alaska - Betchart Expeditions

ALASKA
EXPLORING ALASKA’S COASTAL WILDERNESS
JUNE 2–9, 2007
ABOARD SEA BIRD
“The wide ceaseless sweep of a live glacier down the side of a great mountain and out into
the sea holds a more compelling suggestion of power than any other action of nature.”
— Ella Higginson, Alaska, The Great Countr y
Dear AAAS and Sigma Xi Members and Friends,
Journey with us June 2-9, 2007 to Southeast Alaska, a land of humpback whales, soaring bald eagles, thundering glaciers, pristine islands
and dramatic fjords. As we explore Alaska’s majestic Inside Passage, we’ll walk among magnificent spruce forests, explore the picturesque
coves of Baranof Island, view up-close the spectacular waterfalls and sheer granite walls of Tracy Arm fjord, and see local communities
indelibly linked to the history of this region. Experience firsthand the Alaska most people bypass when they travel on large cruise ships.
Plus, traveling now provides even greater rewards: take advantage of our round-trip complimentary airfare between Seattle and Alaska.
Aboard the comfortable, 62-guest expedition ship, Sea Bird, we’ll experience the freedom that only a small ship can provide — the freedom
to be flexible, permitting us to follow a pod of humpback or orca whales or to go ashore and examine the flora of a particular cove. From the
unique vantage of sea kayaks and motorized Zodiac landing craft, you’ll observe Alaska up close and land to explore remote islands.
The Sea Bird is equipped to bring the underwater realm to you in a fascinating, close up way. The hydrophone will be lowered into the water
to allow us to hear live vocalizations of whales. The video microscope will transmit microscopic images to monitors in the ship’s lounge and
allow us to view an otherwise largely unnoticed world.
You’ll be in good company with a group of like-minded travelers interested in adventure and discovery and accompanied by a team of
dedicated Naturalists who tell you about the wildlife, plants, native cultures and history of this region. They’ll answer your questions and
help you make the most of your journey. And you’ll travel informally. A good pair of walking shoes, binoculars, a camera and a sense
of spontaneity and fun are the basic gear you’ll need.
Search for whales, bears, sea lions, otters and puffins in a place where eagles outnumber people and where
no two days will be alike. You’ll come away refreshed and renewed, and with a much deeper understanding of
the great land that is Alaska. To make your reservation, please call toll free at 800-252-4910 or return the
reservation form on page 15. I hope you will join us!
Sincerely,
Margaret M. Betchart
President, Betchart Expeditions, Inc.
For AAAS Travels and Sigma Xi Expeditions
P.S. To extend your exploration to Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, and Denali National Park,
please consider joining our optional extension June 9-16, 2007 (see page 10 for details).
Not a theme park, Alaska is America’s greatest
wilderness & we’ll explore its pristine niches.
W
ith the tonic of its wildness and beauty, and the richness of its fisheries and other
resources, Alaska continues to reward us. In Tracy Arm, where waterfalls cascade
from high, glacially carved walls, we see the dramatic effects of glaciers. And later in
Glacier Bay, a body of water nearly seventy miles long, and ten miles wide in places, we’ll learn
even more about their inexorable earth-moving. Reid, Johns Hopkins, Margerie, Lamplugh: the
highly dynamic glaciers we’ll explore are a veritable Who’s Who. We’ll examine their tidewater
faces. Learn how they advance and retreat. Watch spectacular calvings complete with thunderous
audio effects. And, conditions permitting, we’ll also observe these seemingly motionless ice rivers
from the sky — your Expedition Leader can arrange optional flightseeing for you.
Observe groups of whales. See spouting, blowing and
spectacular breaching. Eavesdrop via our ship’s hydrophone.
