Mitkof Island
We awoke to a misty morning, as the National Geographic Sea Lion dropped anchor in the waters of Frederick Sound off the eastern shore of Mitkof Island. Loading into our trusty Zodiacs, we headed for shore. Finding our way through moisture ladened air, we arrived on a low tide and had a wet landing at Ideal Cove. Entering the enchanted forest, we enjoyed the ease of walking the length of a beautiful boardwalk, through the dense undergrowth of huge skunk cabbage and moss dripping from every rock, limb and nurse log. The multi-layered forest of the Tongass has been revealed through our own inquiry. Our Naturalists’ knowledge and the detail of life beneath the canopy leave us with a new appreciation for this amazing place!
Today was no exception. We found banana slugs and evidence of beaver as we approached the lakes: Sand, Hill and Crane! Begrudgingly we headed back to the ship (could have spent all day in them thar woods) and were greeted at the tide line by the sight of a floatplane off the stern of the National Geographic Sea Lion. Transported from tierra firme to floats with wings a few folks boarded the Beaver for a flight seeing trip over Le Conte, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the US! An experience that will long be remembered, I think the word “awesome” sums up the collective aerial experience. While you can see calving glaciers from the bow somehow flying over them gives you new appreciation for the path they carve and landscape they create!
On the docks of prosperous Petersburg, companions parted ways to explore town, the muskeg or learn about the fishing boats and the industry that fuels this little Norwegian enclave. A town rarely visited by tourists, it was nice to see a thriving, industrious community, whose history started with the determination of one Norwegian fulfilling the dream of building a cannery town and whose legacy lives on. Petersburg every year ranks within the top 20 in the nation for most valuable catch and volume! Another memorable day in Southeast, Alaska!!!
