Southeast Alaska ~ Haines
Punctuated by towering peaks, sprawling glaciers and the deepest fjord in North America Haines is a true Alaskan outpost. The Tlingit Indians called this ancient portage route Deshu which roughly translates to “end of the trail” or “beginning of the trail” depending on which way you were going. Brimming with wild salmon, bears, bald eagles and some of the most accessible wilderness in Alaska, Haines is an ideal jumping off point for a wide range of active adventures including sea kayaking, fishing, rafting, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing.
Rafting Itinerary
July 20 – Arrive Haines and check into the Aspen Suites. Your guide will meet you at 4:00 PM for a pre-trip orientation and to distribute dry bags and camping gear.
July 21 – It’s an early start today. The bush plane leaves at 8:00 AM bound for our Le Blondeau Glacier Camp. We will land on the banks of the Tskiru River and spend the rest of the morning setting up camp and rigging the rafts. After a riverside picnic lunch we will take a short hike to the nearby lake to look for wildlife.
July 22 – Today is full with activities so we start off with a big breakfast cooked right on the river bank. After fueling up we will head up the lake trail watching for the telltale signs of bears, moose and wolves. Depending on the pace of the hike we will enjoy a lakeside picnic while we skip rocks and take in the stunning Le Blondeau Glacier. After lunch we will look for a route up and onto the ice before retracing our steps back to camp in time for a camp gourmet meal you won’t soon forget. This is your last tent night on the river so savor the sounds of the rushing glacier water, the evening song birds and the occasional rumble of the distant calving glacier.
July 23 – Another early morning finds us breaking down camp and stuffing our sleeping bags. After breakfast and hot drinks we will load the rafts and head downstream for the 4 to 5 hour float back to civilization. Watch for bears, moose, eagles and salmon as we raft through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve en route to our waiting shuttle vehicle. Enjoy a hot shower at the Aspen Suites followed by an evening out on the town (on your own) before continuing on to your next adventure.
Sea Kayaking Itinerary
July 24 – Arrive back in Haines and check into the Aspen Suites. Your guide will meet you at 4:00 PM for a pre-trip orientation and to distribute dry bags and beach camping gear.
July 25 – It’s an early start today. The water taxi departs historic Letnikof Cove at 9:00 AM bound for Glacier Point and the Davidson Glacier. After a 30 minute boat shuttle we will arrive at our private beach and set up our base camp. Once camp is secure we’ll make a pack lunch and spend the afternoon hiking to the Davidson Glacier and Lake. Nothing tops the feeling of a day well spent and we will top it off with a gourmet camp meal cooked on an open beach fire. Drift off to sleep as the waves lap and the breeze rustles the spruce bows overhead.
July 26 – Today is full with activities so we start off with a big breakfast. You can help find the perfect stick sizes for cooking pancakes on the griddle or keep the tea water hot on the open fire. After fueling up we will don dry suits and take to the sea in our double kayaks. Watch for humpback whales, harbor seals and sea lions as we cruise the remote shores of Glacier Point. We will return to camp by early afternoon with time to nap or a stroll up the beach before the water taxi arrives for the transfer back to civilization. If weather permits we may choose to paddle the 7 miles back to Haines.
