Sea Kayak 301 - Alaskan Kayaking Adventure, On The Coast of SE Alaska (Sitka)
This is a ten-day paddling trip in SE Alaska for intermediate sea kayakers. It is similar to our SK 401 Exposed Coast Kayak Training Expedition minus some of the harder rock garden paddling and the roughest parts of the outer coast. You'll camp at some of the most beautiful widerness beaches in all of Alaska, take a mid-trip soak at a natural mineral water hot spring, and typically not see another group of kayakers for days at a time. Rolling is optional on this Adventurous Journey, but you need intermediate bracing and rescue skills plus prior low impact kayak camping trip experience. (If you're looking for a more advanced adventure, check out our SK 401 Exposed Coast Kayak Training Expedition)
(Click Play button on image at right for a taste of the beaches, fishing, and scenery)
This trip begins and ends in Sitka, Alaska, and we paddle a loop through and around the Necker Island archipelago south of Sitka Sound along the west coast of Baranof Island. These trips are made possible by our Special Use Permit for the Tongass National Forest lands, Gore-Tex dry suits (Which you may rent from us if you don't have your own.), the Kayak Academy's very own premium rudder-free sea kayaks which we'll provide (or if you prefer we'll ship your kayak from Seattle at our expense), and our staff of highly skilled, experienced instructors (George Gronseth: founder of the Kayak Academy; Barb Gronseth: founder of Issaquah Paddle Sports, ACA Open Water Sea Kayak instructor and BCU 3 Star Paddler and Level II Coach In Training).
We load our kayaks onto one of our kayak trailers and have the whole trailer barged up from Seattle to Sitka. This is the safest way to get quality kayaks there so you won't have to make do with a clunky, cranky, rental kayak of questionably seaworthiness. All our kayaks have retractable skegs, front and rear bulkheads, adjustable backrests, and most have day hatches and rubber hatches covers.
The total cost for the expedition is only $2550 (plus $250 if you need to rent a kayak), which includes: permit fees, transportation within Sitka, lodging in Sitka the night before and after the paddling days, signal flares, and bear-repellent pepper spray, bear resistant food containers, camp stoves and fuel. We will also give you your own US government navigation chart, tide tables, a waterproof logbook, and the Kayak Academy's "Guide To Expedition Planning".
(Click Play button on image at right for a taste of the Sitka area wildlife )
The cost of this course plus rental is comparable to that of guided tours in Alaska, which offer none of the training materials let alone the kayak instruction, or use of performance one-person kayaks. A $100.00 discount is available for early payment/reservation (before Jan. 15th). We will all share in the cost, planning, and cooking of the food (that's part of the learning), and you will need to provide your transportation to and from Sitka. Sitka can be reached by scheduled jet service on Alaska Air (Boeing 737s), NW Air, Delta, and other major airlines or by the Alaska State Ferry (which leaves from Bellingham, WA and takes about five days to reach Sitka -- camping is allowed on the ferry and is a lot of fun if you have the time).
We recommend spending at least one extra day after the trip to enjoy Sitka and take a self-guided tour of the exhibit of Aleut and other Inuit kayaks at the Sheldon Jackson Museum, a walking tour of the Tlingit Totem Poles in the outdoor historical park, and visit the Raptor Center. You could easily find enough to do to spend an extra week there or visit some other part of SE Alaska on your way home. Skip the driving and fighting over crowded campgrounds in B.C. and experience real wilderness sea kayaking just a few hours flight from Seattle.
Location: Sitka, AK
Duration: 10 Days total, 8 days paddling and 7 nights camping
Class Size: 8 maximum (with 4 to 1 a ratio of students to instructors)
Fee: $2550.00 (Discounts available for early sign up and repeat members. Fee includes: shipping your kayak or rental kayak round trip from Seattle, Forest Service Use Fees, transportation from airport to hotel and hotel to put in, private hotel rooms before and after the paddling, a navigation chart, tide tables, and use of: group camping gear, bear pepper spray, bear resistant food box, and distress signal flares.)
Kayak Rental: $250.00
(or we can ship your kayak with ours for no extra fee. If needed, you can rent a kayak from us to use back home in the NW while yours is in shipping for special $100.00 rate)
Call us at (206) 527-1825 or E-mail us at info@kayakacademy.com to make a reservation.
Prerequisites: SK 113 or 115 (either one with approval) or higher preferred (or equivalent with approval).
As part of your trip planning and education about the USFS and wilderness preservation, we encourage you to read the following recourses:
Leave-No-Trace
Weeks Act
Wilderness Act of 1964
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980
Kayak Academy is operated under special use permit with the Tongass National Forest
Kayak Academy is an equal opportunity provider and employer