Inn/Camp
Alaska’s Prince William Sound Sea Kayaking (Inn/Camp)
Denali National Park Fly-In Option (Inn Based)
Dates: June 21-30, 2008
Days: 6 days, 5 nights; w/Denali Option: 10 days, 9 nights
Price: $1849*; w/Denali Option $3249*
Trip Level: 2
Base Trip Includes: Kayaks/Paddling Gear, 1 Night Accommodation in Whittier, Camp/Cook Gear, and Meals
Denali Option Includes: 4 Nights Inn Accommodations, 2 Scenic Flights, Rafting/Kayaking, Most Meals
Group Size: 5-10
Trip Description
Join us for an amazing sea kayaking adventure in Prince William Sound, or combine the sea kayaking adventure with a fly-in option in Denali National Park for the ultimate Alaskan adventure! We'll spend 6 days and 5 nights in Prince William Sound exploring the Whale Bay region by sea kayak, with an optional 4 days and 4 nights under the shadow of Denali in Denali National Park.The Sea Kayaking Adventure
Our adventure will start with a night at the Inn at Whittier in the coastal town of Whittier, AK, the westernmost gateway to Prince William Sound. We’ll then spend five days paddling in breathtaking Prince William Sound’s Whale Bay, one of the only areas in the Sound where paddlers can experience both glaciers and whales! Marine wildlife including Humpback Whale, Orca, Harbor Seal, and magnificent views of massive glaciers make this the place to paddle in the westernmost part of Prince William Sound! Ideal paddling conditions include calm, clear blue waters surrounded by massive glacial faces, flowing waterfalls, soaring peaks, and abundant wildlife. During the kayaking portion of the trip, we will be dropped off by "water taxi" into the backcountry of the Sound. Over these five days, we will be moving our camp to different locations throughout Harriman Fjord and Price William Sound. Participants should expect to paddle between 5-8 miles per day, and additional paddling is available for those who choose to take optional side trips.Denali National Park Fly-In Option
Upon completion of the sea kayaking trip we will spend an evening at one of Alaska’s most unique lodges - the Hatcher Pass. Hatcher Pass Lodge sits on the top of Hatcher Pass, only 1/2 mile from Independence Mine State Park. A night at Hatch Pass Lodge, followed by a morning of relaxation at the lodge, is the perfect way to transition from our sea kayaking adventure into the Denali National Park adventure! Denali National Park is truly one of the jewels of the National Park System. Our adventure takes us into the heart of the park with a rafting or kayaking trip down the Nenana River and a magical fly-in backcountry lodging experience. A half-day of whitewater rafting will be followed with a magnificent scenic flight through the Alaska Range and past Mt. McKinley to the Skyline Lodge. For the final two days and nights of the trip, we will be staying at the Skyline Lodge in the middle of the National Park! From the lodge we’ll experience the beauty of the park and will hopefully have many opportunities to view the magnificent wildlife that makes Denali a world heritage site!The Alaska Multi-Sport Adventure is rated a Level 2 paddling trip. Participants DO NOT need to have passed a Level 2 assessment (ACA or BCU), but should have taken our ACA L2 or BCU 2 Star trainings and feel confident in those skills. Level 2 trips are considered to be beginner-kayaking trips, but both intermediate and advanced paddlers will also enjoy this beauty of paddling in Prince William Sound and are encouraged to join this trip. The Geneva Kayak Center’s Inn-Based Paddling Trips are designed for the adventurer looking to experience touring destinations of unparalleled scenic beauty, with the comfort of inn or lodge accommodations, fine dining and leisurely paddling itineraries. Our ACA instructors and BCU coaches are the perfect guides for these trips and will make your adventure truly remarkable!
Itinerary
(subject to change due to weather & permit conditions)Day 1, June 21 – Welcome to Alaska!
GKC staff will meet trip participants at the Anchorage airport. After the group has gathered in Anchorage, we’ll make the short drive through the Chugach Mountains to the coastal town of Whittier, Alaska. While in Whittier, we will get acquainted with our kayaks, view the town and prepare for our sea kayaking trip. Lodging will be at the "Inn at Whittier" for night 1.No meals are included on Day 1
Day 2, June 22 – Our Sea Kayaking Adventure Begins!
