Tracy Arm is one of the best places in the Inside Passage to experience tidewater glaciers at close range. Nothing is more memorable than hearing and feeling the boom and crack of massive ice sheets as they calve from an ancient ice field. Viewing glaciers is always a highlight of all the charters. When conditions permit, we will navigate our way through the ice fields to the head of Tracy Arm to see the creation of ice bergs by the calving process. We usually work Tracy Arm into a standard week.

Day 1
Depart Sitka Harbor at noon, allowing an hour or two to visit the historic Russian Orthodox church and museum. Transit Sitka Sound where humpback whales or an occasional pod of killer whales can be observed up close. Enter the protected passageway of Dorothy Narrows where the water is flat calm. Cruise north to magnificent Salisbury Sound and prepare to observe marine life in abundance. Sea lions, whales and ever present sea otters will occupy your afternoon sightseeing. Troll for a fat bellied chinook salmon which the Chef will prepare for your evening meal. Anchor for the evening.


Day 2
Set sail at dawn to begin your adventurous voyage along the wild outside coast of Chichagof Island. We will spend the day exploring the calm waters of sheltered Slocum Arm fjord. Scenic Island Cove, Waterfall Cove and Falcon Fjord will provide engaging photographic opportunities while we discuss the history of this area and point out the abandoned Indian villages and the turn-of-the-century salteries which preserved herring and salmon during the early years, when only sailing vessels plied these waters. Anchor for the night in the protected head of the Fjord. After dinner, launch the skiff, grab the binoculars and take a leisurely cruise near the beach to spot brown bears feeding on salmon at the mouths of spawning streams.


Day 3
We will cruise northward along the rugged coastline continuing our watch for whales, sea otters and sea birds of every description. We will anchor the Caledonia in the secure anchorage of Miners Cove, which puts us within skiff range of White Sulfur Hot Springs. An energetic hike of two miles brings us to the hot springs where you will soak away your cares in the natural mineral water while gazing out over the Pacific Ocean at an unforgettable Alaskan sunset. We will return to the Caledonia with voracious appetites, soon to be appeased by exquisite cuisine.


Day 4
Another early start and we are back exploring some of the most remote unspoiled coastline in Southeast Alaska. Yakobi Island National Wilderness Area will be our focus in the morning. If the tide permits, we will take a short while to troll for king salmon at the mouth of Lisianski Strait, an area noted for its abundance of chinook salmon. At low tide, we will take the skiff to shore to walk the intertidal zone and examine dozens of unique species of marine life up close. Then it's off to Pelican, a historic fishing town on the quiet waters of Lisianski Inlet. Known for its boardwalk and friendly hospitality, you will be able to talk to local salts, many born and raised in town and making a living from the bounty of the sea. A fish processing plant, only recently closed as the result of low salmon prices, was a well-known center for fishing vessels to unload halibut, black cod, salmon and scallops.


Day 5
Depart Pelican and take advantage of excellent halibut fishing in nearby Icy Straights. When your arms are tired from hoisting barn door sized halibut, we will sail for Point Adolphus for a day of whale watching. Nowhere in Southeast Alaska will you experience a better opportunity to observe humpback whales up close. Within sight of Glacier Bay, this is a staging and feeding area for dozens of these mammoth creatures. Breeching whales, sea lions and sea otters will provide many photographic highlights. The visual memory of these magnificent creatures will be forever etched in your mind.


Day 6
Time to set our crab pots in the bays along Icy Strait which are teeming with dungeness crab. It won't take long to capture enough of these oval shaped delicacies for a lunchtime crab feed. We will make a port call to Hoonah, a Tlingit town noted for its love of basketball and for its fine native artwork. Located at the mouth of Frederick Sound, this active community depends on fishing and logging to sustain its economy. Departing from Frederick Sound, we will cross Icy Straits and spend the evening in the safe anchorage of Couverden Harbor.


Day 7
Today, let's explore the islands and inlets of scenic Point Couverden at the juncture of Chatham and Icy Straits. A few hours will be well spent trolling for salmon along the Homeshore and also fishing for salmon and halibut at the hotspot known as Lizardhead. Cruising north through Chatham Straits, we will slow the pace while rounding Point Retreat. Camera and video buffs will want to capture the view of a historic, well-maintained lighthouse with the Juneau icefields as a backdrop. While leisurely cruising toward our destination of the Port of Auke Bay, you will be reliving the memories of an unforgettable week while enjoying the grand vistas of spectacular Mendenhall Glacier amidst the world renowned Juneau icefields.