Photo: Sascha Paris Kayaking the Glaciers of Prince William Sound, Alaska Highlights:
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Trip Number: 09014A Price: $1895 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 10 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Sascha Paris 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 explore and observe. There will be time off the water for photography, relaxing, and interacting with nature. 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. If you've never been to Alaska before, this will be a delightful introduction. 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.
 Photo: Sascha Paris The trip starts in Anchorage in the morning of day 1 and ends in Anchorage on the evening of day 9. 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 on the morning of day 1 from Anchorage and travel by bus to Whittier, where we will pick up our kayaking equipment and board our charter boat out to the sound. 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. 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. We will spend the next seven days exploring the bays and beaches in our kayaks. Our first full day in the Sound will 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. The tides and winds will govern our daily lives. Some days may require extra-early or late starts so as to take advantage of the high or low water and minor currents. The waters here are somewhat sheltered, however many areas are exposed and subject to waves in windy weather. Therefore, in the event of wind strong enough to generate unsafe paddling conditions, we will alter our plans (starting later, laying over, or changing our itinerary) until conditions improve. Safety is our primary concern. 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." Getting There After you are approved for the trip, you may make your airline reservations to Anchorage and book accommodations there. The trip leader will provide information about hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels in the area. 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 should schedule your departure for as early as the day after day 9 or stay on in this magnificent state for another activity.
 Photo: Sascha Paris All on-trip food will be provided by the leaders and preparation will be shared by the trip participants with the leaders' guidance. We provide delicious, vegetarian-friendly meals that are lightweight and simple to prepare and offering good variety. Several meals will include chicken or fish, but we can easily accommodate vegetarians by adding these items last. It's likely that you'll learn several new menu ideas you'll want to try on your own trips; we'll be glad to share the recipes. Participants will be expected to assist with meal preparations and cleanup. The first trip meal will be lunch on day 1 (on our way into Prince William Sound ) and the last meal will be lunch on day 9 (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 . This trip is open to sea kayakers of all abilities; first time paddlers and more experienced paddlers are welcome. We will plan to kayak between six and eight miles each day (two to four hours on the water). Each day the leaders will teach new skills. Topics will include: basic paddle strokes, including forward, sweep and rudder strokes; bracing; techniques to launch and land through potential surf zones (surf from calving glaciers); coastal navigation techniques using maps and compass, nautical charts and piloting; open water crossing techniques; and for the adventurous, there will be the opportunity to practice wet-exits and Eskimo rolling! Due to the remoteness of Prince William Sound and the nature of nautical travel, there are some very specific requirements of those participating: You must be at least 14 years old; 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 slightly bent, feet resting on foot-pegs out in front of you; and you must be able to swim with a personal flotation device (PFD) in 50-60 degree water if there is an emergency. You should be experienced in wilderness camping in wet weather, and comfortable around water. You should be comfortable with camping and functioning for extended periods in cold, wet weather -- or warm weather with mosquitoes. Success at sea kayaking depends more on stamina and flexibility than on strength. You will 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. You must be able and willing to work as part of a team. Sea kayaking is a group activity, whether we are packing kayaks to take advantage of the high tide or paddling closely together during an open water crossing. 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. The Sierra Club will provide the group equipment, including bear-proof food canisters, pots, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel, first-aid kit, repair kit, toilet paper, Wag-Bags for packing out waste, and tablets for purifying water. The trip price includes sea kayak rental, spray skirt, personal flotation device (PFD), paddle, and pump. The kayaks will be touring kayaks with bulkheads and rudders or skegs. Most of the equipment you will need is similar to what you would use on a backpacking trip, but a few more items are necessary to stay dry on the water. You will need to bring your own tent, sleeping bag, pad, and dry-bags or small stuff-sacks/duffel bags lined with trash-compactor bags. It is absolutely essential that your raingear and tent be waterproof. Extended periods of rain are possible, and staying dry can become a serious safety issue. You will be getting in and out of the kayaks while standing in shallow water, so for footgear we strongly recommend knee-high neoprene boots or "Wellington-style" rubber boots. Do not plan on bringing cotton clothing as it will chill you when wet and will not dry in the damp air. A detailed list of recommended clothing and equipment will be sent to participants after they register for the trip.
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 detail 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 our impacts on the land and sea, and 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.Since our route lies within public National Forest lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and some lands owned and managed by Alaskan Native Corporations, we will also have the opportunity to discuss the impacts that the Sound and other National Forest lands face such as logging, road building, overgrazing, and mining. 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: 
Leanora Kovacs has previously led kayak and canoe trips for the Sierra Club. She has kayaked in Greenland, Baja California, and many places in between. The Maine coast calls her back most often. She has extensive outdoors and wilderness experience. Her energy, humor, and love of the outdoors is inspiring and often contagious. When not hiking, canoeing, kayaking, or cross-country skiing, Leanora works as a lawyer in Surrogate and Supreme Court. She makes her home in New York’s Hudson River Valley.
E-mail: LAKovacs@optonline.net General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Sascha Paris first discovered his passion for paddling in the San Diego surf in 1990. Since then, he has led countless sea kayak expeditions for Outward Bound and UC San Diego along the Baja coasts, the protected waters of Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords in Alaska, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Sascha is a certified Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (W-EMT) and an instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Institute of the National Outdoor Leadership School and feels most at home in his expedition-loaded, home-made kayak, gliding through the water.