Locator Map for glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay Track of Kayak Trip
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General Summary & Logistics of Trip
My husband & myself flew from Picton, Ontario to Gustavus, Alaska, the nearest settlement to Glacier Bay in Alaska.It took 4 flights to get there & 5 to return home. There is no road access, only boat or plane. The nearest larger city is Juneau.
Before leaving I had prepared a lot of dehydrated food & had riven to Alexandria Bay, NY (1.5 hr from our house) to mail it & other equipment to Gustavus. I mailed 7 boxes & the cost was very low (less than half) compared to sending from Canada. Everything arrived within a few days & safe & sound.
We rented a tandem boat from Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks , the only outfitter there. They were extremely helpful, picked us up at the airport in Gustavus & lent us rubber boots, bear spray & several other items. This kayak is a Beluga, fiberglass kayak, has lots of storage space & is so stable you could use it for a diving platform ….& weighs a ton. They felt MUCH heavier than the 79 lbs they are described as being!!!
The specs of the boat taken from Glacier Bay Kayak’s website are as follows:
The Easy Rider Expedition Belugas are 18 feet in length, 32 inches wide, weigh 79 pounds, have a load capacity of 700 pounds, and come with bow and stern bulkheads. Bow hatch measures 10″ X 18.5″ and stern hatch measures 13″ X 19.” Sliding foot pedals control the excellent ruddering system. Cockpits measure 16″ X 35.5 ” and is sized to ensure ease of entry and exit. Comfortable contoured fiberglass seats and adjustable backrests. Deck tie-down straps and bungies. Bow and stern lines with toggle handles for carrying.The Expedition Beluga offer superb stowage for extended trips, and large hatches allow for easier packing. The extra carrying capacity, stability, seaworthiness, and ease of handling combine to make this the kayak of choice for all up bay trips. Rental includes paddling vests by Extrasport; paddles by Aquabound; sprayskirts by Feathercraft; pumps and sponges.