Other adventures

Our shore excursions include mountain and beach hiking, cookouts, tours of the fishing villages like Elfin Cove, visits to natural hot springs, and explorations of estuaries and river systems.  We may use skiffs or you may choose to try kayaking in one of our two man kayaks.  Your daily activities are certainly varied.  Here are some of the possibilities.

Hiking. There are some trails on the islands of Southeast Alaska but a lot of the hiking is bushwhacking and scrambling through the backcountry. The muskeg meadows right behind the lodge at Gull Cove Alaska are an excellent place for a short walk or an extended hike. Beaches, tide flats, and Glacier Bay also present great hiking opportunities.

· Sea kayaking. We can instruct you in the basics of sea kayaking so you can explore Gull Cove and the surrounding coastline. It’s a great way to get a close look at the sea otters that hang out in the kelp beds. The Yakobi is outfitted with a special rack to carry two 2-man sea kayaks on some of our trips to places like Glacier Bay.

Beach cookouts. Along the rugged coastline are scattered beaches that are just perfect for hiking and a beach campfire.  At Taylor Bay there are miles of sand beach to explore with the massive Brady Glacier as a backdrop.  Glacier Bay also has lots of opportunities to go ashore for hiking and exploration.

Pulling crab and shrimp pots.  We will travel on the Yakobi to some of the bays where you can set your own traps (“pots”).  Later help empty the traps that are hopefully loaded with dungeness crab and shrimp.  You will never eat fresher seafood, as we will eat the catch of the day that night at Gull Cove.

Other destinations

· Elfin Cove and Pelican.  These two fishing villages are unique in many ways.  The homes and businesses in each town are perched on the side of the mountain or suspended on stilts above the water.  Boardwalks are the streets of Elfin Cove and Pelican and there are no cars or traffic to deal with.  Photographers will enjoy capturing these quaint villages on film.

White Sulfur Hot Springs.  On the outside coast of Chichagof Island is a hot springs situated on the edge of the ocean.  The Forest Service maintains a cabin and a rustic shelter at the site.  We anchor the Yakobi at Porcupine Bay and take small skiffs to the hot springs for a relaxing soak.