Photo: Geoffrey Johnson Sea Kayaking and Service among the
Glaciers of Prince William Sound Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08015A Price: $2,195 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 10 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Geoffrey Johnson The wild, remote, and beautiful coastline of Prince William Sound is one of the premier kayaking destinations in Alaska, and a unique gem among the crown jewels of wilderness experiences. Paddling these waters in sea kayaks is the perfect way to explore the lovely fjords and inlets, and to hear tidewater glaciers calve into the icy bays. The kayaks are stable, quiet, and can go places other vessels cannot. The silent visitor may see wildlife that could include bald eagles, whales, seals, sea otters, and bears, just to name a few. On this trip, we will glide through uninhabited bays, past towering pinnacles of rock, and through vast ice floes calved from some of the sound's tidewater glaciers. Between the long daylight hours and our moderate paddling days, we'll have time to exsoplore and observe. There will be time off the water for photography, relaxing, and interacting with nature. We will devote one to two days of our trip to a National Forest Service project. While the specific project will be dependent on the needs at the time of our visit, our hope is to assist in the creation of durable camping surfaces for groups like ourselves to help minimize our impact on the pristine environment of Prince William Sound. In recent history, south central Alaska has experienced two cataclysmic events, one natural and the other caused by man. As we ride from Anchorage to Prince William Sound in our shuttle bus, we'll see evidence of the 1964 "Good Friday" earthquake, a tremor that leveled large sections of Anchorage and left "ghost trees" standing beside bays and inlets. On our charter boat out to the paddling area, we'll see how Prince William Sound is recovering from 1989's Exxon Valdez oil spill. The bays we will paddle, however, were largely untouched by either of these disasters. While human impact is an increasing concern, we should find plenty of solitude and wilderness to explore. The rivers of ice, the mists on the bays, the ebb and flow of the tides -- all retain a timeless quality. Weather permitting, we’ll do some sightseeing in extraordinary places that lay beyond the range of our kayaks as our charter boat transports us to our remote paddling area. Our charter boat will be captained by Brooke Whip, a lifelong Alaskan who grew up commercial fishing with his father and who was already skippering other people's boats by the age of sixteen. Brooke obtained his marine biology degree from Western Washington University, and returned to Alaska to build his charter business in Prince William Sound. Once we say goodbye to our charter boat captain, we will be on our own for seven days. We have a general route in mind, but once we are out in the bays we will let the weather, the tides, and any safety considerations dictate our movements. We plan to explore Icy Bay, Nassau Fjord, and possibly Whale Bay and Humpback Cove, as well. Expect to move camp most days. Ours will be like a backpacking trip by kayak. There are no developed campsites where we are going, so be ready for wilderness camping. Weather permitting we will have a couple of layover days to hike and explore the glaciers and willow forests or just to stalk wildlife with our binoculars and camera, while slowly drinking in the beauty around us. There are no hiking trails, so walking can be challenging, but the rewards are great for those who decide to try their hand at "alder bashing."  Photo: Geoffrey Johnson The kayaking and the scenery will be wonderful. If you've never been to Alaska before, this will be a delightful introduction -- a remote wilderness experience without the heavy backpacks. You'll find that Prince William Sound has its own distinctive flavor: a gentle, intimate wilderness with an abundance of wildlife and glacier ice. We hope you'll join us on this, one of our favorite adventures. The Project For about two days we will assist the National Forest Service (NFS) in a project determined by their specific needs at the time of our trip. This will most likely be in an entirely different part of Prince William Sound – an area that is much more heavily used than the area we will be visiting during the kayaking portion of the trip. This will give us an opportunity to see more of Prince William Sound while contributing to the preservation of this wonderful place for future visitors.
The trip starts in Anchorage on the morning of day 1 and ends back in Anchorage on the evening of day 11. You should plan on arriving in Anchorage two days early to allow for flight and baggage delays. We will arrange an informal (but highly recommended) pre-trip activity on the evening before day 1. This is a good opportunity to meet the other trip participants and to solve any last-minute equipment challenges. We will depart early Monday morning from Anchorage and travel by bus to Whittier, where we will pick up our kayaking equipment and catch our charter boat out to the bays.  Photo: Geoffrey Johnson Our exact itinerary for the trip will be determined by our Forest Service project and the conditions in Prince William Sound during our stay there. Plan A calls for our first full day in the Sound to be devoted to kayak instructions and safety information about paddling around ice and cold water. You will learn how to fit everything you brought plus our group food and equipment into those tiny hatches on your boat. On day two we will start our journey to the glaciers, moving camp most days. We will visit Nassau Fjord and Glacier and Tiger Glacier in Icy Bay. On day 9, our water taxi will pick us up and transport us to our project site, probably in the Blackstone Bay part of the Sound. We will camp there for two nights while working on our project. On our final day, the Forest Service will take us back to Whittier to board our shuttle bus to Anchorage. When you are approved for the trip you may make your airline reservations to Anchorage and start thinking about accommodations there. We'll let you know about possible hotels, bed and breakfasts, or hostels after you sign up. You should try to arrive in Anchorage two days before the start of the trip if possible and no later than noon on the day before day 1. You may schedule your departure for as early as the day after day 11 or stay on in this magnificent state for another activity.