I
n Frederick Sound or Chatham Strait. In the waters just off Point Adolphus or near Chichagof Island. It
can happen in any or all of these places, (and usually not by accident — our Captain and expedition staff
have unerring instincts for whale-finding). We strike the expedition version of gold — a group of hump-
backs or orca settling in to feed, right off our port or starboard bow. Suddenly everyone who’s been standing
silently at the deck rails, drunk on beauty like bees on honey, is galvanized. Photographers hoist their cameras. Guests not on deck come flying up. And everyone gasps in chorus — as one gravity-defying breach after
another, like a barrage of July 4th fireworks, fills the air with spangled spray. And while we’re watching, one
of our Naturalists lowers the hydrophone, and soon the air fills with the strange, appealing sounds of the
whales calling to each other. What are they communicating? And how do their communications connect to the
behavior we can observe from our front-row seats on deck? Our Naturalists are there with us and often there’s
a visiting field scientist on deck, too. They answer our questions and help us understand more of the remarkable behavior we can so clearly see.
Navigate around bergs and slip into dramatic
coves. Get up close and personal to wildness.
O
ur approach to travel is one of discovery. We have little interest in
just cruising past the sights and creatures of this world: We want
to give you the time and the ability to experience beauty and wild-
ness up close. Our bow camera, video microscope and hydrophone aid us in
discovering the worlds within our world. And so do our kayaks. We’re proud
to have pioneered kayaking from expedition ships in Antarctica and the
Arctic. And pleased that our sturdy kayaks will give you the opportunity to
encounter Alaska more intimately: have an eye-level view of an iceberg, hear
the sounds of wildness, or savor a rare silence. Best of all, you can count on
being able to do it. People of every skill and fitness level can kayak instantly.
So look forward to experiencing this personal adventure.
EXPLORING ALASKA’S COASTAL WILDERNESS
ITINERARY – 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
Day 1: Juneau, Alaska/Embark Ship
Day 3: Petersburg
Our flight from Seattle to Juneau provides a sce-
Today we’ll head in to the small town of Peters-
nic overview of Alaska’s fjords and waterways. A
burg on Mitkof Island; our nimble ship slipping
visit to the Alaska State Museum introduces us to
into the small harbor bustling with fishing
this “frontier” land before embarkation. (D)
activity and boats of all kinds — trawlers, purse
Glacier Bay N.P.
Point Adolphus
seiners, gill-netters and more. A town of 3,500,
Juneau
Tracy Arm
Admiralty Is.
Day 2: Tracy Arm
Petersburg was founded more than 100 years ago
Frederick Sound
We enter Tracy Arm, a spectacular 22-mile-long
by rugged Norwegian fishermen, and their heri-
fjord, with many waterfalls cascading from its
tage remains as the town continues to derive its
high, glacially carved walls. As we maneuver
identity, as well as its income, from fishing.
among large icebergs, we keep an eye on the
Walking the streets of friendly Petersburg pro-
shoreline, where we sometimes find black bears
vides some insight into the character of a true
feeding, and on the steep granite cliffs high above
Alaskan town — isolated, with an obvious spirit of
where mountain goats may be spotted. (B,L,D)
community and self-sufficiency. Flightseeing is an
Sitka
Petersburg
BRITISH COLUMBIA
ALASKA
option here. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Exploring Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound
These waters are prime areas for both killer
whales and humpback whales — it’s not uncommon to see groups of up to 30 at a time. With
luck we’ll get to observe fascinating behavior —
breaching, tail-slapping and variations on feeding
— as we fill the deck, delighting in their activities
and listening to the play-by-play from our expert
naturalists, while our skilled Captain and crew
keep us in perfect proximity. We may also see sea
lions hauled out and dozing. Once ashore, we’ll
have the opportunity to walk along a quiet forest
trail, accompanied by our naturalists. The still waters are excellent for kayaking, offering another
option for appreciating this area close up. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Glacier Bay National Park
Raptor Rehabilitation Center, come face-to-face
We spend the entire day in magnificent Glacier
with bald eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Later
Bay, where we see enormous glaciers that flow
travel to the airport for flight to Seattle. (B)
from the ice fields far above. Some of these end
abruptly at the water’s edge, and we watch and
hear them calving as tons of ice crash into the sea.
