Arrive in Juneau on or before Saturday August 4, 2012.  Relax and rest or visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center which features abundant black bears in the creek below the parking lot (and is free.)  Or, take a custom adventure tour with Above and Beyond Alaska to the inside of Mendenhall Glacier.  Orcas and humpbacks abound in the waters off of Juneau, and can easily be seen from a small tour boat. As many times as I’ve been to Juneau, I hope this time that we’ll get a chance to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway up 1,800 feet for a spectacular view of the Juneau area.

Day 1 – Sunday, August 5, 2012

Depart Juneau, Alaska in the afternoon with the outgoing tide.  Pick up kayaks and get dropped off at Oliver inlet. Take a short one-mile portage with our gear handled by the state-maintained portage tram to Seymour Canal, known for one of the world’s greatest concentrations of nesting bald eagles and a large population of brown bears. Seals, sea lions and whales also spend the summer feeding in the canal. From Seymour Canal we will kayak toward Pack Creek.

Camping at night.

Day 2 – Monday, August 6

Arrive at Pack Creek area and look for bears. Pack Creek is a managed area on Admiralty Island 40 miles northeast of Juneau with a high density of brown bears habituated to the presence of humans.  Pack Creek has been a popular bear viewing destination since at least the 1930s. Today the area is cooperatively managed by the USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game. Visitors are limited to reduce stress on the bears.  We will have the necessary permits well in advance. (Note that we may opt for another, similar bear-intensive area depending on scouting reports from immediately prior to our trip.)

Camping at night.

Day 3 – Tuesday, August 7

Paddle and go to the Pack Creek area and look for more bears and eagles. Camping at night. (Note that we may opt for another, similar bear-intensive area depending on scouting reports immediately prior to our trip.)

Day 4 – Wednesday, August 8

Picked up by Weather Permitting Alaska and transported to Endicott Arm for glacier viewing, wildlife viewing and kayaking.  Endicott Arm is a twin to Tracy Arm, a spectacular fjord with multiple glaciers that feed it.  We’ll look for black and brown bears, mountain goats, eagles and the rare wolverine.  Camping at night.

Days 5 and 6 – Thursday and Friday, August 9 and 10

Continue exploring Endicott Arm and look for wildlife or fish.  If you have never explored a glacier, it’s a surreal experience.  From the water, ice calves the size of cars or even houses will crack off the face and drop with the crack of artillery.  From inside a glacial cavern, the unearthly blue of glacial ice is one of life’s great thrills.  We’ll have great chances to explore, find wildlife, kayak, rest and hope for a clear night. Camping at night.

Day 7 – Saturday, August 11
Return to Juneau aboard the Weather Permitting Alaska.

I suggest that you give yourself some wiggle room and plan to leave Juneau on Sunday August 12.  The weather in Alaska is fickle, and adventure trips do get delayed occasionally by unplanned circumstances.  Ann and I have had trips return a day late, and those that return on time.  If you plan a Saturday 8/11 departure in the evening, be sure to make it a refundable or changeable air ticket.