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Alaska; Salmon Fishing and Yacht Charter
 Brown Bear Fishing Salmon It is summer in Alaska and the salmon, true to their genetic plan are returning to their birth stream to spawn. The bays and waterways are teaming with salmon. What is your interest, King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Sockeye Salmon? All are swimming in the waters now in Alaska, and the best way to fish is on a yacht charter. For on a charter, you can move from fishing area to fishing area, visit the mouth of streams in the tender, fly fish from the shores, or troll from the back of the yacht. In fact, on a yacht charter, you can be fishing simply by dropping a line off of the stern, while cruising through the scenic Inside Passage, sipping on a glass of wine. Let the simple act of cruising, while enjoying the scenery, do the work for you and enjoy a fresh salmon dinner of the "catch of the day".  Flyfishing in Alaska There are several different seasons during the summer in Alaska, depending on the type of salmon in which you might have a fishing interest. And on a yacht charter you can enjoy the whole range of sport fishing that Alaska has to offer. Fly fish on a wilderness stream for salmon in the morning and fish for Barn Door Halibut from on board your yacht in the afternoon. And as you have your own private Chef and galley on board, your catch goes right from the water into the pan, for a fresh gourmet dining experience. And if fresh salmon sushi or sashimi is your thing, well, it is hard for the fish to be any fresher.  Bald Eagle On a yacht charter you can enjoy fishing along with all else that Alaska has to offer, such as watching glaciers calve, Bald Eagles soaring overhead, or whales bubble net feeding next to you. And fish are not the only seafood available. Set out crab pots, or rake clams up from the beach. Alaska has a seemingly never ending source of fresh seafood to be captured from the sea for sumptuous fresh gourmet seafood meals on board your charter yacht. Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Alaska: Still Charter Time Available, Summer 2009
 A Glacier Calving We always recommend when chartering in Alaska to charter on a yacht that does only Alaska. This means the tried and true yachts that have been chartering in Alaska summer after summer, as they know where the whales are bubble net feeding, and they know where the salmon and halibut (the Barn Door Halibuts) are swimming. These are Alaska outfitted yachts, meant for Alaska, that truly do Alaska, which is the way to see this truly spectacular area. Normally these yachts are booked a year in advance. For the first time that we have seen in years (and we have been booking charters in Alaska for over 20 years), there are prime weeks still available on our favorite yachts for charter in Alaska for this summer, 2009. -709704.bmp) Alaskan Story One of our favorite charter yachts in Alaska is Alaskan Story, which charters for up to 8 guests in four guest staterooms for up to $38,500 for a 6 night charter with 2 paid nights in a hotel in either end, which dovetails into the most convenient way to travel to and from Alaska. Alaskan Story charters from Juneau to Sitka and vice versa, depending on the week, which is an itinerary that covers the highlights of Alaska, including whale bubble net feeding, and calving glaciers. And by staying in a specific area of Alaska, Alaskan Song is able to track the migrations of wild and marine life throughout the summer, to put you in the right spot for your week of charter. Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters has been working with Owner/Operators Geoff and Debbie Wilson for over 20 years from their first yacht that they operated in Alaska up to their present yacht, Alaskan Story. With over 20 years under their belts cruising in this spectacular area, they are truly the mavens in local knowledge.  Brown Bear Fishing for Salmon And local knowledge is absolutely necessary for the best Alaskan Experience, as local knowledge is about where the whales are on their hunt for food from week to week so you can see the bubble net feeding, when the salmon are spawning upstream, where the bears are, and where the Bald Eagles are nesting. In Alaska, if you don't know where to look, you miss it all. Always stick with local knowledge, and book the yacht with crew with that, which is what we do when booking yacht charter in Alaska.  Whales Bubble Feeding Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Charter, Admiralty Island, Alaska: Watch the bears watch you
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters Website Alaskan Brown Bear Admiralty Island, or Kootznoowoo (Fortress of the Bear) as it is known to the indigenous Tlingits, is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America. About 1,600 brown bears inhabit the island and they outnumber the Tlingit community of Angoon, the only settlement on the island, about three to one. Around the year 2000, the human population of the island was 650 people.  Bald Eagle The Admiralty Island National Monument, a federally protected Wilderness Area, occupies most of the island. The old growth temperate rainforest, is also home to bald eagles and Sitka black-tailed deer. An ideal place to observe the brown bears is The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area. Here, visitors can see the bears fish for salmon and interact in their natural habitat. Admiralty Island is also home to the largest concentration of nesting Bald Eagles in the world. As you cruise along the island shoreline, particularly in the early morning and evening, often bears and Bald Eagles are seen.  Bear Fishing for Salmon In the waters surrounding Admiralty Island keep your eyes open for humpback whales, killer whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and porpoises, as these waters are a natural habitat.  Whales Bubble Feeding While cruising in this area it is not uncommon for killer whales and porpoises to swim alongside, dive under or swim ahead of your yacht, as they love to play in the water movement made by the yacht hull cutting through the water. It is also quite possible to see a pod of whales working together as they "bubble net" feed for their dinner. A yacht charter that includes Admiralty Island includes the highlights of marine and wildlife in Alaska. Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