Watch for humpback and orca whales known to
frequent these waters. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Inian Pass/Point Adolphus
Cruise to Inian Pass, where playful sea otters
reside, and hike, kayak and search for whales near
Note: Lindblad Expeditions is authorized to operate
in the Tongass National Forest under a Forest Service
special use permit, enabling us to take you hiking and
kayaking at wild and remote areas of Southeast Alaska
that are otherwise off limits.
Point Adolphus, a feeding area for humpbacks.
Keep watch on deck and you may find yourself
rushing to the bow as a group of whales begins
feeding nearby. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Exploring Alaska’s Islands, Bays and Fjords
Today is a day with the luxury of no specific plan.
We may stop at an isolated beach to hike a forest
trail, beachcomb, tidepool or explore island coastlines by kayak or Zodiac — all in an area with the
This is what expedition travel is all about: not
world’s highest density of nesting bald eagles.
just seeing wildness, but being out there, in it.
(B,L,D)
Not just hearing the thunder of a glacier cascade, but drawing in so close you can feel its
Day 8: Sitka/Disembark/Seattle
rush — and get doused with the cleanest water
Sitka’s strong Russian heritage is readily appar-
on the planet!
ent as you visit St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox
Church with its onion domes. Gaze up at the
grand totem poles that line the wooded trails
through Sitka National Historic Park and, at the
OPTIONAL Extension — Anchorage, The kenai peninsula & Denali national park
ITINERARY – 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
Only in Alaska can the magnificence of nature and
birds. Join us and discover grand landscapes,
wildlife be experienced in so grand a setting.
Alaskan wildlife, and the rich heritage of Alaska’s
Alaska’s rich coastal waters are a mecca for
native peoples.
marine life from unicellular plants to the largest whales. On this extension, we will become
Day 1: Sitka to Anchorage
acquainted with Alaska’s natural treasures in
Fly Sitka to Anchorage. Transfer to the Sheraton
Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park, plus
Hotel. Welcome dinner. (D)
Alaska’s premiere national park — Denali, topped
10
by 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley. Denali offers sweep-
Day 2: Anchorage to Seward
ing landscapes of tundra and taiga forest framed
Morning visit to the Anchorage Museum of His-
by the snowy Alaskan Range. Look for a profu-
tory and Art, a treasure trove of art of the North,
sion of wildflowers, grizzly bears, caribou, moose,
Alaska history, and archaeology. Afternoon drive
Dall’s sheep, red fox, golden eagles, and nesting
to the Kenai Peninsula and the fishing community
Denali National
Park and Preserve
Kantishna
Lodge
Mt. McKinley
ALASKA
CANADA
Anchorage
Kenai
Peninsula
of Seward, named after Secretary of State Wil-
Day 5, 6: Denali National Park
liam Seward, who was instrumental in purchasing
For the next two days, stay in the heart of the
Alaska from Russia in 1867. Seward Windsong
park and explore magnificent Denali National
Lodge (2 nights). (B,D)
Park. Look for grizzly bears and cubs, caribou,
moose, Dall sheep, and with luck - wolves. June
Days 3: Kenai Fjords National Park
is the wildflower month and when not looking
Board a cabin cruiser to explore magnificent
for mammals we can photograph colorful flowers
Kenai Fjords National Park. Thundering tidewa-
amongst the tundra. Kantishna Roadhouse (2
ter glaciers radiate from the Harding Ice Field.
