Petersburg and Frederick Sound
The small fishing town of Petersburg is also known as Little Norway. Norwegian flags fly proudly along the street in front of the Sons of Norway Hall. In the adjacent park is a model Viking ship. Wander into the hardware store down the street, and in addition to fishing gear, wrenches and paints, you will find a nice assortment of Scandinavian gifts and books. Bright and colorful flowers overflow from window boxes and hanging baskets. Take ten small steps through a tiny downtown garden on stepping stones in the shape of halibut.
Petersburg’s docks are filled with fishing boats. At one time this small town boasted the highest number of millionaires per capita in the U.S.A. – all thanks to fishing. Halibut, salmon and crab are still the major catches for local fishing boats. Dinner tonight is an all-you-can-eat feast of Dungeness crab from Petersburg.
While some of us go flight seeing over Le Conte glacier, many of us walk to a bog known as ‘muskeg’ here. Over many centuries, layers of partially decomposed mosses accumulate over acidic water, and plants struggle to survive in this environment. The stunted shore pines may be over 100 years old. Nutrients are very scarce; tiny, delicate sundews gain protein by capturing small flies on sticky, glandular hairs. A boardwalk protects the fragile bog landscape from our crushing footsteps. We spot a Sitka black-tailed deer, she spots us, and we stand still for several minutes watching each other.
During the afternoon, we cruised north to the confluence of Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound. In the calm conditions we see the blows of humpback whales in all directions. Better yet, we remain quiet and listen to the whales breathe. The water surface is as smooth as glass, and humpback whales are visible over a broad area. What a peaceful and wild scene: snow-covered mountains to the north, gray rain approaching from the south, and beneath the smooth waters, humpback whales are feeding. Is the year 1606 or 2006?
The small fishing town of Petersburg is also known as Little Norway. Norwegian flags fly proudly along the street in front of the Sons of Norway Hall. In the adjacent park is a model Viking ship. Wander into the hardware store down the street, and in addition to fishing gear, wrenches and paints, you will find a nice assortment of Scandinavian gifts and books. Bright and colorful flowers overflow from window boxes and hanging baskets. Take ten small steps through a tiny downtown garden on stepping stones in the shape of halibut.
Petersburg’s docks are filled with fishing boats. At one time this small town boasted the highest number of millionaires per capita in the U.S.A. – all thanks to fishing. Halibut, salmon and crab are still the major catches for local fishing boats. Dinner tonight is an all-you-can-eat feast of Dungeness crab from Petersburg.
While some of us go flight seeing over Le Conte glacier, many of us walk to a bog known as ‘muskeg’ here. Over many centuries, layers of partially decomposed mosses accumulate over acidic water, and plants struggle to survive in this environment. The stunted shore pines may be over 100 years old. Nutrients are very scarce; tiny, delicate sundews gain protein by capturing small flies on sticky, glandular hairs. A boardwalk protects the fragile bog landscape from our crushing footsteps. We spot a Sitka black-tailed deer, she spots us, and we stand still for several minutes watching each other.
During the afternoon, we cruised north to the confluence of Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound. In the calm conditions we see the blows of humpback whales in all directions. Better yet, we remain quiet and listen to the whales breathe. The water surface is as smooth as glass, and humpback whales are visible over a broad area. What a peaceful and wild scene: snow-covered mountains to the north, gray rain approaching from the south, and beneath the smooth waters, humpback whales are feeding. Is the year 1606 or 2006?
