trip dates:

saturday, june 29th through sunday, july 5th

Join the Austin Sierra Club for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise on a 65-foot boat in the heart of Alaska. We will start from Juneau and make a circuit of the surrounding waters to the south, returning to Juneau at the end of the week.

Participants will cruise, hike and kayak while living in comfort in the cabins below deck, enjoying gormet meals cooked on a wood-burning stove by a master chef.

Birders will be astonished at the variety of birds and waterfowl in the area and wildlife lovers with find themselves in the middle of a region renoun for its Elk, Moose, Bear, Orcas, Dolphins, Seals and Whales.

Best of all, you will be one of only SIX passengers on board and the experience is so different from that you find on the big-ship 'cattle-boat' cruises as to be an entirely different order of existence. Even if you have been on an Alaska cruise before, this will be a far different and much better experience.

trip logistics

Dates: Saturday, June 29th through Sunday, July 5th

Cost: $3195 per person for Sierra Club Members. This is a Members Only cruise and your trip cost includes a donation to the Austin Sierra Club. Note that this cost does not include air fare to Juneau. You should budget for round-trip air fare and probably either one or two night's stay at a hotel in Juneau unless you can find flights that will get you to Juneau very early Saturday morning and/or depart late Sunday evening.

Trip leaders: [click on the name to go to biographical information]

• Boat Captain: Jeffrey D. Smith, Owner, Northwest Navigation Co., Inc.
• Boat Cook/mate: Christine K. Smith, Owner, Northwest Navigation Co., Inc.
• Hike/Kayak coordinator: Chuck Byrd, Austin Sierra Club outings leader. Contact: [(512) 292-6985 or ]

calculating cost/refund policy..

Trip cost: $3195 (Sierra Club members)

You must submit a $500 deposit per person to reserve a space on this trip. Deposits can be mailed immediately and will be accepted until the trip is filled.

Mail deposits to:

Northwest Navigation, Inc.
PO Box 1431
Bellingham, WA 98227
Attn: Christine

Trips are sold on a first come first serve basis. Please note that rates are per person double occupancy and do not include transportation to and from the boat.

Payments:
A deposit of $500 guarantees reservation.
• For this trip we are having people pay in full 30 days prior to the trip. That date is May 29th.
Cancellations / Refunds:
Per person cancellation charges
• 90 days or longer prior to departure -100% refund
• 89-60 days prior to departure -75% refund
• 60-31 days prior to departure - 50% refund
• 30-0 days prior to departure - 0% refund
Travel / cancellation insurance:
Travel and trip insurance is advised to protect yourself if you must cancel your trip. Please contact your travel agent or please visit www.insuremytrip.com for more information about travel insurance.
Travel to Canada:
If you are planning to go on a trip to the Gulf Islands, Inside Passage or Desolation Sound you will be required to bring your passport. Furthermore 30 days prior to departure you will need to furnish us with your passport number. These cruises travel through Canada and both US and Canadian governments require proof of citizenship.
Please be aware that Canada may restrict entry to passengers who have been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). If this may be an issue please call our reservations office for options.
Passports and Visas:
If to are traveling from abroad or you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult your consulate to determine if you will need a visa to enter into the U.S. or Canada (if traveling to or through Canada). To enter into the U.S. you will need to have a passport.
Smoking:
The David B is a smoke-free vessel. Passengers who wish to smoke can do so ashore.
Cell Phones:
For the courtesy of other passengers we will allow cell phones to be used only on the backdeck of the boat, ashore or in your stateroom. Whole boat charters are exempt from this policy.
Children:
Children above the age of 16 are welcome aboard any of our trips when accompanied by a parent of legal guardian. If your child is traveling to Canada with only one parent a notarized letter authorizing the traveling parent to enter Canada with the child is required for entry. Please call us ahead of time before reserving space if you will be traveling with children.
Tipping:
Tipping is encouraged. Depending upon your experience a 3 – 15% tip is suggested.
Health / Medical:
Passengers must be able to judge their level of physical fitness. While trips aboard the David B are not physically demanding they do require a level of fitness to participate in hiking and kayaking. The captain has the right to judge if a passenger is putting his or herself in danger by participating in an activity that is too strenuous for that particular passenger. Northwest Navigation Co., Inc. is not held liable and does not refund money for anyone unable to participate in an activity because of this judgement.
Medical problems that could have implications on the trip must be made known to the captain before the passenger sail aboard the David B. Northwest Navigation Co., Inc. and our affiliates are not responsible for any special arrangements or medical costs made by passengers who are unable to complete a trip.
Please contact us with any questions you have regarding our policies.

Toll Free 877-670-7863
360-201-8184
christine@northwestnavigation.com

Trip cost covers:

• meals
• bedding / accomodations on the boat
• kayak gear and kayaks
• all the forest service fees, dock fees etc. are covered as part of the cost. (The big cruise lines don’t usually include all the fees and taxes in their published prices)
• crew services

Cost DOES NOT cover:

• transportation to the boat or from the boat in Juneau
• alcohol – the liquor store is two blocks from the David B in Juneau and they are very friendly there.
• note: Chuck will provide a modest amount of wine for enjoyment with the meals. BYO hard stuff to taste.

