NOLS Alumni Trip Sea Kayaking Prince William Sound, Alaska July 23 29, 2017 Features of this Trip 6 Nights 7 Days In The Field Abundant Alaskan Wildlife Paddle Single and Double Kayaks Coastal & Intertidal Exploration Paddling Near Tidewater Glaciers Great Fishing ~40-60 Mile Paddling Route Group Size: Up To 12 Participants Cost: $1,995 Minimum Age: 16 Trip Description This alumni trip is appropriate for all level of paddlers and a great way to introduce friends and family to the NOLS experience. Prince William Sound the environment for this expedition offers a spectacular and varied natural history. It is a place for observation, exploration, and discovery. The variety of the landscape is compelling. For seven days, you'll paddle a sea kayak beneath towering glaciers and past wooded coves. The sea teems with life whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals and sea lions. Sea birds wheel in the sky overhead while tidal pools with starfish, anemones, and other small creatures dot the shorelines. On this trip you will live and travel together as a group. Participants will be expected to care for themselves and look after the group. By day you will learn and practice the ins and outs of paddling as a group while exploring the stunning surroundings. In camp you will be expected to participate in camp set-up and meal preparation. There will also be ample time to explore and relax together as a group and enjoy great camaraderie! Environment The weather on Prince William Sound can change from day to day. Overcast and cool days are the norm for summer, as is lots of rain. You can expect it to rain or drizzle for at least half of the course. Storms can prohibit paddling and ground the course at a beach for a few days. There are times when you will be wet, cold, and tired, but you will learn to manage these situations, and maybe even smile as you do. Sunny, warm summer days are a welcome break. You will primarily be in black bear habitat. NOLS, in collaboration with bear biologists, has developed specific practices to minimize the risk of a bear encounter. Your instructors will teach these practices to you and you will have to follow them every day. Bear avoidance practices include carrying bear deterrent pepper spray, meticulously maintaining cleanliness at the cooking sites, and making loud calls to warn bears of your presence when moving through areas where visibility is poor.
Remoteness adds to the challenges of this course. There are no roads and weather and other factors may prohibit or delay aircraft or boats from reaching the course, which may delay an evacuation of a sick or injured group member. Prudent route selection and continual adherence to risk management practices a constant theme in our instruction is how we manage the inherent risks of wind and waves, rocky shore-lines, fog, currents, open crossings, animals, cold water, and long stretches of exposed coastline. The consistent practice of risk management techniques and assumption of responsibility for yourself and other group members will help make your expedition in these wild, beautiful mountains healthy and enjoyable. Curriculum Alumni trips are more relaxed than a typical NOLS course, however, it is not a vacation-like guided trip. Instructors hold both formal and informal classes on a wide range of subjects that will enhance your ability to travel in a coastal environment long after your trip ends. These skills begin with the basics camping, cooking, map reading, stove use, Leave No Trace techniques, and sanitation which are the foundation for any wilderness sea kayak expedition. Instructors will cover kayak curriculum beginning with paddle strokes, paddle signals, group travel, and then move on to hazard assessment, reading water, and rescue techniques. Trips are self-reliant expeditions through remote wilderness areas where evacuation to modern medical facilities can take several days. Throughout the trip, you will live outdoors, prepare your own meals, and care for yourself. The expedition format emphasizes handson learning and application of new skills in a variety of situations. Safe travel, outdoor living, and sea kayak skills are taught throughout the trip. The teaching progression depends on the group s abilities and weather conditions on the trip. Objectives include the ability to demonstrate an understanding of the following: Competent launchings and landings in various conditions Paddle Signals Basic-paddling strokes: forward, reverse, sweep, draw, low and high braces Basic self and assisted rescues Coastal hazards: wind, waves, weather, currents, tides and coastline geography Responsible group travel and use of safety equipment Coastal navigation
Planned 2017 Itinerary July 22 Depending on your location and connections, many participants will travel to Anchorage (ANC) on this day. Lodging is your responsibility. July 23 July 24-28 July 29 July 30 7 a.m. Meet at the Alaska Railroad Station in downtown Anchorage at 1 st & C Streets. NOLS will shuttle the group ~50 miles to the NOLS Branch in Palmer, AK. You will then organization your gear, pack your bags, drive to Whittier, launch, and paddle! You will be camping this night. Paddle and explore the Prince William Sound of Alaska! Paddle into Whittier, load boats and travel to Anchorage. Optional no host dinner out. Please do not plan to fly out before 10:00 pm this evening. If you plan on staying in Anchorage this night, lodging is your responsibility. Most folks will fly home this day. Trip Progression Travel Logistics Your trip will begin at 7:00 AM in front of the Alaska Railroad Station in Anchorage on July 23. The Railroad Station is located on the corner of 1st and C Streets. From the railroad station we will drive to NOLS Alaska headquarters located 50 miles north of Anchorage near Palmer. Given the early start to the day, we advise you to arrive in Anchorage the day before your trip begins. The first day will be a very busy one. In the morning, you will meet your instructors as well as the other expedition members. The morning will be spent issuing equipment for the entire trip. Then we will drive to Whittier in the afternoon, make final preparations, and be on the water that evening. The first night we will be camping in the field. End of Trip departure: On July 29 we will paddle into Whittier. There we will meet NOLS staff and vehicles that will bring our luggage to us. We will shower and load up the boats in the afternoon, then we will head up to Anchorage and have dinner as a group if folks are interested. Please do not plan to leave Alaska sooner than 10 PM this day. Many flights leave Anchorage around midnight. You can also reserve lodging in Anchorage for flights leaving the following day. We will do our best to ensure that your trip ends on schedule and generally most do. However, we cannot guarantee that you will get in on time as unusual weather could affect the final day of the trip. Air Travel Logistics: Most major airlines service Anchorage (ANC). Please check their individual websites for current information. The Alaska Time Zone is 4 hours behind Eastern, 3 hours behind Central, 2 hours behind Mountain, and 1 hour behind Pacific. Taxis to downtown Anchorage from ANC cost ~$20. Most hotels provide shuttles.
