Sea Kayak 301 - Adventurous Journey, On The Coast of SE Alaska (Sitka)
This is a ten-day paddling holiday in SE Alaska for intermediate sea kayakers. It is similar to our Exposed Coast Expedition Training minus some of the most advanced outer coast and rock garden paddling. You'll still get to camp at some of the most beautiful wildness beaches in all of Alaska, take a mid-trip soak at a natural mineral hot spring, and probably not see another group of kayakers for days at a time. You do not need to have mastered the Eskimo roll to participate on this Adventurous Journey, but you do need intermediate bracing and rescue skills plus prior trip experience.
We start and end in Sitka, Alaska and 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 for your use (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 veteran of eight Alaskan Outer Coast Expeditions plus one to Glacier Bay; and Robert Cline: ACA, BCU (4 star plus), and Kayak Academy trained, veteran of five Alaskan expeditions (four Exposed Coast Trainings with the Kayak Academy and one to Prince William Sound). Robert is also our Russian language expert for deciphering the meanings of place names we visit in Russian-America (AKA Alaska).
The kayaks are barged up ahead of time 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 either Kayak Sport, VCP, or Sea Dog brand rubber hatches covers.
The cost is only $2950, which includes: permit fees, transportation within Sitka, lodging in Sitka the night before and after the paddling days, one night's lodging on a float house cabin with a hot shower on the last night before returning to town, use of the Kayak Academy's one-person rudder-free kayaks, full neoprene spray skirts, carbon graphite composite paddles, spare paddle, paddle float, bilge pump, signal flares, and bear-repellent pepper spray, fuel and camp stoves. We will also give you your own US government navigation chart, tide tables, a waterproof logbook, and the Kayak Academy’s 50 page “Sea Kayak Trip Planning and Leadership Guide†and our 30 page guide to expedition planning.
The cost of this course 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 Feb. 15), and $100.00 discount available for using your own kayak if it is approved by the Kayak Academy and delivered to us two weeks before the trip (we'll even pay the cost of shipping it to and from Sitka and Seattle). 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). As compared to other NW sea kayak destinations, a three hour flight from Seattle to Sitka beats the heck out of waiting in line at the boarder, fighting the traffic in Vancouver, and driving a day or two to reach some busy paddling destination in BC, Canada ... especially when you consider that you'll be paddling in Alaska!
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 Eskimo kayaks at the Sheldon Jackson Museum and a walking tour of the Tlingit Totem Poles in the outdoor historical park. 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 from Seattle ( by air).
Location: Sitka, AK
Duration: 10 Days total, 8 days paddling and 7 nights camping
Class Size: 6 maximum (with 3 to 1 a ratio)
Fee: $2750 (Price includes use of the best sea kayaks in Alaska, group camping gear, hotel before and after, and ground transportation)
Kayak Rental: Included, delivered to the lesson. (Includes kayak, spray-skirt, PFD, bilge pump, paddle float, and paddle)
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).