nights). (B,D/B,L,D)
Listen for the sounds of whales in the distance
and birds overhead as we slowly approach islands
Day 7: Denali National Park to Anchorage
that provide safe nesting habitat for thousands
Drive through the park for our return journey to
of nesting puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants, and
Anchorage. Enjoy a farewell dinner in celebration
gulls. Be on the look out for auks, sea lions, and
of Alaska. Millennium Alaska Hotel. (B,L,D)
sea otters. Return to Seward and visit the new
SeaLife aquarium. (B,L)
Day 8: Anchorage to Home
Morning airport transfer for flights home. (B)
Day 4: Alaska Native Heritage Center and Talkeetna
Drive north from Seward to Anchorage and visit
the new Alaska Native Heritage Center. Enjoy
native artisans carving in wood, stone, ivory
and making traditional clothing decorated with
local stones, shells, and bones. See dance performances, reconstructed village sites, native boat
building, and interpretive exhibits. In the afternoon drive along the Susitna River and Talkeetna
Range to Talkeetna Alaska Lodge. Optional flightseeing, weather permitting. (B)
Cost Per Person
Double Occupancy: $3,690,
Sole Occupancy: $4,685 Subject to change.
Cost Includes: All accommodations; meals
indicated; guided activities; luggage handling
and group transfers.
Not Included: Air transpor tation from Sitka to
Anchorage with return Anchorage to Seattle;
two lunches and two dinners; personal items;
gratuities to guides.
Everyone gets a front-row seat of the daily
adventure show aboard Sea Lion and Sea Bird.
O
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ur twin expedition ships, Sea Lion and
means the only unforgettable experience in store
asm and field expertise are sure to enhance your ex-
Sea Bird, can reach places inaccessible
for us. Thanks to our fleet of Zodiacs and a brace of
perience. This is what expedition travel is all about:
to larger ships, yet each comfortably
sturdy kayaks, with a moment’s notice we can be off
not just seeing wildness, but being out there, in it.
accommodates 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. The
the ship and out exploring — prowling around just-
feeling, we’re told, is often compared to that of a
calved bergs and ice floes dotted with harbor seals.
large private yacht, with everyone integral to the
We can land on picturesque beaches to launch our
adventure.
kayaks or hike into the forest.
Accessibility means freedom. This means
During your time with us, our expedi-
that we spend our time in Alaska feeling that it’s
tion staff likes nothing better than to surprise and
all ours. Only visits to resolutely Alaskan towns
delight you by pointing the bow of the ship into a
like Petersburg remind us that civilized (and
cascading waterfall or into an alluring cove. Our
charming) life exists here, too. And while whale
seasoned crew consists of expert Zodiac drivers and
watching is synonymous with Alaska, it is by no
considerate service providers. Their energy, enthusi-
Nature: Inspiration for Wellness
To enhance your experience aboard Sea Bird and Sea Lion,
we offer a series of wellness services. Wake up with an
energizing Botanical Massage or join a long, aerobic hike.
Restore balance to your body, mind and spirit in one of
nature’s beautiful places.
The Sea Bird and Sea Lion’s small size allows for incredible maneuverability; the bow is the perfect viewing
spot, whether through the lens of the binocular or camera. Naturalists are always there to help spot & identify
wildlife. Our open seating and casual approach to the onboard dining experience makes it easy to pull up a
chair, meet and mingle with fellow guests.
Costs are Per Person Double Occupancy unless otherwise noted.
$4,840
$7,260
Conveniently positioned between the dining room & lounge, these cabins feature two
single lower beds, a writing desk and a large view window.
Category 2:Upper Deck (#200-212, 215) Bridge Deck (#100-104)
Sole Occupancy
SUN DECK
$5,270
$7,890
These well-located cabins include two lower single beds & a view window.
Category 3:Upper Deck (#214, 216, 217, 219) Bridge Deck (#105, 106) The Sea Lion, built in 1982, and Sea Bird, built in 1981, and refurbished in 2005, are
of U.S. registry and comply fully with U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Gross Tonnage: 99;
Overall Length: 152 feet; Draft: 8 feet; Cruising Speed: 12 knots.
101
CPTN.
