The waters were dark and calm as we pulled into Petersburg for a variety of morning activities. This quaint village has a rich heritage. It is an active player in the fishing industry, evident by the numerous fishing boats lining the dock and several fish processing buildings in town. A prominent architectural feature that could be seen upon our approach is the Sons of Norway Hall, a large red and white building with a Viking ship outside. However, once we set foot in the town, we were quick to notice many more reminders of the area’s Norwegian and fishing influences in the numerous murals and painted details on buildings and stores along the main street, Nordic Drive. We had time to stretch our legs, wander the streets, do some shopping, and just relax. Several of us had the opportunity to walk along the dock among the fishing boats and learn firsthand stories from two of our naturalists who have had careers in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska.
As with any place in Southeast Alaska, there are natural areas surrounding Petersburg. Many of us took a lovely hike into a muskeg habitat across Wrangell Narrows from town. This was our first opportunity to see this unique ecosystem that is a prominent feature in the ecology of Southeast Alaska. The trail wound through a forest where the understory was shades of greens, yellows, and reds, an indication of autumn’s arrival. At the boundary to the muskeg, otherwise known as a bog, we stepped from the shade of the tall canopy of Sitka spruces and western hemlocks and into an open wetland dominated by sphagnum moss, with sporadic trees, and plants such as sundews and Labrador-tea that are specialized to live in this habitat.
Once back onboard National Geographic Sea Lion, we made our way through Wrangell Narrows, 23 miles of narrow passage between Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands, marked by more than 70 navigational markers along its course. Along the way, we spotted numerous bird species, humpback whales, and harbor porpoises, making for an enjoyable afternoon on the bow of the ship as we make our journey southward.
