Pioneered by us in 1999, you'll see both advancing and retreating glaciers in the same week. After a drop-off by water taxi at the face of Meares Glacier, you can witness first hand the power and immensity of an advancing glacier. From Meares paddle the length of beautiful Unakwik Inlet, the spectacular and remote Granite Bay, Long Bay and Columbia Bay. End the trip in the majesty of Columbia Glacier, the largest and most rapidly receding in Prince William Sound.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet at our office for a pre-trip safety briefing and equipment fitting. Organizing all gear into appropriate dry bags and containers, we will take the water taxi to the head of Unakwik Inlet. The boat will drop us off near the face of Meares Glacier, the only advancing mass of ice in Prince William Sound. The rest of the day will be spent exploring the new surroundings by both kayak and foot. Nothing is more exciting than watching the glacier “calve” from the cockpit of your kayak. All the while watch for the abundance of playful otters and seals as they ply the waters of Unakwik Inlet. On foot, hike up to see where the advancing glacier is actually knocking over trees as it progresses to refill the valley with ice. Back at camp in the evening, sit back and enjoy some good, wholesome food and listen as the sounds of the night mix with those of the crackling fire.
Day 2: After breakfast pack your boat and prepare for the journey out of Unakwik Inlet. This is perhaps one of the highest concentrations of sea otters in Prince William Sound. You can revel in their endless tricks and games as we slowly paddle our way out to the sound. Stop for lunch at Miner’s Bay and take a hike into the beautiful Miner's Lake. Continue the trip until approaching the mouth of Unakwik and than set up camp on any number of pristine beaches. Spend some time before dinner combing the beach for ‘goodies’ such as feathers and maybe the extremely elusive Japanese glass balls. After a good and hearty dinner, relax in the beauty and tranquility of the evening.
Day 3 - Day 4: Spend day three paddling toward the incredible Granite Bay. With towering sheer granite cliffs, extraordinary wildlife and a river filled with spawning salmon, this could well be the highlight of the trip. Before arriving there we will poke our boats into both Wells Bay and Cedar Bay both beautiful in their own rights. Once in Granite Bay, we’ll camp on a large outcropping of rock in a secluded corner. Here our opportunities abound: hiking, relaxing, paddling or whatever you desire. Granite Bay’s natural wonder will surely speak for itself. The paddle into the back of the bay is a must. Once past the ‘narrows’, we enter an inner bay that is filled with spawning salmon. The sensation of paddling with schools of the giant fish under your boat is fantastic and again worth a photo opportunity. The end of the bay is a wonderful place to watch bears fishing and playing. All this while Bald Eagles fly overhead only adds to the extraordinary wilderness experience one can have in Granite Bay.
Day 5: Today we will paddle past Fairmount Island and around the haunting beauty of Granite Point, with its steep beaches and hollowed sea caves. Our destination is Long Bay and the camping haven of the Schrader Islands. The clarity of the water in this area will inspire you to make the very best of each stroke. Long Bay is exquisite. With a fascinating network of pristine islands and wonderful hiking and paddling opportunities, the area is a mecca for sea touring kayakers. The wildlife viewing opportunities are also impressive with a multitude of bird species, sea mammals and black bears. Camp and eat dinner in the privacy of your own island paradise, with the perfect little beach for watching the sun set over Prince William Sound.
Day 6: Explore the inside of Glacier Island. Growler Bay, Eaglet Bay, Jackson Hole are all possible destinations depending on weather and season.
Day 7: Today we will be departing early and heading for the waters and scenery of Heather Bay. Weave through the bergs and watch for otters and seals who have hauled themselves out on the ice. We will paddle our way to the moraine and pick a spot for lunch. This is also the gateway for a great hike among the beached bergs and perfect place for photo opportunities. With the pack ice permitting, we may be able to get all the way to the terminal moraine and hike up a mountain ridge to look down onto the true terminus of Columbia: A truly amazing experience. This marks the end of the journey as we paddle back toward Heather Island and our water taxi pick-up. Be prepared for both intense periods of sunshine and for cold rainy days. Prince William Sound has a warm and wet coastal climate, typical of temperate rain forests. Temperatures range between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but abnormally cold spells can happen when night time temperatures drop to the below 40s. You should come prepared for wet or dry weather. Sea kayaking fortunately is a sport that can easily be pursued while raining. Provided you are adequately dressed, seas tend to be calmer and wildlife is more easily approached. You should follow standard layering techniques in your choice of clothing. No experience is necessary.
We recommend you to bring minimum of 2 sets of warm clothes:
First Set:
- Pants/Long Johns: preferably wool, fleece, or polypropylene - they are excellent sources of warmth even when wet. I recommend fleece clothing because it dries very quickly and retains its warmth when wet. Synthetics do dry faster than wool.
- Upper body: 3 layers of wool/polypropylene /or fleece, (i.e., long john top, shirt, jacket) and a windbreaker.
- Feet: Warm socks, one pair per day and 2 additional pairs. We recommend polypro and wool blend socks with standard high top rubber boots (called break-up boots in Alaska) for getting in and out of the boat, for hiking and tide pooling. I strongly recommend that you bring your own boots, so as to assure proper fit. However we do have a supply of boots available for you to use. Please let me know the sizes you need in ample time so that we can have them available.
- Hands: We provide pogies for fully guided clients. Polypro or wool gloves are also very good with rubberized dish washing gloves to put over them on rainy days Please bring at least 2 pairs of gloves
- Head: A ski cap and baseball cap.
- Rain Gear: Good rain gear is essential for protection from both rain and wind. It should fit well and be sturdy if you have a dry suit, paddling pants, jacket and/ or booties- bring them along.
Additional Set:
- This can be additional warm clothes in case you get too cold or wet & should include: a wool sweater, wool or fleece pants (or light weight wind pants), a wool gloves and/or mittens, wool or fleece hat.
Additional items:
- T-shirt, shorts, thin loose pants;
- Thin loose long sleeve shirt to prevent sunburns, sun glasses;
- Comfortable camp shoes (ex. Tennis shoe, sandals, camp moccasins);
- Sun screen 15-25 rating;
- Insect repellent and or mosquito headnet, small day pack for hiking;
- Croakies for sun glasses or glasses, water bottle;
- Pocket knife, watch;
- Waterproof flashlight or head lamp, extra batteries.
Your personal toilet items should include:
- Towel Toothbrush/paste;
- Biodegradable soap, hand towel for tent.
Camping Equipment: Note: We will provide these items for fully guided clients (if necessary)
- Sleeping pad;
- Sleeping bag –3 season. Down is not recommended;
- Tent – a full cover rainfly is recommended.
Optional Items:
- Camera, film and replacement batteries, binoculars;
- Books, umbrella;
- Fishing license: can be purchased anywhere in Alaska. Licenses can be purchased for a day, week, month, or year.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Minimum age: 12.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Alaska
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
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