August 1 – Day 91 Big Day ——— Thomas Bay to Petersburg to Le Conte Glacier

August 1 – Day 91  Big Day ———  Thomas Bay to Petersburg  to Le Conte Glacier

It's a sunny morning.  We have neighbors – one of the Wilderness Adventure smaller cruise boats, the National Geographic – Sea Lion, and another cruise boat came into the bay at some point in the night.  There is one anchored on each side of us.   We have seen both of these boats in other places this summer, so the smaller cruise boat industry has been doing okay.   We've only seen one large cruise ship so far, but we are not in the areas that they tend to travel.   These smaller cruise boats cater to those who like nature and more adventure.  By 8:30 am this morning the Adventure was off loading kayaks and for a bit appeared to be giving paddling lessons.   Likely the first day of this week's adventure.  They will likely head over to the Cascade Creek trail for waterfall viewing.     Sea Lion loaded its passengers into inflatable shore boats and they also headed for the waterfall.  

We will be heading into Petersburg today.  Mary, Carl, and Cheryl are leaving our flotilla tomorrow.  Michelle will also be going home for a couple days.    We might also try to get to Le Conte glacier if we can today or within the next couple days.

 

Got to Petersburg, got everyone settled then did a quick trip through Petersburg for those who had not been here before to get some souvenirs to take home and see the attractions around town – Sing Lee Alley, Fisherman's Memorial, Cannery History park to name a few. The marina was packed with fishing boats most waiting to be unloaded, others waiting to leave early in the morning.  We spoke to one fisherman who said that Petersburg had processed 2 million pounds of Salmon (pinks) in the last two days, and they expect over 5 million pounds in the fishing period of the next few days. These are above average numbers and the fisherman and canneries are happy this year.

When that was done we decided to head out in the shore boats one last an adventure for those flying home. 

Hungry Eagle in Petersburg

 

We went to Le Conte Glacier about 15 miles away in both the Jet boat and the Nellie.  The trip, icebergs, and the glacier itself were amazingly beautiful.    There were some very large icebergs, some as wide as 200 ft and several stories tall.  We were able to get clear up to the face of the glacier.  A huge change since our attempt in 2008.   We hung out there for a bit to watch and just the view.  Le Conte did not fail us and provided some calving; no huge chucks, but still fun to watch.  This glacier is much more like the Sawyer or Dawes in Tracy and Endicott Arms – very tall and spiky and crashes into the water as opposed to the Baird glacier which is much flatter at its face and seems to float into the water.   Le Conte is the southern most tidewater glacier in North America. 

When bergs move around they can get caught on the bottom of the waterway floor and just sit in place until the tide changes or they melt enough to dislodge themselves.  One particularly large and tall iceberg that we saw over a mile out from the glacier was stuck sitting in 85 feet of water.  That means that the iceberg is actually 85 feet taller than we can see.   Pretty amazing.  There were a few other boats in the area viewing the berg.  We also watched a seaplane come in and land near this large berg, and one of the small boats went over and loaded people into the plane, then it took off.  What a way to end a vacation, flying out through the bergs. 

Very Large Iceberg

Closer up of that berg

Le Conte Glacier

Left side

Part of middle

Right side

 

Calving

The birds love the calving

 

More calving

Catching some sun

 

Leaving Le Conte Glacier

 

Very long waterfalls

Toward the bottom of the above waterfall – massive amounts of water

Beautiful Iceberg

 

I read an article in Petersburg that said that the Le Conte glacier is growing and is one of the fastest moving glaciers in these parts; moves about 100 feet per day.