|
Pangaea Adventures most desired trip and for good reason. The scenery is amazing, the wildlife is diverse, and the campsites are outstanding. Not to mention the unbeatable price for 6 day wilderness kayak trip. This itinerary has been featured on the travel channel, in the LA Times and is about to be featured in the Guardian of London.
Please plan to arrive in Valdez the day before the departure date. We also suggest spending the evening in Valdez the day we return from the paddle.
Day 1 During the morning of the first day the guide will familiarize the group about the agenda for the coming days and an introductory instruction on sea kayaking and packing the kayaks. The day will be spent exploring the upper bay of Shoup Glacier State Park. We will find sea otters, seals, and a spectacular rookery of Black-legged Kittiwakes. This will be our first experience with floating ice and calving glaciers. The campsite is one of the best in the sound!
(B) (L) (D)
Day 2 Paddling out of Shoup Bay the group will head south toward Columbia Glacier. Our destination for the evening will be Sawmill Bay. En route we will paddle a dramatic coastline adorned with towering snow capped peaks. Magnificent waterfalls cascade from the cliffs above. Paddle into Sawmill Bay and enjoy a comfortable camp site. In the evening we take a paddle into "Bears Kitchen" to see the Black Bears feeding on Salmon. There are also some good salmon fishing opportunities in this area.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3 After an evening in Sawmill Bay the paddle continues out into the open sound for a relaxing paddle to one of our favorite camping beaches. The beach has a small waterfall at one end which offers a refreshing bathe. The beach has an open view looking east across Prince William Sound. We always enjoy a camp fire and evening stories. A walk into the rainforest is always an option.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 4 The final stretch to Columbia Glacier. A full day of paddling brings us to Heather Bay. This bay is very well protected and is home to a wide variety of waterfowl and marine mammals. It is not uncommon to see rafts of thirty or more sea otters. Columbia Glacier is the largest in Prince William Sound and offers views of snow capped peaks and towering icebergs.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 5 Our day will be spent in the Heather Bay exploring the ice of Columbia Glacier. This day offers a relaxing day of paddling and easy hiking. The diverse wildlife is a treat on all of our visits. We will stay at the same camp site to give a more relaxed pace to the day or sometimes will make the crossing to Glacier Island. The weather and group pace will determine the destination.
Day 6 Our final day starts early with a paddle out of Heather Bay and crossing to Glacier Island (unless we are already there). By lunch, we will be turning Bulls Head for an experience of a lifetime. We will get to paddle with a colony of Stellar Sea Lions, Keep an eye out for puffin and other sea birds. The motor boat picks us up around lunch time for the ride back to Valdez.
(B) (L)
Note: The pace of this tour can vary from trip to trip. It is common to camp on Glacier Island on night 5 instead of in Heather Bay, but sometimes we end up staying in Heather Bay until the last day as described above.
|
