NOLS WSA 2016 Day 7

Then we are leaving Nassau bay and the beautiful Chenega glacier. A very nice trip through the ice field out of the bay. A was paddling Darren's "Shadow" and had a great time going between the ice bergs as the "sweep boat" at the end of the pack.
Out of Nassau bay we see a big porcupine on a beach feeding. He never takes any notice of us.
The next camp we come to is "Dual Head", a nice place at the mouth of "Whale Bay". Not the same spectacular view we had the last two days but nice anyway. And a lot less mosquitoes!

I also got to try Josh's kayak and did a few rolls. It's a bit to big for me. In the evening we "re-rationed", took out all the food we got in closed bags for the second week. Unbelievable that wa had done half the course already.

More posts from my Alaska trip:
Anchorage
Day 1 and 2
Day 3 to 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9 and 10

Leaving Nassau Bay

Beautiful iceberg

Lisa and Kim

Tiger glacier

Tiger glacier

Out of the ice

Porcupine

Sorting the rations

"L" is in charge.

NOLS WSA 2016 day 3 to 5

Day 3 Tuesday July 12

Upp early to make breakfast and take down the camp. First moving day. Me and my tent mates did a quick job of getting ready. I paddeled one of the singels, a Chilco from Seaward Kayaks. A rudder kayak that was OK but not more. I did not like the way the pedals was attached with straps, I had to pull them very tight and then press hard with my legs to have the right leverage for a good paddle stroke. But it was nice for edging so I never had to use the rudder. 

We had a slow paddling with two stops down to Point Nowell. A nice peninsula in the north part of Knights Passage. I had a headache coming ashore du to lack of coffee but a quick brew took care of that.

A beautiful spot with the Chugach mountains in the North and Knights Island in the east.

Day 4 Wednesday July 13

A very warm morning so we got up at 06:30. We had the information that one of the participants was feeling very bad and that a coast guard helicopter was on the way to take her to a hospital. Very sad, but as I helped the girl to the helicopter I noticed that this was the only option for her. (She had to stay in the hospital for a week was was after that ok).

After that we packed our kayaks and proceeded to Dangerous Passage and a small bay on the west side of Chenega Island. A very beautiful small bay without any fishing boats that ad been constant companions the last three days. Now it was at last feeling like real wilderness! This day I paddled a double kayak with Kim, that was rather nice as I had more chances to take photos and had someone close to talk to. Someone who couldn't escape!

Me, Toby, Amy and Kim took a walk across the bay and upp into the muskegg. A lot of bear tracks and also a lot of salmonberries. 

Day 5 Thursday July 14

I was upp early and picked some salmon berries for the pancakes that Toby made for breakfast. Very nice. 

Paddled with Kim also this day but in the front this time. Kim did a good job steering the kayak. We crossed Dangerous Passage again and on the way a Sea otter cub was swimming around the kayaks very close. We made our way away so it could join it's mother.

Then we paddled in to Icy Bay but they stayed to far from shore for my taste. I like to paddle close to shore to see all the nice cliffs and the wild nature. A break at the mouth of Nassau Bay and then through an ice field into the bay and to our campsite across from Chenega glacier. Maybe the most beautiful place I've been to in Alaska!

In the evening we had a small fire and did some s'mores, an (in my mind, disgustingly sweet) american favorite.

More posts from my Alaska trip:
Anchorage
Day 1 and 2
Day 3 to 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9 and 10

Lisa

Sea lion

Toby

Josh

Alaska!

Early morning

Chenega glacier

Fresh bear scat

Salmon berries (Prunkhallon, Rubus spectabilis)

Through the ice field at Nassau Bay

Nice color

Wow!

My captain for the day, Kim.

Can it be better?

S'mores

NOLS WSA 2016 day 1 and 2

Day 1 Sunday July 10

Previous post!

Then it it started!

I met all my course mates at the train station in Anchorage early Sunday morning at July 10. An old school bus took us out to Palmer, the local NOLS branch where we had to fix all our gear and back everything for the expedition.
We are eleven "students" and three leaders on this course. When we arrive in Palmer Oscar, who was my chief instructor last time in Alaska, greeted us. Then a few hectic hours followed.

All our personal gear had to be checked and we had to buy or rent the things that we missed. I had most of what was needed except rubber boots, a sleeping bag and some small stuff. I also got the chance to borrow a greenland paddle from Haf (Oscar fixed that, Haf was also one of the instructors last time. Thank you guys!). Then we had to pack the kayaks, paddles, tents, cooking gear and food for two weeks. All the food was already packed in bags for us so we saved almost one day not having to do that. The students do that on longer expeditions.

We had a nice lunch and then into the bus for the three hour trip to Whittier where the "Kayak chief", a charter boat from Lazy Otter company, took us out to Main Bay. Finally out in Prince William Sound!

First we had to set our camp. I got to be tent mate with Tom and Toby, two great guys and we had our tent and tarp up rather quickly. It was a very nice beach and perfect weather.

Day 2 Monday July 11

A slow morning with some talk about cooking and how to operate the stove. We had MSR Whisper Lite with white spirit as fuel. They work great.

Then Lisa talked about some about kayaking, getting in and out, paddle strokes, pfds, spray skirts and other related stuff. Finally we got into the kayaks for a short test trip. I had the pleasure to paddle a single kayak and as the sun was warming me in my dry-suit I had to do some rolls to cool off. (And a bit to show off!) The kayak had a high aft deck so the rolls where not perfect and the butterfly roll didn't work at all.

A fishing boat came up to us and gave us a large nice salmon that we but on the grill. And I did some "gravlax". 

A nice day and I'm slowly getting to know my new friends.

More posts from my Alaska trip:
Anchorage
Day 1 and 2
Day 3 to 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9 and 10

Kenai and Prince William Sound.

Our track. The finish is at Eleanor Island.

Oscar (old friend), Lisa, Josh and Darren our instructors.

Sorting our gear.

In the stores at NOLS, Palmer, are all the equipment you need.

On our way to Whittier.

Whittier Tunnel: Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The longest in North America.

Finally out in Prince William Sound

Kayak Chief took us out to our first beach.

Toby, Ashly, Kim, Arthur, Amy, Kila and Tom

Lisa is demonstrating some necessary kayak skills.

Kayaking! "L" and Lisa

Just hanging on the beach

Cooking

Prince William Sound with  Chugach mountains in the background.

Tom and Toby are the cooks

Can you think of a more beautiful place?

Home from Alaska

After almost four weeks in Alaska I'm home again. It took me 15 hours to go out kayaking in my own kayak, it had been lonely with me away :)
We were some friends that took the chance to do some surf training at Svalnäs while the winds and the weather were good. 12-13 m/s (24-26 knots) and a nice surf. A friend made a video from the occasion, my own GoPro didn't work, look at the link of the video. The battery was out and I didn't have any more charged after my trip.

The next day Paula, one of my daughters, was with me on a nice day paddle. We were just going out a few hours near my home north of Sunnanå.

I'm working on the photos and the videos from my trip to Alaska. About 2000 photos and seven hours of GoPro film will take time to go through. Here is one that is finished:

Paula

My Anas Acuta and Nordkapp

Me with my kayaks