Alaska: Wrangell-St. Elias Kayaking Expedition

Day 1: Arrive in Yakutat

Travel to Yakutat, Alaska, and transfer to Glacier Bear Lodge, located about three miles from the airport. The lodge's van will pick you up at the airport when you arrive. In the unlikely event that you don’t see them (or Alaska Discovery guides), you can call them at 907-784-3202.

We’ll gather at 6:00 p.m. for a trip briefing. This is a must-attend event! You will meet your guides and other guests, have an orientation to the trip area, learn about bear-country camping techniques, and be issued rain gear and rubber boots. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Glacier Bear Lodge

Day 2: Icy Bay

After breakfast together, we will transfer to the airport for one of the most spectacular flights in Alaska! We’ll fly across Yakutat Bay, right over the Malaspina Glacier and under the shadow of the massive St. Elias Range, and finally arrive on the pristine shores of Icy Bay. The remainder of the day will be spent assembling our folding kayaks, reviewing safety and paddle techniques, taking a 2-3 hour paddle (with a break) and setting up camp.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / MTS Private Camp

Days 3-7: Kayak, hike, and camp in remote Icy Bay

We’ll spend the next few days exploring Icy Bay in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, often referred to as the “mountain kingdom of North America.” Nature and our own desires dictate the itinerary. Most days you’ll be kayaking, moving from one extraordinary camp to another and drifting among the icebergs watching birds, seals, porpoises, and the unending jaw-dropping scenery. You’ll stay at some camps for two nights to allow for all-day hikes into the hills and valleys above the fjords, where you may spot bears, mountain goats, moose, wolves, and coyotes. All hiking will be done with light day packs, thus allowing us the freedom to cover as much ground as we want during the long daylight hours.

Our two-person Klepper folding kayaks are stable and easy to paddle. A foot-controlled rudder system allows the stern paddler to steer the boat in any direction, and each twosome will soon feel like old hands at this skill. Each boat will carry personal gear, as well as a share of the group food and camping gear. Camps will be established in meadows or beach flats, with superb views of the waters and surrounding glaciers and mountains (18,008-foot Mt. St. Elias!).

Although this is not a lengthy expedition, the nature of the trip requires the use of some dried foods, and we think you will be very pleased with the quality, quantity, and variety of foods prepared throughout the trip.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / MTS Private Camp

Day 8: Return to Yakutat and depart

We disassemble the kayaks and board bush planes for an awesomely scenic return flight to Yakutat, arriving in time for the scheduled Alas­kan Airlines service to Juneau (we have tailored this trip around this flight, and Juneau is your gateway city to other destinations). Most guests choose to return to Juneau this night and often get together for a no-host dinner at a local restaurant. We recommend you stay in Juneau this evening as some flights homeward necessitate a forced overnight in Seattle before connecting with onward-bound flights. We’ll provide you with a list of hotels in the pre-departure information booklet.

Please note – There is only one daily evening flight leaving Yakutat at 6:30pmand landing in Juneau at 7:18pm. If you are staying in Juneau for the night, we will meet you at the airport in Juneau and take you to your preferred lodging. If you are continuing to Anchorage, there is a connecting flight leaving Juneau at 7:50pm and landing in Anchorage at 9:38pm. You will only have 32 minutes time to change planes in Juneau but if the flight from Yakutat arrives on time, you will have enough time to connect to your Anchorage flight as Juneau is a very small airport. You must arrange for these flights on your own as they are not provided by Mountain Travel Sobek/Alaska Discovery.

Breakfast

Solan Jensen

Born and raised in coastal Alaska, Solan works as a kayak guide, a kayak ranger, a boat builder, and a marine mammal emergency responder. He received a degree in Philosophy which led him directly to a career working outdoors in the cold regions of the earth. As a kayak guide he divides his time between Antarctica and Alaska. A highlight of his career, Solan was the co-leader of one of the first commercially guided overnight sea kayak expeditions in Antarctica. In his spare time Solan is a collector of bones, books, and vinyl records. He co-directs a small film production company and is a tireless student of the banjo.

Jeff Sloss

Jeff Sloss, Alaska Discovery Kayak, Canoe, & River Guide: Jeff has been a lead guide for Alaska Discovery for over 20 years. He has helped set the high standards of quality and commitment that makes us a great company. Whenever we think of exploring a new area we turn to Jeff to make it happen. In the winter, Jeff teaches skiing and snowboarding in Juneau, works on film projects, and helps raise his two daughters. Jeff is an active conservationist and has lobbied Congress to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jeff carries a deep love for Alaska onto all of his trips. Jeff writes, "Among the high points of this career are experiencing some of the world's finest places, and meeting new people as well as enjoying the company of returning guests that share an appreciation of this Great Land."