A quick update from student Jason: The sea kayak began with a 4 am wake up and a 2 and a half hour drive to Whittier where we learned that the weather would be to rough to paddle. We had to take a ferry to the first camp site. Trouble began immediately when everyone was skipping rocks and I bent over to grab one and split the entire back of my rubber rainpants. Luckily, Jeff the guide gave me his rain pants to use in exchange for the promise of an ice cream. The next day we kayaked to the Glaciers and saw bounties of sights and roving bands of sea dogs and sky rats. We then paddled back to camp and rested for the night. The next few days were spent going in the direction of Whittier and ignoring the fact that gallons of water was falling from the sky and soaking us. When we got back to the city we ate food and ice cream!
A quick update from student Max: The squad left the port in Whitakah (Whittier) with Captain Tom and Lea the marine biologist. We all made bad jokes on the ferry over to the starting point and learned about the fauna of Prince William Sound. The first day we met Rich, the ginger with a grizzly beard and a sick man bun. We had a long lecture about how to behave around the boats and how to paddle. Then we set off, we had about 8 miles until the first campsite. We quickly got our sea legs and paddled efficiently and effectively. Then we found our beautiful campsite snuggled between a glacier and the sea. We set up camp in full view of 2 glaciers, a waterfall, and the bay scattered with ice. After some burnt orzo cooked by the famous chef Harry, we settled down to sleep with the soothing crumble of the melting glaciers in the distance. The next morning we awoke with no rush, knowing that no tents needed to be packed. Instead, we cooked some delicious oatmeal and skipped rocks, overall enjoying the lazy morning. We took the day to paddle over to the larger Barry’s glacier, we broke through lines of ice and waved to seals along the way. When the glacier was in full view we made a raft together and enjoyed a nice snack while watching it crack and shatter. We headed back and saw a few other magnificent ice cubes as well as the other group in the distance. Back at camp, we enjoyed some bagels and a very chill afternoon of skipping rocks and talking. We were also surprised to find that a French cruise ship had intruded on our peace and had entered the bay we called home for 2 nights. In fact, Harry, Eli, Olive, and I got to meet and greet some French people who enjoyed the Sound from the cushy comfort of a cruise. Then we settled down to some delicious quesadillas under Rich’s bug ten, and enjoyed probably the best dinner in the backcountry (also Rich gave me some hot sauce secretly so it was even more delicious). The next morning we packed up tents and shipped off, for our 14 mile journey was ahead of us. We killed it and found the campsite. Harry and I went swimming in the ocean, and we all enjoyed seeing the sun and blue skies for about 20 minutes. We had amazing pesto pasta, and then remembered that we left poles and stakes at the last campsite! 5 people to a tent is never comfortable. Next day we paddled hard and passed the other group, got to camp early and got to set up early and chill. The other group showed up later and set up as well. After some rice soup, we all went swimming! Then we went to sleep in not cramped tents because the other group graciously gave us another tent. The next morning, we let the other group go first. We got back to Whittier in a hurry, de rigged, said fair well to our guides, and finally received our wallets to go and buy lunch and gifts! We headed back to Centennial campground, had a whip cream war as well as twin day and a dinner of Domino’s pizza! We also met up with Jess and Jack and shared stories. Overall a very successful kayaking trip!