Thank you!

Again we would like to thank everyone who helped us make this trip a reality for us. It was the trip of a lifetime, not just a trip, but a way of life. Although we had to pull our boats out of the water for the last time on this expedition, many new ideas were born...

Day 79

The last day was our biggest at 53 miles. We paddled in brilliant sunshine with the wind at our back, through a gorgeous sunset, and into the dark where we used our ears and our compasses rather than our eyes to navigate. 21.5 hours after launch we landed in Bartlette Cove to catch the ferry back to Juneau.

Sweet sun cupped sunset turns

We watched the sun come up over the Johns Hopkins glacier and watched it set from an unamed peak. We combined our passions for the ocean and the mountains and we felt fulfilled.

Exploring the freshly revealed terrain, plant succession, and making sure our legs still work. We ran into some curious soil with quicksand properties. The ingress and egress, although different, were both great adventures.

Time for a change of perspective

Another spectacular kitchen view

Johns Hopkins Glacier

A bit of icy history

In this place a person can watch one of the earths most fundamental geological processes in action as 12 tidewater glaciers calve into the sea. The bay was inhabited long ago by the Tlingits until the glacier surged forward forcing them across the Icy Strait to Hoonah. By the time Captain George Vancouver arrived in 1794, Glacier Bay was encased in ice, just a small indentation on the chart. The glaciers have receded 65 miles since Vancouvers time, although today some advance, others retreat, and a few hold their ground.

Playin in the rain

Glacier Bay becomes especially mysterious when the clouds veil its wonders.

Marjorie Glacier, Glacier Bay

Backcountry baking usually provides a stunning view and the best pizza in the history of the world. The recently ice free terrain lacks the trees to hang food so the park provides bear barrels, and we had fun building a fortress.

More than one way to move a boat

The northern reach of Seymour Canal presented some opportunities for us to get out of the boats and move our legs a bit. We portaged the one mile across to Oliver Inlet just south of Juneau. The tram was really fun to use once we figured out how to avoid getting run over.

The Fortress of the Bears

Admiralty Island is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America. The island is known to the Tlingit as Kootznoowoo (Fortress of the Bear). These little fellers outnumber human residents nearly three to one. Almost everyday of the journey north of Vancouver Island we hauled our food high into the air to keep it safe from curious critters.

Whale Waters

Crossing Frederick Sound, our desire to paddle with the whales was fulfilled as we were surrounded by flukes, fins, and blows. The Humpbacks accompanied us across to Admiralty Island as we continued our tour of the Alexander Archipelago. We weren't sure we were going to make the 15 miles across as we kept pausing to watch and photograph the whales, and listen to them breath.

North to Wrangell

North to Wrangell from Ketchikan we spent a weather day in the welcoming little community of Meyers Chuck. The wealth of generous people along the way continually renewed our faith in humanity. We paddled around the east side of Wrangell Island into grizzly country amid 6,000ft peaks and the murky waters of the Stikine River.

Paddling into the sunrise towards the Devil's Thumb east of Petersburg, AK

Living by the tide we were able to see some spectacular sunrises and sunsets. 4:30am in the land of the midnight sun catching the ebb tide northwest in the waters of the Frederick Sound.

The mighty Stikine

Our diet was occasionally supplimented by friendly seafarers offering halibut, salmon, and king crab, yummie!! The Stikine River, its name derived from the Tlingit name Shtax' Héen, meaning "cloudy river" empties its glacier fed waters into the ocean near Wrangell after a 335 mile long journey through the rugged wilds of BC. Evidence of the river was apparent to us long before we reached Wrangell as the water grew murky with sediment. This particular morning our challenge of the day was trying not to drop all of our stuff in the mud, we didn't win.

Southeast Exposure

Our experience in Ketchikan was such a highlight thanks to our friends at Southeast Exposure. As you can see we were pretty excited about playing in the trees on your zip line and ropes course. Thank you so much for everything, we miss you guys & girls! Thanks for taking advantage of that 160 inches of fresh rain water/year to supply your operations.