Petersburg, AK

Exploring on Forest Service gravel road

Arrived in Petersburg, got set up in campground and of course started out exploring.   NOT.... got no rest on the ferry trip to Petersburg (9 hours), so we both crashed when we got settled.   I also did not feel too well, chills, fever, yuk, etc.  We might not have gotten the chance to really enjoy all Petersburg had to offer, but we did our best.



Parade

Did get chance to attend the Little Norway Festival, which was extremely interesting.   Had a parade, "Pickled Herring Band", Norwegian items (food and crafts), and herring tossing contest.   Thought this would be like "how far can you toss a herring", but no...it was more like an old fashion egg/balloon toss.  Where partners faced off and tossed the herring farther and farther between the two.  

Local band

Oh yes, and local VIKINGS

Viking boat in parade with local kids

Overall the Little Norway Festival was a fun experience.  Wish I could  have sampled some of the local foods, but stomach would not allow that.  David did get to try some local food though and enjoyed it.

During the festival, local Coast Guard station personnel were giving tours of the Coast Guard vessels and also giving demonstrations of search and rescue techniques.

Open water search and rescue

After the festival, we did some more exploring of Mitkof Island.   Local fishing fleet is prime source of income on the island and the locals have been fishing here for generations.   They fish for salmon, halibut, black cod and also harvest dungeness crabs.  There are longliners, seiners, trollers, gillnetters and crabbers (all different kinds of boats that go out).  Locals are glad to explain the differences.


One of three harbors in Petersburg

Second Harbor

We drove all the way to the end of the road on the island.  A total of 32 miles from one end to the other.  We also drove local Forest Service roads (gravel - some mud).  We went rockhounding looking for local garnets, with not much luck.   Did find some very tiny ones, but nothing too exciting.   When we got off this road, the truck was a mess.

Rockhounding in quarry

LaConte Glacier

The LaConte Glacier is one of the most studied glaciers in Alaska.   Students from a high school come out yearly and take measurements of its retreat.   They have been doing this for 27 years.

Forest Service road

Snow still present along Forest Service road

Fish ladder allowing salmon upstream to spawn



David at bottom of fish ladder area

Of course we also went looking for the local wildlife. 

Common Merganser

Bald Eagle right at dock

Going for a fish or shrimp

Too beautiful to leave out

Our first bear (black bear) right along gravel road

After Petersburg, we once again got on the Alaskan Ferry and headed for Sitka.   Got to Sitka Sunday around 1:30 p.m. after a 12+ hour trip.   Got a cabin this time and it was sooooo much nicer.   A place to lay down and actually sleep.   Got on the ferry at 1:30 a.m. so needless to say sleep was what we wanted to do.   After a good nights sleep, we starting our sightseeing.   Ferry often got really close to shore.  Went through an area called the narrows. We saw 2 whales (one I actually saw the tail come up out of the water --way cool).  We also saw 3 brown bears along a shoreline.   Will be in Sitka until this Friday when we head for Juneau.  Will try and get Sitka blog done before we leave here.  Until later....keep in touch.   Miss you all, but still having great time.