All on-trip food will be provided by the leaders and preparation will be shared by the trip participants with the leaders' guidance. Because of space considerations in the kayaks, we will have dried food (pasta, rice, etc.) for many meals. Entrees will be vegetarian, chicken or turkey rather than red meat. Vegetarian preferences can be accommodated. Sierra Club trips are designed to be a group experience rather than a guided tour, so expect to participate on a regular basis in meal preparation and clean-up. The first trip meal will be lunch on our way into Prince William Sound. The last meal will be lunch on the return to Anchorage. We'll also plan a final no-host dinner at an Anchorage restaurant for the evening we return.
Kayaking is a wonderful, gentle way to explore the wild coastline of Alaska. It is not as exhausting as backpacking, but there are some very specific requirements: You must feel comfortable in a small boat with a cockpit a few inches above very deep ocean water; you must be able to sit for a couple of hours at a time with your legs straight out in front of you; and you must be able to swim in cold water if there is an emergency. In general, our paddling days are relatively short (less than 10 miles with breaks) but in bad weather even 10 miles can feel like a very long way. You need not be an experienced kayaker to enjoy this trip. We are happy to take novices who are willing to learn basic kayaking skills from the leaders. You should be experienced in wilderness camping in wet weather, and comfortable around water. Success at sea kayaking depends more on stamina and rhythm than on strength and particular paddling skills. Stamina depends on your general physical fitness; discomfort, therefore, can be minimized by exercising your arms, shoulders, and lower back before the trip.  Photo: Geoffrey Johnson Expect to do a lot of walking and carrying of equipment up and down the beach each day. Prince William Sound has some of the most extreme tidal differences in North America -- up to a 20-foot difference between high and low tides at this time of year, which can translate to a long walk to secure boats and gear. This is perhaps the most difficult part of the trip. You must be able and willing to work as part of a team. In addition to your personal gear, expect to carry your share of the 80-pound kayaks and community equipment and food. In general, the trip's degree of difficulty has to do with the weather
and other physical conditions. For example, paddling into a stiff
wind off the glaciers can make a few miles feel like many more. Several
rainy days in a row can feel stressful, as can persistently sunny
weather with an abundance of mosquitoes. The best strategy is to relax,
be flexible, and understand that it is all part of the Alaska experience!
While out in Prince William Sound we will be camping every night. You will need to bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and pad. It is absolutely essential that your tent be waterproof. Extended periods of rain are possible, and staying dry can become a serious safety issue. Detailed lists of recommended clothing and equipment will be sent to participants after they register for the trip. Most of this is similar to what you would use on a backpacking trip, but a few more items are necessary to stay dry on the water. Our footwear on sea kayak trips includes wearing "Wellie" (Wellington-style rubber) boots in our boats, as we launch and land in water that is ankle to calf deep. Do not plan on bringing cotton clothing as it will chill you when wet and will not dry in the damp air.
The trip leaders will provide copies of a topo map once you are on the water. Conservation Prince William Sound is a vast, delightful wilderness, but even here the impacts of increasing numbers of human visitors are readily apparent. Attention to details makes a big difference, so we will follow Leave No Trace principles on our trip. Our setting -- among vast ice sheets and tidewater glaciers -- will lend itself well to informative discussions on the effects of global warming. We will also learn how to minimize the disruptions to wildlife that our passage may cause. We will learn more about the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and what can be done to reduce the risk of future spills.Travel in Alaska and the Arctic Sierra Club outings in Alaska are special experiences in true wilderness, but they also carry an element of risk. Trip locales are often remote, away from the amenities of civilization, including sophisticated medical care and immediate evacuation possibilities. Many of our Alaska trips now carry satellite phones, but even with this technology, communication with the outside world can be difficult and emergency assistance can be days away. Weather in Alaska is unpredictable, and inclement weather can be severe. Among other hazards are cold river and stream crossings, tidal activity, calving glaciers, the psychological effects of remoteness, and the presence of large wild animals. You’re in good hands, though, so don't worry: Your trip leaders have vast experience in the Last Frontier, and they’ll provide all the guidance you need.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
Assistant Leader:
E-mail: gpflug@yahoo.com General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Trip leader, Jan Lockie has been an outdoor guide for over 15 years, leading paddling, backpacking and wilderness trips in her home state of California, as well as Alaska, Canada and other outdoor destinations. She has a master’s degree in Recreation and has worked as a YMCA Parent/Child Program Coordinator. She is also a certified Recreation Therapist and Wilderness First Responder who enjoys introducing people to the wonders of the outdoors. Working with Wilderness Inquiry, Environmental Traveling Companions and the Sierra Club, Jan is most content when she is in the wilderness, experiencing nature and the companionship of other outdoor enthusiasts.
Greg Pflug has been coordinating and leading adventures for over 14 years. He is a certified ACA kayak instructor, wilderness first responder, PADI scuba diver, Red Cross lifeguard, and is trained in backcountry first aid. In addition, he has worked for the State of Florida as an outdoor specialist. Greg spends, on average, 30-35 weeks a year leading wilderness adventures.
On Greg’s tours watches, cell phones, personal radios, laptops, and all other battery operated gizmos (except cameras) are not permitted.