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Alaska Cruise: Ketchikan to Friday Harbor
Ship: Catalyst
Days: 12
Passengers: 12
Dates: 4/26/2010, 8/22/2010
Highlights:
Vintage wooden boat, kayaking and hiking excursions, quiet time of season, Great Bear Rainforest, San Juans.
Summary: Explore the islands and inlets of British Columbia on this 12-day adventure from Ketchikan, Alaska to Friday Harbor, Washington. British Columbia’s coastal temperate rainforests are characterized by some of the oldest and largest trees on Earth, which may support the highest fungal and lichen diversity of any forest system. This area is also home to the "great bears" of coastal BC, some of which can weigh over a thousand pounds! The bears include the brown or grizzly bear, the black bear and the genetically-unique subspecies of the black bear, the Kermode bear. A recessive genetic trait gives this small percentage of the black bears a white or cream colored coat. These white bears are known as spirit bears and have enriched the native mythology in the area.
PLEASE NOTE: The April 26, 2010 departure sails Friday Harbor, WA to Ketchikan, Alaska and is 10 days in length.
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Itinerary - In Brief
Itinerary - Detailed
Day 1:
Ketchikan / Embarkation / Foggy Bay
After boarding, you get underway after a brief orientation and review of boat safety procedures. Leaving Ketchikan behind, you head south down Revillagigedo Channel to Foggy Bay, located along the western edge of Misty Fjords National Monument & Wilderness. Sea kayak orientation on deck, weather permitting, and a chance to explore Very Inlet by kayak.
Day 2:
Dixon Inlet / Prince Rupert
You get underway early to cross Dixon Inlet, passing east of Dundas Island and heading down Chatham Sound to Prince Rupert. Clear Canadian Customs at Prince Rupert.
Day 3:
Porcher Island Area / Exploration
With an early morning start, you run south and west to the outside of Porcher Island. You have several prime anchorages to choose from in this area. Two of the more interesting, Kitkatla and Larsen Inlets are landlocked retreats with steep-to, forested shores and have several creeks, vast mudflats and estuary systems.
Day 4:
Goat Cove / Bishop Bay
Today you navigate through Principe and Otter Channels, and travel up Finlayson Channel to an anchorage in Goat Cove. Here you may rendezvous with a local guide who take you to visit local rivers that are habitat for the spirit bear... You may wind your way up Verney Passage and down Ursula Channel to Bishop Bay where you can soak in the hot springs.
Day 5:
At Sea / Butedale
Today, sail down the long fjord-like channels of Frazer Reach, Princess Royal Channel and Sheep Passage to Mussel Inlet. Along the way you may stop to visit the abandoned cannery at Butedale. At the head of this deep fjord you find an expansive river estuary teeming with wildlife. Here you can travel up river via kayak and skiff. You will see many animal tracks along the mudflats, and maybe even those responsible for these tracks.
Day 6:
At Sea / Campbell Island / Kayaking
Upon leaving Mussel Inlet you head down Mathiesen Channel, Reid Passage and Raymond Passage on your way to a tiny nameless cove on the west side of Campbell Island. Kayak into landlocked Hochstader Basin and explore the constellation of small islands that are scattered through this area.
Day 7:
At Sea / Calvert Island / Hiking
Spend the morning wandering through the narrow passages between islands and eventually transit Hakai Pass and Pruth Bay, where from your protected anchorage you can easily hike through the woods to the wild west side of Calvert Island. Here you can enjoy driftwood covered sandy beaches, and watch the Pacific spend it’s energies on the rocky headlands.
Day 8:
Fitz Hugh Sound / Miles Inlet or Schooner Retreat
Leaving your sheltered anchorage in Pruth Bay, head east down Kwatshua Channel to Fitz Hugh Sound. Weather permitting you head on across Queen Charlotte Straight to anchor in tiny Miles Inlet. Weather NOT permitting, spend the night in beautiful Schooner Retreat.
Day 9:
Broughton Island Group / Village Island
Traveling south down the wide and sometimes rolly Queen Charlotte Sound you tuck in to the Broughton Island Group, where you anchor and wander ashore on Village Island. Village Island is the site of the abandoned First Nations village of Mamalilaculla, and some massive hand carved house poles are still visible among the trees.
Day 10:
Broughton Group / Blackfish Sound / Greene Point Rapids
Today you spend some time wandering through the Broughton Group before re-entering the busy maritime crossroads of Blackfish Sound. This is, as one may expect, a likely area in which to view Orcas as well as Dahls and Whitesided Porpoises. Turn up Chancellor Channel and head toward the first of three tidal rapids that you need to weather on this route. The first is Greene Point Rapids, and depending on tides and currents you either head through late today or early tomorrow.
Day 11:
Desolation Sound / Jebediah Marine Park / Captain's Dinner
Finish with the rapids by shooting Dent and the Yaculta Rapids. With that challenge behind you, head south through Desolation Sound and anchor at the south end of Texada Island, at Jebediah Marine Park. Jebediah Island was privately owned until a few years ago, and was the site of a wonderful homestead farm. There are several nice trails here, and if you have time, do some exploring ashore. Tonight celebrate your voyage with the Captain’s Dinner, followed with a slide show and shared remembrances.
Day 12:
Gulf of Georgia / Friday Harbor
Up early and cross the Gulf of Georgia as the sun rises. Once across you duck into the Gulf Islands and then reenter US waters at Boundary Pass. Arrive in Friday Harbor and clear customs late in the afternoon.
Notes:
While this is a planned itinerary, each trip differs slightly depending upon the time of the tidal currents, the weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities, and the wishes of the passengers.
PLEASE NOTE: The April 26, 2010 departure sails Friday Harbor, WA to Ketchikan, Alaska and is 10 days in length.
Included:
Accommodations aboard the Catalyst; all meals onboard ship; wine and beer; boots; kayaking equipment (Spray skirts, paddle jackets, gloves, rubber boots); nature forays (shore excursions).
Not Included:
Airfare; passport and visa expenses, where needed; travel insurance; gratuities to staff and crew are left to the discretion of the passenger.
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