106
104
102
100
BRIDGE DECK
219
217
215 211
209 207 205 203 201
216
214
212 210
208 206 204 202 200
UPPER DECK
305 303 301
Note: Sole Occupancy cabins are available in Categories 1 and 2 only. Third person
rates are available in certain categories at one half the double occupancy rate.
Shares: If you wish to share accommodations, we will be glad to make arrangements
at the double occupancy rate in Category 1 and 2 only.
103
GYM EQUIPMENT
$5,990
These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck
cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out
single bed for a third person. Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
105
BRIDGE
Category 1: Main Deck (#300-305) Sole Occupancy BAR
DINING ROOM
LOUNGE
304 302 300
MAIN DECK
Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.©2006 Lindblad Expeditions,Inc.
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You’ll experience Alaska with one of the most passionate
and expert Expedition Teams we have assembled.
A
ll of our expeditions set out with a generous complement of Naturalists aboard, under the
direction of an experienced Expedition Leader (EL). Our most senior ELs have led many
Alaskan expeditions. They and their handpicked teams of Naturalists know the terrain and
share its secrets with you, including specific landfalls that few, if any, passengers on any cruise ship
will ever see. You travel with and learn from a team of geologists, zoologists, marine biologists and
botanists, who are among the best in their field. Each team also includes people who are specially
trained in sharing their knowledge with young people of all ages. The caliber of our Naturalists has
earned us many accolades. And whether you linger on a trail with a Naturalist who can establish
the link between the Amanita muscaria mushroom and Santa Claus, or participate in a debate over
whether biology or geology is more central to understanding life, we think you’ll find our staff
highly engaging. And that you’ll be pleased by how deeply our team respects the environment. We
are committed to conservation and protection, and it shows — in our deeds, as well words. To find
out whose company you’ll be sharing on your expedition, just go to www.expeditions.com for a team
roster of bios and more.
Representing the entire season’s 40-person roster of expedition team are: Top, left to right: Expedition Leader and geologist Jason Kelley; wildlife biologist & photographer Jack Swenson; husband & wife duo Gretchen & Pete Pederson: he is particularly interested in marine mammals and geology, while she focuses primarily on plants; Michelle Graves is an Expedition Leader and all-round Naturalist; Lisa Sette looks forward to sharing her knowledge of birds and marine mammals.
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Daily Expedition Report
Sea Bird in Alaska July 10, 2006
O
ur mid-morning
feast was of the
sensory kind, the excitement almost exhausting.
Humpback whales were
introduced to us quite
like the characters in a drama. First there were the
tall and hanging blows, a signal that they were there,
appearing at the surface. The dark and lumpy rostrums
pushed the water forward as if to make room for the
back and following dorsal fin. Two, three, now eight,
then sixteen or more individuals paraded past presenting their patterned flukes for identification. Knowing
who the performers were was only preparation for what
was to follow for their behavior changed from individual
pursuits to social cooperative feeding. A hydrophone
eavesdropped in on their “conversations.” We soon
learned the language and were able to predict when to
watch for bubbles and dancing fish trying to fly from
charging leviathan maws. The climax, an eruption of
scrambled body parts that rapidly became individuals
once again busily straining schooling herring from
sea water soup. Over and over for hours the action
continued until our stomachs drew us away again.
— Karen Copeland, Natural History Staff
For Reservations or Information:
Carol Larsen
Alaska Expedition
Betchart Expeditions, Inc.
17050 Montebello Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
Phone: 8
00-252-4910 or
408-252-4910
Email:
[email protected]
special booking offers
COMPLIMENTARY AIRFARE: Take advantage of complimentary air fare between Seattle and Juneau, with return from Sitka.
Extension Air Fare: If you are joining our Extension, you will receive
a credit for the complimentary fare. We will book your air Seattle/
Juneau, Sitka/Anchorage, Anchorage to Seattle, and advise you of
the fare. We can also book your air from home to Seattle, RT.