Driving to Alaska: The majority of our students choose to fly to Alaska. Pre-trip Lodging : We recommend B&Bs as a very comfortable lodging option in Anchorage. Based on past student experience, we recommend the following locations. Price and services offered vary. Space may be limited so call early for reservations. Alaska House of Jade 907.337.3400 Web site alaskahouseofjade.com Email alaskahouseofjade@ak.net Hosts Zack and Krista Walker Coastal Trail Bed & Breakfast 907.243.5809 Email - info@coastaltrail.com Hosts - Derek and Sherry Tomilson Anchorage Walkabout Town 866.279.7808 Web site anchoragewalkabout.com Email walkaboutak@gmail.com Hosts Terry and Sandy Stimson Hotels and Motels Anchorage fills up during the summer, so we suggest you make reservations well in advance for the night before your course. The following is a list of hotels convenient to downtown Anchorage. Anchorage Hilton 800.445.8667 Days Inn (800) 329-7466 Howard Johnson Hotel (800) 545-7665 Comfort Inn (800) 228-5150 Sheraton Anchorage (866) 716-8145 If delayed: If your arrival to Anchorage is delayed and you are not able to make the pick up at the train station, please call the NOLS Alaska Office at 907.745.4047 or call the NOLS Alumni Office at 800.332.4280. Storage of personal belongings and vehicles: Personal belongings and vehicles may be stored at the NOLS facility for the duration of your trip. All of your personal belongings that you leave at our base in Palmer will be brought to you in Anchorage at the end of the trip. Due care will be taken to prevent theft or damage of your personal belongings. NOLS does not assume any liability for lost, stolen or damaged personal property while stored at a NOLS facility or elsewhere. NOLS will not honor any personal claim for property loss while in our care. Telephones: You will be out of telephone contact for the duration of your expedition.
Miscellaneous Expenses: You only need enough cash to cover miscellaneous expenses in Anchorage before and after your trip and possibly for the drive to and from Whittier. Refer to the Equipment List for an estimate of expenses that you may incur in properly outfitting for your course. Fishing License: Fishing licenses are optional; however, if you plan to fish on your course, you must have a valid fishing license. We will sell fishing licenses on the first day of your trip. Your instructors will advise you on the practicality of purchasing a license. Please plan to pay for your fishing license with a personal check made out to NOLS, cash or a traveler s check. If you have a credit card you can pay for a license online at the branch. The fishing regulations also require you to bring a valid ID (such as your drivers license) and carry it together with your fishing license while fishing. The cost of the trip includes transportation from Anchorage to the branch, then to Whittier to begin the paddle, transportation from Whittier back to Anchorage at the end of the trip, and meals starting on July 23 with lunch through lunch on July 29. You are responsible for lodging on July 22 and July 29 (if you plan on staying in Anchorage that night). Additional meals while traveling, any airport shuttle fees, the cost of a fishing license, any evacuation fees and the fee for personal equipment that is rented or purchased are also your responsibility. Travel Insurance It may be advisable to look into travel insurance in the event of an evacuation from the field or due to a last minute trip cancellation. We suggest exploring Travel Guard or other travel insurance companies. Any costs incurred due to a participant s evacuation are the responsibility of the participant. Registration and Payment To reserve a space on this trip, please submit a non-refundable deposit to the NOLS Alumni Department. We accept Mastercard or Visa credit cards over the phone at 800.332.4280 or you may mail a check to: NOLS Alumni Department 284 Lincoln Street Lander, WY 82520 The remainder of the tuition and all application forms are June 9, 2017.