Today was a day of varied forms of exploration. We awoke to partly sunny skies, calm waters, and floating icebergs emanating from the LeConte Glacier. For the first part of the day we explored the physical aspects of this portion of Southeast Alaska. Descending from the Stikine Icefield, and named in 1887 for a geology professor at the University of California, the LeConte Glacier is North America's southernmost tidal glacier. For the past four years the terminus of the glacier has been undergoing a very rapid retreat, calving off enormous icebergs in the process. Recent information suggests that the glacier will continue its "unzipping" until it eventually beaches itself. With so much ice floating about, the Sea Lion dropped her anchor, lowered the Zodiacs and we headed off for a morning tour of the brilliant blue, sun- and water-sculpted icebergs.

During our noontime repast in the dining room we repositioned our ship to the isolated, scenic, and thriving community of Petersburg. Here we began to explore the historical aspects of the area. Petersburg is a town built by fish. Situated on the north end of Mitkof Island, Petersburg was founded in 1897 by Peter Thams Buschmann (a Norwegian fisherman) and today it is one of the most successful fishing communities in Alaska. Though most of the seine fleet was out netting pink and chum salmon, the harbor was still brimming with boats, and the various seafood-processing plants humming with activity. Walking up the dock from where our ship was moored one couldn't help but notice the large bronze statue dedicated to the fishermen who gave their lives in pursuit of a lifestyle which helps feed the world. It should be noted that Alaska accounts for fifty percent of the seafood caught in American waters.

While some people immersed themselves in town others explored the forests and bogs on Kupreanof Island just across the Wrangell Narrows. This was our first introduction to a bog with its unique ecosystem of xeromorphic (desert-like) and carnivorous plants as well as shore pines, and a plethora of sedges, orchids, pond lilies, and berries. Still others explored the region by air. Some aerial explorers went by plane, others by helicopter. Those who went by helicopter actually landed upon a glacier and walked upon a river of ice. Virtually all of the sightseers were reduced to near speechlessness and could only describe the experience as "fabulous" or "incredible" or "mind-boggling." All who flew were treated to the inspiring sights of the Coast Range - including bears, mountain goats, moose, glaciers, and calving icebergs.

During evening cocktails local fisherman Betsy Knight (yes... a woman) described her life as a gill-netter and long-liner and answered questions about her lifestyle till it was time to leave Petersburg. Dinner was a Dungeness Crab and rib feast followed by an evening of humpback whales feeding in the calm waters of Frederick Sound beneath a salmon colored sunset. It had been a day of exploring different worlds... of the physical, the historical, the local personal and, for many, the personal spiritual world.