Surrounded by seals - Eight Stout students savor sea kayaking adventure in Alaska

This summer, eight University of Wisconsin-Stout students experienced one of the most beautiful places left on Earth when they registered for a 10-day sea kayak trip to Alaska through Stout Adventures.

Instructor Ivan Bartha and I were joined by students Melissa Gerads, Lindsay Lindner, Brandon Von Uhl, Evan Koon, James Jaderberg, Brian Shoals, Kyle Klink and Stacy Streich.

In June, the eager adventurers flew 4,000 miles to America’s 49th state in preparation for a sea kayak expedition through the icy waters of Prince William Sound, located about 70 miles south of Anchorage.

After spending a day in Alaska’s largest city and experiencing the Anchorage International Hostel, we were ready to head south to the tiny port city of Whittier. The only way into the city is by driving through a two-mile long tunnel that was blasted through a mountain. Not surprisingly, it is the longest tunnel in North America.

Once we arrived in Whittier, we were greeted by representatives of Epic Charters, the outfitter that was going to set us up with kayaks and paddling equipment. With Harriman Fjord as our destination, we hired a water taxi that would take us, along with our kayaks and gear, about 40 miles out into Prince William Sound.

After an incredible boat ride over flat, calm waters and crystal, blue skies, Brooke, the captain, dropped us off on a black sand beach and said good-bye. We were left on our own to pack our kayaks, establish our own campsites, and explore the fjord by kayak.

For the next five days, we paddled next to seals, touched icebergs, camped above high-tide, and ate the mussels left behind at low tide. Eagles soared overhead while mountain goats balanced on the steep shale shorelines in front of us.

Each day, we felt our spirits being recharged by the 23 hours of sunlight that shines down this far north. Alaska is commonly referred to as the Land of the Midnight Sun, and we quickly learned why.

Fortunately, the weather cooperated perfectly. Alaska is considered the northernmost temperate rainforest. With that in mind, we brought lots of raingear, but only needed it occasionally. Daytime temperatures were in the upper 60s, falling to the low 40s at night. A campfire was built each night, and the day’s highlights were recapped with lots of laughter.

After five full days of paddling through Harriman Fjord, we were scheduled to rendezvous with Brooke at our pick-up beach by Friday afternoon. We broke camp early Friday morning in the rain and wind. Temperatures dropped overnight and the protected waters of the fjord kicked up some chop as the wind blew down on us off nearby Barry Glacier.

Despite the rough conditions, all eight Stout students — who once had never been in a sea kayak — handled the conditions with ease. The week of paddling had sharpened their skills and built their confidence to a point that for several of the students, it was more fun battling the waves than paddling flat waters.

After paddling a few miles we spotted our pick-up beach in the distance. There is a mix of emotions that a kayaker feels when a trip is about to end. It is hard pulling ashore on the last day, knowing that the beauty you experienced all week is coming to an end. There is also a feeling of excitement as you picture a hot shower, real food and the soft bed awaiting you in several hours.

Our water taxi arrived ahead of schedule and took us the 40 miles back to Whittier, where we returned the gear and checked into a condo for a sound night’s sleep.

The next day, we left Whittier and spent some time exploring the mountain town of Girdwood. On Saturday night, we arrived back in Anchorage and some of us checked out the Oceans Festival downtown. Others went souvenir shopping and some spent their last bit of money on a fresh salmon dinner.

The entire trip was a huge success. These eight students were brave enough to register for a trip to Alaska — a land still evolving and very unpredictable — choosing to sea kayak through 38-degree water and filling up their water bottles in glacier streams.

They learned how to cook in the backcountry and how to practice good environmental stewardship. Seals swam all around them, moose stopped traffic along the Seward Highway, and a black bear footprint was left in the sand of our first campsite.

This was a group that decided to make the most of their summer and to expand their perception of the world. Once you visit Alaska, your views change ,and so do your expectations. And the snowcapped mountains, vertical seashore, ocean waters, wildlife, and people of Alaska are never forgotten.

Stout Adventures offers trips and clinics to the students and the community year round. For more information or to learn about the upcoming trips scheduled for the fall, call (715) 232-5625 or check out the program’s Web site at www.stoutadventures.uwstout.edu.

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