Cascade Creek & Petersburg
Our first day of Southeast Alaska rain! We finally get to see what this temperate rainforest is all about. We wake to a warm, misty, wet morning as we cruised through Fredrick sound. What a different kind of beauty it is to see the clouds hanging low between the trees and the mist rising from the water. It gives you a surreal, mysterious kind of feeling.
Our rubber boots were put to good use this morning as we set out for hikes at Cascade Creek. We made our way up to a roaring waterfall where we all stopped to take pictures. We’ve seen so much wildlife on this adventure of ours and this morning it didn’t stop, for we found a rough-skinned newt! This salamander is one of six native amphibians in Alaska. Its bright orange belly is a warning to potential predators about its potent toxin.
This afternoon was spent in the little town of Petersburg, the commercial fishing center of Southeast Alaska. Petersburg, nicknamed “Little Norway” for its Norwegian heritage and dramatic scenery, is the base for one of Alaska’s most thriving fishing fleets. It’s great to pull into this small place and see so many active fishermen busy and hard at work. As we were docked all afternoon, many of us went our separate ways. Whether it was shopping, walking, biking or taking the float plane, we all got to see Petersburg at its best. Later in the afternoon some of us went on a bog walk to experience this unique ecosystem. Bald eagles and carnivorous plants were just a couple of the highlights on this wonderful trek.
After such an active day of hiking and being in this fishing community, there’s no better way to end the day than with a feast! Not just any feast but a local crab feast! Crabbing season is now in full gear here in Alaska and the fresh crab is plentiful and tasty! This is a night that will leave us feeling full, both figuratively and literally!
Our first day of Southeast Alaska rain! We finally get to see what this temperate rainforest is all about. We wake to a warm, misty, wet morning as we cruised through Fredrick sound. What a different kind of beauty it is to see the clouds hanging low between the trees and the mist rising from the water. It gives you a surreal, mysterious kind of feeling.
Our rubber boots were put to good use this morning as we set out for hikes at Cascade Creek. We made our way up to a roaring waterfall where we all stopped to take pictures. We’ve seen so much wildlife on this adventure of ours and this morning it didn’t stop, for we found a rough-skinned newt! This salamander is one of six native amphibians in Alaska. Its bright orange belly is a warning to potential predators about its potent toxin.
This afternoon was spent in the little town of Petersburg, the commercial fishing center of Southeast Alaska. Petersburg, nicknamed “Little Norway” for its Norwegian heritage and dramatic scenery, is the base for one of Alaska’s most thriving fishing fleets. It’s great to pull into this small place and see so many active fishermen busy and hard at work. As we were docked all afternoon, many of us went our separate ways. Whether it was shopping, walking, biking or taking the float plane, we all got to see Petersburg at its best. Later in the afternoon some of us went on a bog walk to experience this unique ecosystem. Bald eagles and carnivorous plants were just a couple of the highlights on this wonderful trek.
After such an active day of hiking and being in this fishing community, there’s no better way to end the day than with a feast! Not just any feast but a local crab feast! Crabbing season is now in full gear here in Alaska and the fresh crab is plentiful and tasty! This is a night that will leave us feeling full, both figuratively and literally!
