Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Alaska: Journey to Sitka BY HISTORIC VESSEL, WITH KAYAKING, HIKING, AND CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS

Journey aboard our historic wooden vessel (just 8 guests!) to discover the hidden bays, tiny islands, and fascinating villages between Sitka, Petersburg, and Juneau. Our week-long adventures (with slight differences between itineraries) include meeting with a Tlingit elder in the village of Angoon to hear the stories of this ancient culture, watching brown bears feast on returning salmon, soaking at Baranof Hot Springs, listening to whale songs with our boat’s hydrophone, or navigating through ice floes to a tidewater glacier. On every adventure, you’ll kayak in protected coves, hike in spectacular glacial landscapes, and see amazing wildlife, all in the company of our on-board naturalist. Each evening, watch wildlife from the deck in the Alaskan twilight and enjoy wonderful sea-to-table cuisine. (Sitka to Petersburg itinerary) Days 1-2 Sitka / Peril Strait From charming Sitka, former capital of Russian Alaska, we navigate to remote Krestof Sound, cross Peril Strait between mountainous Baranof and Chichagof islands, and kayak or glide by skiff along serene waterways for a look at a bear habitat.

Days 3-4 Chatham Strait / Tenakee Springs / Angoon At Chatham Strait, we look for humpback whales and may see their signature “bubble netting.” We visit Tenakee Springs, explore brown bear habitat, and at the Tlingit village of Angoon, we are welcomed by a village elder for a rare opportunity to visit the village and learn about the Tlingit world. Back on board, Chef Tracie’s menus may include seared sockeye salmon, lamb burger, or braised chicken enchiladas. Days 5-6 Baranof / Frederick Sound / Scenery Cove We visit a salmon hatchery, walk to Baranof Hot Springs, and anchor in a deep bay off Admiralty Island to explore by kayak. We encounter Steller sea lions in Frederick Sound, and in Farragut Bay, the organic farm family who supplies our ship meets us with fresh produce. From Scenery Cove, we skiff across the Baird Glacier’s outflow river to explore a remarkable landscape, at once lunar and lush. Days 7-8 Le Conte Glacier / Petersburg Navigating exquisite Le Conte Bay, we make our way through sculpted ice floes to view the Le Conte Glacier, the southernmost calving tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, 21 miles long and a mile wide. Arrive in Petersburg, a quintessential Alaskan fishing town, on Day 8 and depart.

HIGHLIGHTS • Historic small vessel that brings you into incredible coves and inlets where the big ships can’t go • Get close to wildlife as you kayak and hike with our on-board naturalist • Enjoy delicious fresh cuisine served in the cozy wood-paneled salon • See brown bears feeding, humpback whales spouting, and eagles soaring DETAILS • 8-day trip begins and ends in Sitka, Petersburg, or Juneau (depending on itinerary) • 7 nights aboard a historic 86-foot vessel with en suite private facilities • All meals included

DATES Jun 1-8, 2018 Petersburg-Sitka Jun 10-17 Sitka-Juneau Jun 19-26 Juneau-Sitka Jul 7-14 Petersburg-Sitka Jul 16-23 Sitka-Juneau Jul 25-Aug 1 Juneau-Sitka Aug 12-19 Petersburg-Sitka Aug 21-28 Sitka-Petersburg TRIP COST From $5250 Single suppplement: $2625

TRIP LEVEL 1 + 2 3 4 5 6 7

Easy to moderate sea kayaking and hiking (no previous kayaking experience necessary)

Enjoy up-close encounters with wildlife as varied as the Alaskan landscape itself.

MATTHIAS BREITER BLAINE HARRINGTON

JOHN HYDE

MICHAEL QUINTON

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL NORTHAMERICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 109