Bringing The Kids: Take $500 off the double occupancy
rate for each person under 18. All departures include staff who
are specially trained and skilled in organizing activities for and
inspiring curiosity in young people of all ages.
Terms and Conditions
Voyage Costs Include: Accommodations aboard ship, air transportation, meals indicated, all shore excursions and sightseeing, use of kayaks, entrance fees, group transfers as indicated
in itinerary, tips (except to ship’s crew), taxes and service
charges, services of Lindblad Expeditions’ natural history staff.
Not Included: Optional extension, flightseeing, individual
transfers, baggage/accident/travel protection plan, items of
a personal nature. Gratuities to ship’s crew at your discretion.
Note: A complete packet of pre-depar ture information, including recommended reading list and suggestions on what to
bring, will be sent to you after your reser vation is confirmed.
Reservations: To confirm your place, an advance payment of
US $1,000 per person is payable by check.
Final Payment: Due 90 days prior to depar ture.
Travel Protection Plan: A Travel Protection Plan is available
at extra cost. Upon receiving your reser vation, we will send
you information on this policy. This comprehensive guest
protection plan covers trip cancellation for medical reasons;
trip delay; medical expenses; accidental death; lost baggage;
and medical evacuation.
Smoking Policy: Allowed only in designated outdoor areas.
Responsibility: Cer tain other provisions concerning, among
other things, limitations of the Companies’ liability for loss
of proper ty, injur y, illness or death during the voyage will be
provided to all guests prior to final payment, and to prospective guests upon request.
Note: Itinerar y and prices are subject to change. The company reser ves the right to impose surcharges based on
increases in the company’s actual cost of fuel.
RESERVATION FORM EXPLORING ALASKA’S COASTAL WILDERNESS
Aboard the Sea Bird
Please reserve ______ place(s) on Exploring Alaska, June 2-9, 2007.
Please reserve ______ place(s) on the Exploring Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, and Denali National Park Extension, June 9-16, 2007.
Name:____________________________________________________ Date of Birth:________________________________
(as it appears on passport)
Name:____________________________________________________ Date of Birth:________________________________
(as it appears on passport)
Street Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________
City:_____________________________________________ State:__________________ Zip:___________________________
Home Phone:_ _________________________________ Business Phone:________________________________________
Fax:___________________________________________ E-Mail: ________________________________________________
Accommodations:
Double
Single
Twin share w/friend
Twin share (Roommate assigned by Tour Operator.)
Please indicate choice of cabin category in order of preference: 1st choice:__________ 2nd choice:________
Enclosed is my deposit check of $1,000 per person payable to Betchart Expeditions, Inc. Trust Account
CANCELLATION POLICY
Number of Days Prior to Expedition Start
60 days or more
59–30 days
29–0 days
Per Person Cancellation Fee
Deposit
50% of trip cost
No refund
This policy applies to expeditions and extensions. We strongly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan.
I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for this program and agree to them.
Signature(s)_______________________________________________________________Date: ______________________
Membership:
AAAS
Sigma Xi
ACS
#979.
Trip Extension is arranged by Betchart Expeditions Inc.
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IMMENSE GLACIERS, FORESTS OF SPRUCE & HEMLOCK, CLEAR STREAMS & BREACHING HUMPBACKS, THAT’S WHY ... ALASKA.
Travel + Leisure 2006 Small-ship
Cruise Lines Award Lindblad
COM
PLIM
ARE
AIRF
Y
R
E N TA
prsrt std
U.S. Postage
paid
lindblad
Expeditions
Expeditions is ranked among the
best. Travel + Leisure 2005 World’s
Best Tour Operators Award ranked
Lindblad Expeditions in the top ten
by readers. Condé Nast Traveler
Gold List 2006 ranked Lindblad
Expeditions among the best:
“...a 93.9 score for Destinations/
Itineraries, 96.2 Service and 89.3
for Activities.”
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!
17050 Montebello Road
Cupertino, CA 95014