|
Glacier
Island to Columbia Glacier to Valdez
Seven days
DAY 1 Meet at the office of Anadyr Adventures for a pre-trip safety
briefing and equipment fitting. Load boats on our specialized
water taxi and sit back to enjoy. The boat ride out to Chamberlain
Bay on the south side of Glacier Island is perhaps one of the
most beautiful in the Eastern part of Prince William Sound. Once
in the bay we will organize our equipment, pack the boats and
begin our expedition. Our next destination: Bull’s Head,
made famous for the enormous Stellar Sea Lion colony that inhabits
the area. Learn from your guides all about these friendly aquatic
creatures as you will see first hand the way they play, fight
and frolic on the rocks. On the paddle back toward the beach where
we will be camping, keep a close eye out for the Horned and Tufted
Puffins that have colonized the same area.
Once
on our beach, one of the most beautiful and secluded on Glacier
Island, we will set up camp while continuing to watch the wildlife
just offshore. Prepare yourself for a meal set in one of the most
beautiful places we know.
DAY
2 After breakfast and depending on weather, we will either paddle
around the exposed Eastern side of Glacier Island or portage across
a small strip of land and paddle Growler Bay to the more protected
Northern side of the island. From here we will cross over to Columbia
Bay and catch our first views of Columbia Glacier, the largest
in Prince William Sound. We will set up camp at the entrance of
Granite Cove and explore the fantastic shoreline that leads to
the terminal moraine of the glacier. In the evening enjoy your
meal as the evening light gives way to darkness and stars.
DAY
3 Today finds us paddling toward the other pristine bay which
borders Columbia: Heather Bay. 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 progress 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 lights.
DAY
4 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 5 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 for bears and eagles to fish, 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
6 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 relish 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.
The closer you get the bigger it is!
After
paddling into the inner tidal lagoon you will come face to face
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 small 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
7 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 and 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, for lunch 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 southern Alaska and Prince William Sound.
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.
-Dates:
June 21, July 12, Aug. 2
-guide assisted $1,155/person;
w/meals$1,375 fully outfitted
-Group size: 4-10 members
|
