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It is 1500 000 km2 (3 times France), and 5 000 km of coast, lined by
the highest coastal mountains in the world that awaits for you …
Nevertheless, only 500 000 inhabitants live in this vast country. Half of them live in Anchorage or Fairbanks. The others,
lumberjacks or fishermen, live in a multitude of small villages (about 300),
often tiny, appearing in the middle of nowhere. In Alaska, distances are extraordinary...
Surrounded by the national Chugach Forest and protected from the Alaska
low pressure by islands Montague and Hinchinbrook, Prince William
Sound covers a sector of about 27 000 square km within a complex and
rugged coast. More than 200 islands of any sizes are scattered everywhere in the
area.
Although this region was already populated for a long time, most of the
glaciers around Prince
William Sound were named by the Harriman expedition
in 1899. Among others, famous ice-cream Columbia icefield,
"baptized" in honour of the University of Columbia in New York,
and not, as one may think, in honour of British Colombia. It is the biggest
"ice-maker" around Prince William Sound (64 km long),
arising from Mountain Einstein snows and "dying " in the heart of Columbia Bay,
producing numerous icebergs (millions of tons every
day !). From the Chugach mountains, more than 150 glaciers come down,
among which17 arrive at sea level.
Prince William Sound offers the biggest variety of wild life along the
North Pacific coast: 240 species of birds were observed, from the Rufus's tiny hummingbird
to the powerful bald eagle. In spring and in autumn, dozens million migratory birds cross theSound.
Humpback whales, killer whales, mink whales, harbour seals and
sea lions live in this maritime environment. 30 different
species of ground mammals were also registered in Prince William
Sound. The easiest to spot are the Sitka deer, the black bear
and the mountain goats.
Fishing (commercial and sports) is made on five species of
Pacific salmon as well as halibut, shrimps, crab
or herring.
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Navigation
The boat will leave her wake in a protected sea, and will drop anchor
every evening in a different anchorage, in some remote and isolated
fjord. The inside passages offer magnificent corridors
which waters, dark and quiet, find their way in the middle of an
infinity of islands .Quietness and silence reign everywhere…
Your equipment:
Temperature may vary from 8° to 28° C. You will have to dress up
accordingly...
- Hats, gloves, thermal, T-shirts (or better, thermal underwear), rain
jackets
- Light waterproof sportswear for hikes ashore
- Waterproof boots (highly recomended if not mandatory...) No
need for heavy hiking shoes. You will often disembark on wet beaches
and hikes are almost always in wet lands.
- warm and comfortable slippers (inside) and deck shoes
- Sleeping bag or warm quilt (bedsheets and pillows provided on board).
- Soft travel luggage ( no hardshell suitcases please)
- Mosquito repellent
- Binoculars
- Lots of film rolls...and a camera!
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Weather
The climate is maritime with moderate temperatures and an average
rainfall of 100 inches annually. Summers are cool, wich is normal by
60 ° North, but it is a drier zone than Alaska's southeast .You may
encounetr the 4 seasons in a single day... Temperatures vary from 7 to
22 °C, but inside Sauvage, the heater maintains the
temperature at a nice 20 °. On misty days, the landscapes take
phantasmagorical looks. On bright shiny days, it is a debauchery of
colours that breaks out on forests and glaciers …
Activities:
Sailing will be your main activity, of course. But once anchored,
discovering this intact thus magnificent nature is an all time
delight… Every day, you will discover a new anchorage and hike for 1
to 5 hours, depending on the places, and depending on your
desire, obviously... You will be guided in complete safety in each of
your strolls by your crew who in three years of cruises in Prince
William Sound, has selected for you the most beautiful and
interesting places.
Numerous hikes with quantity of possible observations: seals, sea
lions, otters, beavers, moose and possibly (I should say frequently,
to be honest...) bear, either fortuitous meeting, or by "tracking"
the animal, staying in respectful distance(Didier knows the rules!).
A sea kayak on board Sauvage will allow those who
wish to escape in the anchorage and to approach animals gently and
noiselessly to do so. A dinghy will allow the same escapade. All
this besides the tender (Zodiac commando) which allows all
to land.
You will discover the "ice makers", nickname for these
gigantic glaciers, the forest, the wild berries crop,
fishing salmon, halibut and cod. Sauvage is
equipped with all the fishing tackle needed in Alaska. The
unconditional fishermen should take a fishing licence in
port(bearing) before leaving.You will have the oportunity to trawl a
line while under way, or practice fly fishing in the nearby rivers
whence arrived at your overnight anchorage.
The walks around glaciers for the spectacle of colours, will allow to
the photo and video amateurs to return loaded with images which
will make recollections and envious persons!
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Formalities,
currency, and "generally speaking"
Formalities: For the nationals of European countries and Switzerland:
no visa necessary for tourism (90 days Maximum).
Your passport, valid 6 months after the excpected return date is
enough. But the recent events brought United States to take new
decisions. It may be necessary to get precise information from
your nearest United States Embassy...
Money: here is the country of the USD... Set apart Valdez
and Wittier, you will not have many occasion to spend these
dollars. The maritime mammals are not storekeepers...
Today's exchange rates:
Hi-Fi,photo, video: be aware! In Canada as in the United States, power is 110 V
(220V in France). Electric plugs are different than the european ones. However,
sauvage and her Genset will provide you with the power you need....
Photos: don't forget to bring a lot of rolls along. No shops are available
outside Valdez...
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How to get there:
Flights from EUROPE to Anchorage travel via Houston, Chicago
or San Francisco.
You will first have to get to Seattle. From Seattle, you will
fly to Anchorage with Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific or Delta airlines.
From Anchorage, go to Kodiak by plane, or to Seward by bus (2 hours) or
to Whittier by train (1 hour) or to Valdez by plane.
http://www.eraaviation.com/
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