Thomas Bay & Petersburg, Alaska
We awoke this morning completely surrounded by water in one of its variations: foggy mist. Little did we know the different forms of water we would encounter during the day.
Climbing the boardwalk at Cascade Creek we were kissed by the mist from the thunderous waterfall that we had climbed to see in Thomas Bay. The water in the falls began as snow, compacting to ice, only to melt in the summer sunshine, and begin its journey to the sea.
Arriving in Petersburg some of us chose to take the helicopter and float plane tour, landing on or circling above LeConte Glacier where water in its solid form surrounded us. Flying above this glacier gave us good looks at the ice field that feeds this mighty river of ice.
Others of us chose to cross Wrangle Narrows by Zodiac to the Petersburg Trail on Kupreanof Island where we encountered water in yet another form. The water in the muskeg is so acidic that the flora of Southeast Alaska we have been seeing cannot thrive here. Our red alder, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock are replaced by twisted and stunted shore pines that are tolerant of the acidic standing water found in a muskeg.
Some chose to explore the town of Petersburg. The dock in many ways is the heart of this fishing town. While many people see the colorful boats in their slips, some changed their perspective and looked at the abundant invertebrate life clinging to the wooden pilings. Seemingly every inch of this saltwater environment was filled with colorful life.
In the evening after a crab feast, we gathered to contemplate the meaning of water in our own lives, afterall, there is life where there is water, and no life without water here on this blue planet. Water connects each and every one of us on this planet, humans and animals alike, only today we gave it conscious thought.
We awoke this morning completely surrounded by water in one of its variations: foggy mist. Little did we know the different forms of water we would encounter during the day.
Climbing the boardwalk at Cascade Creek we were kissed by the mist from the thunderous waterfall that we had climbed to see in Thomas Bay. The water in the falls began as snow, compacting to ice, only to melt in the summer sunshine, and begin its journey to the sea.
Arriving in Petersburg some of us chose to take the helicopter and float plane tour, landing on or circling above LeConte Glacier where water in its solid form surrounded us. Flying above this glacier gave us good looks at the ice field that feeds this mighty river of ice.
Others of us chose to cross Wrangle Narrows by Zodiac to the Petersburg Trail on Kupreanof Island where we encountered water in yet another form. The water in the muskeg is so acidic that the flora of Southeast Alaska we have been seeing cannot thrive here. Our red alder, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock are replaced by twisted and stunted shore pines that are tolerant of the acidic standing water found in a muskeg.
Some chose to explore the town of Petersburg. The dock in many ways is the heart of this fishing town. While many people see the colorful boats in their slips, some changed their perspective and looked at the abundant invertebrate life clinging to the wooden pilings. Seemingly every inch of this saltwater environment was filled with colorful life.
In the evening after a crab feast, we gathered to contemplate the meaning of water in our own lives, afterall, there is life where there is water, and no life without water here on this blue planet. Water connects each and every one of us on this planet, humans and animals alike, only today we gave it conscious thought.
