his studies of North American birds). Harbor seals are hauled out to guard the entrance and Arctic Terns whirl and dive all around us as the sun shows her face to light up the deep blue hues in the glacier itself. After a scrumptious breakfast (including fresh Alaskan lox), we don our rubber boots and head out for a short but steep hike to the thundering applause of Cascade Creek Waterfall in Thomas Bay. Cool mist fills the area as we climb higher and higher, surrounded in pristine temperate rainforest. We return to the Sea Bird wet but elated!
Upon our arrival in Petersburg it is obvious what drives the local economy here, as we are surrounded by fishing vessels of every imaginable shape and hue. We dock close to town and have ample time to explore the shops along the main street. In addition to our exploration of the town itself, some of our group decides to go for a helicopter tour of magnificent LeConte Glacier and ice field. Some even brave a tour of the Tonka Seafood processing plant, being rewarded with samples of fresh smoked salmon for their efforts. Certainly the award for the most intrepid group goes to the 7 guests led by naturalist Dave Hirsch who attempt a full on frontal assault of Petersburg Mountain. The 7-mile roundtrip hike has an elevation gain of about 3,000 feet and in many parts is a scramble. The group summits the peak and is rewarded with close sightings of both a young black bear and a Sitka black-tailed deer along the way. Members of this group almost pay the ultimate price for their efforts, however, as they are late for dinner and come very close to missing out on our fresh-caught Dungeness Crab feast! Congratulations to these stalwart souls.
Just before breakfast we are treated to a close look at Baird Glacier (named after a pioneer American naturalist noted for his studies of North American birds). Harbor seals are hauled out to guard the entrance and Arctic Terns whirl and dive all around us as the sun shows her face to light up the deep blue hues in the glacier itself. After a scrumptious breakfast (including fresh Alaskan lox), we don our rubber boots and head out for a short but steep hike to the thundering applause of Cascade Creek Waterfall in Thomas Bay. Cool mist fills the area as we climb higher and higher, surrounded in pristine temperate rainforest. We return to the Sea Bird wet but elated!
Upon our arrival in Petersburg it is obvious what drives the local economy here, as we are surrounded by fishing vessels of every imaginable shape and hue. We dock close to town and have ample time to explore the shops along the main street. In addition to our exploration of the town itself, some of our group decides to go for a helicopter tour of magnificent LeConte Glacier and ice field. Some even brave a tour of the Tonka Seafood processing plant, being rewarded with samples of fresh smoked salmon for their efforts. Certainly the award for the most intrepid group goes to the 7 guests led by naturalist Dave Hirsch who attempt a full on frontal assault of Petersburg Mountain. The 7-mile roundtrip hike has an elevation gain of about 3,000 feet and in many parts is a scramble. The group summits the peak and is rewarded with close sightings of both a young black bear and a Sitka black-tailed deer along the way. Members of this group almost pay the ultimate price for their efforts, however, as they are late for dinner and come very close to missing out on our fresh-caught Dungeness Crab feast! Congratulations to these stalwart souls.