Following breakfast, a water taxi will provide transportation of participants, kayaks and gear into the Sound where our paddling trip will begin. After setting up camp, we’ll take an afternoon paddle to look for porpoise and other marine wildlife.Lunch and dinner will be provided in the backcountry
Day 3, June 23 – Sea Kayaking Among Magnificent Peaks and Glaciers!
On Day 3, we’ll be paddling through and area known to big craft as Dangerous Passage. For us “small boat” operators, this area is filled with pristine bays teeming with wildlife, soaring peaks and saltwater waterfalls. We’ll set up camp in Dangerous Passage that evening.All meals provided in the backcountry
Day 4, June 24 – Icy Bay
Leaving Dangerous Passage, we’ll paddle to Gamaak Cove in Icy Bay, and visit a Black Legged Kittiwake nesting area before setting up for the evening.All meals provided
Day 5, June 25 – Harbor Seals and Calving Glaciers
We won’t be moving camp on this day, and we’ll take a day paddle to Nassau Fiord to see massive Chenega Glacier calving. We’ll also have the chance to view hundreds of seals basking on the icebergs.All meals provided
Day 6, June 26 – Whale Bay
After breaking camp, we’ll paddle into Whale Bay and Humpback Cove to watch for Humpback and Orca. The water taxi will be picking us up mid-day and transporting us back to Whittier. Following a meal in Whittier, we’ll transport those who are not staying for the Denali option back to Anchorage for evening return flights. For those who are staying for the Denali option, we will continue past Anchorage to our accommodations at Hatcher Pass Lodge.Breakfast and Dinner are provided
Denali Option Starts
Day 7, June 27 – A true Alaskan Lodge and to Denali!
After a hearty breakfast at Hatcher Pass Lodge and a morning of relaxation and exploration of Hatcher Pass, we’ll complete our drive to Denali National Park. Upon checking into our lodging accommodations in the town of Denali Park, we’ll head over to the park headquarters for an introduction to magnificent Denali.No meals are provided
Day 8, June 28 – Whitewater Paddling & Scenic Flight to Denali’s Backcountry Lodge!
Following breakfast, we’ll head out for a morning of whitewater rafting or kayaking on the Nenana River. Participants can choose from a scenic Class I-II float trip or an exhilarating Class III-IV canyon trip. This trip is guided by the Denali Outdoor Center and is fully outfitted with drysuits and rafting equipment. After lunch, we’ll meet our pilot at the park entrance and load onto one of Kantishna Air Taxi’s planes for our scenic flight over the Alaska Range, past Mt. McKinley to the Skyline Lodge, located in the backcountry of Denali National Park. Charming accommodations and breathtaking views await us at this picturesque lodge. From the lodge, we’ll have the opportunity to hike in the Denali wilderness and view the pristine wildlife that makes this park so enchanting. In all, we’ll spend two evenings at the Skyline Lodge, one of the highlights of the trip!Dinner is included on Day 8
Day 9, June 29 – Skyline Lodge & Denali National Park’s Backcountry
Skyline Lodge is located in the heart of Denali National Park, the furthest point on the one-way park road. From the Lodge there is great hiking and mountain bikes are available for use. Scenic Wonder Lake, where most “calendar quality” photographs are taken, is a 10-mile bike rider from the Lodge. One of the unique features of Skyline lodge is that the lodge is also home to the bush pilots that fly in and out of the park. We’ll have a chance to share meals “family style” with the pilots and staff of Skyline Lodge.All meals are provided on Day 9
Day 10, June 30 – End of the Denali Adventure and Return to Anchorage
Following our final evening at the Skyline Lodge, we’ll again fly with Skyline Lodge to the park entrance and start our return trip to Anchorage. Participants will arrive in time for late departing flights (8-12pm) although it is highly recommended to make reservations in Anchorage for the night of the 30th.Breakfast is included on Day 9
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*Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. There is a 150.00 surcharge for single travelers on the Sea Kayaking portion of the trip and a 450.00 surcharge for single travelers with they register for the Sea Kayaking trip with the Denali Option. The surcharge can be avoided if travelers opt to share lodging with a roommate of the same gender.