Re: [Paddlewise] Alaska

In a message dated 11/5/2002 7:32:50 PM Central Standard Time, tfj4_at_attbi.com 
writes:


> Trip A: 1 - 3 adults, experienced cold-water sea kayakers.  5 - 7 days,
> combination of paddling and island/coastal hiking. 
> 
> 

Misty Fjords has some developed trails and scenery as fantastic as any in 
Alaska, IMHO. 3000 ft tall cliffs, old growth forests, wildlife including 
whales, brown and black bears, wolves, etc. Potentially wild water in the 
Dixon entrance, Cape Alava area. If you exclude that from Trip B it could be 
ok. Be careful of larger groups as camping space is hard to find. Be prepared 
to spend long days in the saddle to find good campsites. If you go solo, be 
careful of bears as there are tons of them and over 85% of bear attacks occur 
on solo travelers (Herrero: Bear Attacks: Their cause and Avoidance).

> 
> 
> 
> Trip B: 7 - 12 Senior boy scouts plus some adult leaders.  A few 
> experienced
> sea kayakers, but mostly inexperienced boys and dads (although all will 
> have
> significant backpacking and camping backgrounds).  5 - 7 days, combination 
> of
> paddling and island/coastal hiking.  

Glacier Bay is a great place for that kind of trip. It has plenty of hazards, 
chief among them ice cold water, bears, and wild weather. However, it has a 
ranger presence and enough vessels to aid in an emergency. It is, however, a 
huge wilderness with some of the best scenery anywhere and enough nooks and 
crannies to be completely alone.

I do have further info available if you need it. Have fun planning, it's one 
of the best parts of travelling.

Rob G

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