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Columbia
Glacier to Valdez Tour
Five or six days
DAY 1 Meet at the office of Anadyr Adventures for a pre-trip safety
briefing, paddling lesson and equipment fitting. After loading
kayaks relax and enjoy the transport ride to Columbia, enjoying
the views offered through the port and narrows of Valdez Arm.
Speeding into Heather Bay, you may catch your first glimpses of
Columbia Glacier, the sound's largest. Marvel at the surrounding
beauty as we launch into our boats in the tranquil and protected
waters.
We
begin our tour with a relaxing paddle, exploring the small bays
and inlets leading up toward Columbia. This is a perfect time
to spot playful otters rolling around icebergs and watchful eagles
high in the trees overhead.
Arriving
at the terminal moraine of the glacier, which is the deposit Columbia
left behind upon its retreat, we prepare to explore. Don't forget
your camera because this is the land of photo opportunities. Walking
around giant icebergs stranded on the moraine with the tallest
mountains in the Chugach range as a backdrop is not a sight you
will soon forget. This is a perfect time to eat lunch and enjoy
the scenery.
After
lunch prepare for a breathtaking paddle in the land of ice.
Perhaps
this is the experience that lured you to Alaska in the first place.....paddling
among floating ice in a bay so tranquil you can see your own reflection
on the water. Weave your way among the ancient forms as you enter
deeper and deeper into the bay. Get your photo taken in front
of bergs or just relax and enjoy the splendor. Whatever your taste
is, this is an experience that should not be missed.
After
making camp next to a gorgeous waterfall, relax enjoy your dinner
and take in the evening light.
DAY
2 In the morning after breakfast we will pack up and begin our
tour toward Valdez. Our destination is 17 mile beach, a perfect
place to camp with a view. Explore the coast along the way, all
the while looking for eagles, seals, sea lions, bears and whales.
DAY
3 After breakfast we will pack our boats and prepare for our paddle
out to Sawmill Bay, perhaps one of the most beautiful of all the
State Marine Parks. Along the way keep your eye out for whales
who have been known to cruise this part of the Valdez Arm.
After
making base camp on a beautiful beach at the edge of an old growth
forest, paddle up a pristine river and watch the salmon spawn.
This is also a popular place to see black bears and eagles fishing
for salmon so don't forget your camera!
Upon
returning to camp, sit back relax and take in the colors of the
evening as the guides prepare (or help you prepare) your meal.
Sitting
by the crackling of the fire, it is a perfect time to bask in
the rich experience of the day and to get excited about the next
day's program.
DAY
4 Wake up early and smell the coffee! Today we will paddle to
Shoup Glacier. After a hardy breakfast, we will pack the boats
and begin our journey into the arm and around Potato Point. Along
the way bask in the beauty of falling water as falls cascade from
hundreds of feet up the cliff faces. This is a great time to watch
for wildlife such as otters, seals, sea lions and occasionally
whales.
Stop for lunch and spend some time beach combing on the rugged
coastline between Sawmill and Shoup Glacier, our intended destination
for the evening.
Once
in Shoup Bay, the first views of Shoup Glacier will begin to unfold.
After paddling into the inner tidal lagoon you will come in face
to face contact with the splendor of a tidewater glacier. Experience
the awesome beauty of the blue ice and listen to the cracking
and popping as ice prepares to calve into the azure waters of
the bay.
After
exploring and visiting the Black-legged Kittiwake rookery, now
numbering more than 20,000 birds, we will make our way to a camping
spot.
After
dinner relax, go for a short hike on the moraine, or simply relax
and wait for the special opportunity to see the Northern Lights
spread out across the evening, star -filled sky.
DAY 5 After a breakfast and beverages, head out into the bay one
more time for a morning tour. This is a great time to get those
last photos by the glacier. We'll than paddle back to break down
camp.
Now
we begin our journey back to Valdez, paddling the beautiful coastline
of Port Valdez. Along the way learn more about the mining and
gold rush history of Prince William Sound as we paddle by the
cliff mine. Watch for eagles as we pull into Gold Creek, a state
marine park. Lunch time and a perfect pit stop in between Shoup
and Valdez. After lunch take a short hike up to the steep, basalt
gorge littered with waterfalls and big trees. This is the northernmost
example of the temperate rain forest which stretches from Coos
Bay in Oregon to Prince William Sound and southern Alaska.
The last three miles back to Valdez are good for seeing river
otters, seals, sea lions and bird life. Pull back into the small
boat harbor of Valdez mid to late afternoon.
On
a 6 day trip we spend 2 nights in Heather Bay exploring bays and
passages around Columbia Glacier area. No experience is necessary.
Easy to moderately strenuous.
-Weekly departures: May 15-Sep 15,
-5 days - guide assisted $795/ person; w/meals: $1025 fully
outfitted
-6 days - guide assisted $950/ person; w/meals: $1225 fully
outfitted
-group size: 4-10 members
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