Cascade Creek, and the community of Petersburg, Southeast Alaska
The sun rose over the mountains surrounding Thomas Bay at approximately 5:30AM. The Sea Lion was motoring into these calm waters for a little early morning exploration. As the rays of sunlight filtered through the trees at the top of the ridge over the starboard bow, long silvery beams of light hit a low fog bank hanging over the entrance to Scenery Cove. Off the port bow, Baird Glacier was also illuminated by the early morning sunlight. Standing on the bow, cups of coffee and tea in hand, a small group of us took in the magic that is Southeast Alaska. Captain Delisle slowly maneuvered the Sea Lion to a quiet stop and turned the vessel for a panoramic view. Slowly the mists shifted as the sun rose, layer upon layer of tree tops were illuminated by the changing light and our day opened up showing off all the beauty of a rare sunny day in a climate that normally receives well over one hundred inches of rain a year.
This morning we were scheduled to make a stop for kayaking and hiking at Cascade Creek. Once breakfast was finished and Zodiacs and kayaks were lowered, we assembled on the aft section of the two hundred deck, ready to be ferried to shore. Cascade Creek inside Thomas Bay is famous for its cascading and enormous waterfalls. Our hikes this morning would take many of us no farther than the waterfall just inside from our beach landing, while others would make a long, vigorous hike at least two miles into the forest. All, however, made a long stop at the lowest of the waterfalls, looking up at the amount of water pouring over the top. We also turned our backs to the water and looked into the mists created by the falls. It had decorated the forested hill with tiny drops of water like thousands of diamonds. The mists traced the early morning sunlight pouring in long rays through the trees, drops of water dancing over the bands of light.
Our hikes followed the river up into the woods winding around large stands of trees and rock formations. We stopped occasionally to visit the smaller residents of this temperate rainforest: the lichens, mosses, miniature dogwoods and a myriad of ferns. All too soon we had to retrace our steps and begin our decent back to the beach and our waiting Zodiacs. Our day had just begun and the afternoon would be filled with the activities available in the small fishing town of Petersburg.
Petersburg was founded in 1897 by a Norwegian from Tacoma, Washington. The small town of 3,500 is known as little Norway, and on every corner there is some reminder of the ethnic background of the majority of the inhabitants. Petersburg is about fishing, and as the Sea Lion came into the small harbor, we found ourselves surrounded by a variety of fishing boats. From purse seiners to trollers to gill-netters and an occasional tender or buyer boat, the harbor offered all of these and many pleasure boats as well! Salmon canneries, a crab and shrimp cannery all receive seafood from the many fishing boats that ply the local waters according to the latest fishing opening. As we arrived we saw many purse seiners coming and going, and soon found out that this year the Pink or Humpy salmon run has been one of the biggest the state of Alaska has seen in many years. The fishermen of Petersburg and neighboring communities were all out making huge hauls of Pink salmon celebrating this year’s generous bounty of salmon!
As soon as the Sea Lion was tied up to a local dock, we were free to wander about the town. Flight seeing was being offered from floatplanes and helicopters, and the natural history staff would be taking any interested hikers on a hike up Petersburg Creek.
As all respective groups made their way home to the Sea Lion, it was with great anticipation for the evenings events of a local fishing family’s stories and a special treat of fresh Dungeness crab, steamed to perfection and served with all the fixings!
We remained at the dock until dinner was called and as we adjourned to the dining room, the deck crew of Sea Lion released the lines and our vessel began making her way out of the public harbor of Petersburg heading east a short distance, before turning north into Frederick Sound. As the last rays of light turned the sky and mountains pink, the bridge spotted Humpback whales. The Sea Lion began maneuvering, slowly heading, in the direction of whale blows backlit in the last rays of light of a long summer day in the north.
The sun rose over the mountains surrounding Thomas Bay at approximately 5:30AM. The Sea Lion was motoring into these calm waters for a little early morning exploration. As the rays of sunlight filtered through the trees at the top of the ridge over the starboard bow, long silvery beams of light hit a low fog bank hanging over the entrance to Scenery Cove. Off the port bow, Baird Glacier was also illuminated by the early morning sunlight. Standing on the bow, cups of coffee and tea in hand, a small group of us took in the magic that is Southeast Alaska. Captain Delisle slowly maneuvered the Sea Lion to a quiet stop and turned the vessel for a panoramic view. Slowly the mists shifted as the sun rose, layer upon layer of tree tops were illuminated by the changing light and our day opened up showing off all the beauty of a rare sunny day in a climate that normally receives well over one hundred inches of rain a year.
This morning we were scheduled to make a stop for kayaking and hiking at Cascade Creek. Once breakfast was finished and Zodiacs and kayaks were lowered, we assembled on the aft section of the two hundred deck, ready to be ferried to shore. Cascade Creek inside Thomas Bay is famous for its cascading and enormous waterfalls. Our hikes this morning would take many of us no farther than the waterfall just inside from our beach landing, while others would make a long, vigorous hike at least two miles into the forest. All, however, made a long stop at the lowest of the waterfalls, looking up at the amount of water pouring over the top. We also turned our backs to the water and looked into the mists created by the falls. It had decorated the forested hill with tiny drops of water like thousands of diamonds. The mists traced the early morning sunlight pouring in long rays through the trees, drops of water dancing over the bands of light.
Our hikes followed the river up into the woods winding around large stands of trees and rock formations. We stopped occasionally to visit the smaller residents of this temperate rainforest: the lichens, mosses, miniature dogwoods and a myriad of ferns. All too soon we had to retrace our steps and begin our decent back to the beach and our waiting Zodiacs. Our day had just begun and the afternoon would be filled with the activities available in the small fishing town of Petersburg.
Petersburg was founded in 1897 by a Norwegian from Tacoma, Washington. The small town of 3,500 is known as little Norway, and on every corner there is some reminder of the ethnic background of the majority of the inhabitants. Petersburg is about fishing, and as the Sea Lion came into the small harbor, we found ourselves surrounded by a variety of fishing boats. From purse seiners to trollers to gill-netters and an occasional tender or buyer boat, the harbor offered all of these and many pleasure boats as well! Salmon canneries, a crab and shrimp cannery all receive seafood from the many fishing boats that ply the local waters according to the latest fishing opening. As we arrived we saw many purse seiners coming and going, and soon found out that this year the Pink or Humpy salmon run has been one of the biggest the state of Alaska has seen in many years. The fishermen of Petersburg and neighboring communities were all out making huge hauls of Pink salmon celebrating this year’s generous bounty of salmon!
As soon as the Sea Lion was tied up to a local dock, we were free to wander about the town. Flight seeing was being offered from floatplanes and helicopters, and the natural history staff would be taking any interested hikers on a hike up Petersburg Creek.
As all respective groups made their way home to the Sea Lion, it was with great anticipation for the evenings events of a local fishing family’s stories and a special treat of fresh Dungeness crab, steamed to perfection and served with all the fixings!
We remained at the dock until dinner was called and as we adjourned to the dining room, the deck crew of Sea Lion released the lines and our vessel began making her way out of the public harbor of Petersburg heading east a short distance, before turning north into Frederick Sound. As the last rays of light turned the sky and mountains pink, the bridge spotted Humpback whales. The Sea Lion began maneuvering, slowly heading, in the direction of whale blows backlit in the last rays of light of a long summer day in the north.