RESERVATION: Payment of the trip deposit establishes your reservation. The trip is limited to 6 participants.

• 12:00 pm Board David B at Juneau Intermediate Vessel Float.
• 12:00 -1:00pm Meet and Greet and Safety
• 1:00 – 8:00pm Underway to Wood Spit.
• 8:00pm David B anchored at Wood Spit – Beach walk

Board the David B 12 pm at the Intermediate Vessel Float in downtown Juneau. Once everyone has been acquainted with the boat and the crew we will get underway From Juneau. Our route takes us out of Gastineau Channel and into Stephens Passage. This waterway goes between the mainland and Admiralty Island. Along the way we will watch for humpback whales and icebergs. Our anchorage at Wood Spit is within the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area. After the anchor is down we can head to the shore for a beach walk before dinner. This anchorage is also a place where we often watch humpback whales and bald eagles feeding. It also has a full view of Sumdum glacier.

Monday, June 30th - Day TWO - Wood Spit to North Sawyer Glacier to No Name Cove

• 6:00am – 12pm Tracy Arm to North Sawyer Glacier.
• 12pm-1pm Watch glacier activity, seals and arctic terns. Lunch
• 1pm to 6pm Motor up Tracy Arm to No Name Cove
• 6pm – 7:30pm Anchor at No Name Cove – Shore excursion
• 8pm Dinner

The second day is spent mostly on the boat as we cruise though the twisting 30-mile long Tracy Arm Fjord to North Sawyer Glacier, a tidewater glacier. We will see many signs of past and current glaciation, such as hanging valleys and deeply striated rocks. We will watch for mountain goats that cling to the impossibly steep walls of the fjord. Orca whales often frequent this fjord in search of seals. As we get closer to North Sawyer Glacier we will start to see Arctic Terns and we slow down to cruise through fantastically shaped icebergs. We arrive at the face of North Sawyer Glacier just before a lunch of slow cooked chili and just out of the oven cornbread. After about a half hour of watching the glacier calve and listening to it boom and creak, lunch is served and we continue to watch the glacier for about an hour longer. On the way back from the glacier we will meet up with one of the Forest Service’s Wilderness Rangers who will chat about goings on in Tracy Arm. We anchor in No Name Cove at the head of Tracy Arm in the evening.

[click on the photo on the right for an enlarged image]

• 6:00 am Coffee and pastries: Bird, bear, whale and iceberg watching
• 7:00-8:00 Breakfast served
• 8:00-12:00 Kayaking around No Name Cove and Williams Cove.
• 12:00-4:00 No Name Cove to Frederick Sound – Whale watching
• 4:00 – 6:00 Frederick Sound to Pybus Bay
• 8:00 Dinner served

No Name Cove is a great place to get into the kayaks. This anchorage is amazingly beautiful. It has wide views of mountains with glaciers and all the while icebergs quietly move around outside of the cove. We often watch and hear humpback whales. Brown and black bears both use this cove and are easily watched from the boat. A paddle along the shore of No Name Cove and Williams cove is one of the best ways to look for bears and to watch for whales at the same time. For bird watching, red-throated loons, marbled murelettes, surf scoters and bald eagles are all abundant in this area. After Kayaking we get underway for Admiralty Island and Pybus Bay. We head back out into Stephens Passage. When we get to Pybus Bay and drop anchor we will put the kayaks back in the water and spend time exploring the calm waters of this expansive bay. While everyone is out kayaking the crew will set crab traps for a dinner of fresh crab and homemade pasta.

• 6:00 am Coffee and Pastries
• 7:00- Raise Anchor and Breakfast
• 7:00-2:00 Head towards Frederick Sound and Humpback
• 2:00-5:00 Petersburg: River walk
• 5:00-7:30 Petersburg to Ruth Island Cove
• 7:30 David B anchored
• 8:00 Dinner

We leave Pybus Bay in the morning and head towards Frederick Sound to watch humpback whales. In the summer months many humpback whales feed in these nutrient rich waters. It is not uncommon to see groups of five or more whales cooperatively bubble net feeding. After watching whales we will continue on to Petersburg. The town of Petersburg is a hard-working fishing community with a strong Norwegian background. It is the best place to get a taste of a real Alaskan town unspoiled by the mega-cruise lines. The few hours we spend in Petersburg will include crossing Wrangell Narrows for a river walk. After returning to the David B we will head out to Thomas Bay and our anchorage in Ruth Island Cove.

