We awoke to another beautiful, partly cloudy morning. The National Geographic Sea Lion’s bow cut through the glassy water. Snow-capped mountains and lush forest filled the views. Many of us prepared for our morning excursions by learning and applying self-massage techniques (MELT method) taught to us by Jen Williams, the wellness specialist. As we relaxed, the “morning commute” of the Petersburg fishing fleet passed our port side.
Shortly after breakfast, our morning activities began. Hikers donned rubber boots and headed over to Kupreanof Island to explore the forest and muskegs. Today’s hike helped solve the mystery of why so many Southeast Alaska residents are often spotted with knee-high rubber boots. Due to the extremely low tide and very low gradient slope, an immense tidal flat was between our drop-off location and the trail head. Ducking under the Sitka spruce branches that guarded the entrance to the trail, we were immediately immersed in the lush temperate rainforest. Massive skunk cabbage, boot-sucking mud, carpets of round sundew laden moss, and the helpful hand of fellow travelers exemplified our hike.
While the hikers enjoyed the closed canopy of the forest, others explored the shoreline from inflatable boats. The Tlingit have a saying, “When the tide is out, the table is set.” This morning, the diner was a river otter spotted in the intertidal area. During several of our hikes this week, we have seen evidence of river otters and surmised they were active members of the shoreline ecosystem, but had yet to see one. The morning shoreline exploration was rounded-out with views of another fish-lover, a bald eagle and her nest. During our short journey aboard the ship, we spotted a number of Steller sea lions hauled out on and draped over navigational buoys, with others in the water vying for a spot.
We docked in the bustling fishing community of Petersburg, Alaska, ready for an afternoon of sight-seeing. The docks were lined with newly painted purse seiners, nets mounded on their back decks, and crews waiting for the next fishing opportunity. A potpourri of activities was available: flight-seeing in a float plane, shopping for local Alaskan treasures, learning about the fishing industry on a dock walk, biking around town, exploring the muskeg. A Dungeness crab feast wrapped up a great day.