[click on the photo on the right for an enlarged image]

Thursday, July 3rd - Day FIVE - Ruth Island Cove to Gambier Bay

• 6:00 am Coffee and Pastries
• 7:00-8:00 Breakfast
• 8:00-10:00 Kayaking
• 10:00-2:00 Underway and Whale Watching
• 2:00-8:00 Stephen Passage, and anchored in Gambier Bay
• 8:00 Anchor and Dinner

After breakfast we will put the kayaks in the water and spend the morning kayaking in Thomas Bay. There are views of the Cosmos Mountain Range and the Patterson Glacier. After kayaking we are back underway and heading towards Admiralty Island and Gambier Bay. On our way to Gambier we will spend some more time watching humpback whales as well as sea lions as we cruise past The Brothers islands. Once we anchor we can go ashore before dinner for a beach walk.

• 6:00 am Coffee and Pastries
• 7:00-8:00am Breakfast
• 8:00-12:00 Kayaking and shore excursions
• 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
• 1:00 – 7:30 Underway to Taku Harbor
• 7:30 8:30 Shore excursion
• 8:30 Dinner

Designated as a National Monument by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, Admiralty Island offers great bear viewing and our anchorage in Gambier Bay’s Snug Cove is an excellent place to watch for brown bears. These coastal grizzly bears number about 1600 on Admiralty Island, which is about one bear per square mile. The island’s native name is Kootznoowoo and means fortress of the bear.

In the morning after kayaking or a shore excursion we are back underway and heading for Taku Harbor. We arrive at Taku harbor around 7:30 and there is plenty of time to go ashore and explore the ruins of an old cannery and to walk through an inter-tidal sculpture garden that has been fashioned from the old gear used in the cannery. While everyone is ashore the crew will be busy making a special dinner for everyone’s last evening aboard the David B.

[click on the photo on the right for an enlarged image]

Saturday, July 5th - Day SEVEN - Taku Harbor to Juneau

• 6:00am Coffee and Pastries
• 7:00-8:00 Breakfast
• 8:00-9:00 Shore excursion
• 9:00 Underway
• 12:00 Arrive in Juneau

There is time for early birds to get one last beach walk or a quick paddle in before we raise anchor at 9:00 am to head back up Stephens Passage and into Juneau. We arrive back at the Intermediate Vessel Float at 12:00 pm.

The photo on the right shows a Doll's Porpoise swimming next to the boat. Porpoise and dolphins are frequently curious about the sound of the engine and approach the boat to check out the humans.

• Mendenhall Glacier

• Alaskan Brewing Co.

• Mt. Roberts Tram

RETURN TO TOP

what to bring...

The David B is equipped with kayak gear for all of our passengers. If you have your own kayak that you will be bringing please let us know ahead of time. We supply All bedding and towels for our passengers. If there are any questions you might have about what to bring don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-877-670-7863 or sherry@northwestnavigation.com.

A note on CAMERA EQUIPMENT:

Alaska is notoriously hard on cameras. The abrupt changes from sea level to mountain elevations combined with cold, windy, rainy weather are a challenge for any delicate electronic equipment, including regular and digital cameras. On the other hand, you don't want to leave your good camera behind and miss shots of some of the most beautiful scenery in the US. Here is my advice: leave the really expensive large-format camera at home and bring a servicable inexpensive camera or even a disposable for snapshots. If you cannot bear to leave your good camera at home, bring along a large ziploc bag or a kayak dry bag for storage. Collect the packets or cylinders of silica gel (the ones that come in vitamin bottles or packed with new cameras for shipping and which say "do not eat") and pack them in the bag to absorb humidity. Keep your camera equipment in the closed bag when you are not using it and check the inside of the bag frequently for water vapor. Also remember that your batteries will not function at full capacity or efficiency when it is very cold. Lots of photographers carry their cameras INSIDE their jackets so that when they need to use the camera the batteries will not be sluggish. - Chuck

weather

Weather in Alaska, even in the summer, can be brisk to cold. Bright clear days in the low 70's are common, but so are days in the 30's and rain is always possible. (See the WHAT TO BRING section above).

[click on the photo on the right for an enlarged image]

Here are links to current weather conditions in three cities:

(use the BACK button on your browser to return to this page after viewing the weather)

Weather in JUNEAU

Weather in KETCHIKAN (south of Juneau)

Weather in ANCHORAGE (north of Juneau)

Check the weather and the forecast regularly beginning about a week before the trip and keep checking for unusual weather trends in the predictions. BE PREPARED.

meals

All meals aboard are prepared on the wood-burning stove in Christine's galley. She is pretty much of a wood-stove wizard, as you will discover once aboard. One of her specialties is pastries made from scratch and all of her meals are nutritious and healthy with wonderful soup and pasta dishes that are always a hit. Please let Christine know if you have special food considerations that she needs to take into account.

Here is a photo of the galley on the David B. I am frequently amazed at the wonders that Christine is able to produce on her wood-buring stove.

[CLICK on the photo for an enlarged view of the galley.]

Christine has provided a SAMPLE MENU of meals for a 7-day Alaska trip of the type offered here. Click on this link: SAMPLE to view the menu and see more food photos.

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