When to go to Alaska on a Crewed Yacht Charter
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charter Website Glacier Calving Summer cruising in Alaska starts in mid May, and ends in mid September. The interested Charterer always asks what the best dates are to choose for a charter in Alaska. The surprise answer is that your choice of what dates to pick for crewed yacht charter should depend more on what you want to see and do rather than on what the weather does. In online weather information, you might see that August and July are supposed to be drier than June. And, most people think that August will be warmer than June. In actuality, this all varies from summer to summer in Alaska, with no rhyme or reason. The dates you choose to book your crewed yacht charter in Alaska during the summer charter season should be based on the wild and marine life that you might want to see, and the activities you might want to do, as the migration patterns of wild and marine life is far more predictable than the weather.  Glacier Weather in Alaska from mid May to mid September can change from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit at any time, and does so on a daily basis, not on a monthly basis. During the summer cruising season in Alaska it may be cooler, warmer, drier or wetter, all in the same day. And, your activity can create a weather change, such as if you are up under the calving face of a glacier, it may feel colder as the glacier ice slices through the air into the water below, sending a rush of cooler air and water your way. If you don't like the current weather during your crewed yacht charter in Alaska, stick around 10 minutes and the weather will change. What is more predictable than the weather in Alaska is the migration of the wild and marine life. Wild and marine life migration patterns should influence your charter date choice if you have particular wild or marine life that you want to see, or if you have particular activities you want to do. For the summer cruising season in Alaska, the wise person picks charter dates and charters around their interests, not the weather. The summer salmon run in Alaska is famous. Salmon are anadromous, which means that they are birthed in fresh water, make their way to salt water to live and return to fresh water to spawn and die. At the end of their life span, salmon return from salt water to their natal stream, which is the stream in which they were born, to fight up that stream to spawn dozens of eggs for new life. Both males and females return to their natal stream, as the female carries the eggs, which the male fertilizes. This ritual marks the life span of each salmon, which is ended spawning in the natal stream from whence that salmon emerged.  Sea Lion This ritual of returning up the natal stream for spawning follows a general summer schedule, which starts in the beginning of the summer cruising season, with the salmon gathering in the salt waters of Alaska. At this point, in May and June, there are plenty of salmon for salt water trolling for fishing, and the bears and sea lions that dine on this fish are frequently seen along the beaches and shorelines fishing for dinner. As the salmon enter their natal stream in July and August to fight upstream, the bears will move up stream with them inland, and away from the shoreline. If one of your purposes for charter in Alaska is to see bears, it is better to go in May and June, while the bears are along the coast.  Bear Fishing Fly fishing is a great sport in Alaska; however the species fished for in Alaska when fly fishing varies throughout the summer, based on the migration patterns of the fish. In June the Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout will pack the streams heading up river for excellent fly fishing, while in July and August, salmon pack the streams for fly fishing. Some trout species are able to survive this fight upstream for spawning and return again to salt water, however for salmon, this is the end of the line, and they show it. July and August are great for fly fishing for salmon, but those salmon caught, are not the best for eating, as they have begun to deteriorate pending the end of their lives. Catch salmon to eat in salt water as there are always salmon in the salt waters of Alaska in various stages of life. For salt water fishing, there is no place better for Halibut fishing than Alaska, where catching a Barn Door Halibut, which is what the fish are called if over 200 pounds, is a real possibility. Halibut fishing is from April through October, however if your heart is set on catching a Barn Door Halibut, the best chance is in mid July.  Flyfishing in Alaska Even as the bears retreat up the stream banks inland to fish for salmon in July and August, the moose, wild goats, and deer come down from the mountains closer to shore as the ice and snow melt as summer progresses. In August, moose, wild goats and deer can more readily be seen closer to shore.  Whales Bubble Feeding Whales are back in Alaska beginning in mid May to June, and stay in Alaskan waters feeding throughout the summer, in pods, with a bubble net feeding pattern, that must be seen to be believed. If you want to see Grey Whales charter in May, as they can only be seen then passing through to their summer home in the Bering Sea. Humpback Whales begin to return to Alaska for the summer in May and can be seen throughout the summer. A good charter yacht captain will be keeping track of the various pods of Humpback Whales as they move, to be sure to cruise in whale areas for each charter.  Killer Whale The famous American Bald Eagle returns to Alaska as early as April and stays around all summer nesting. There can be as many as 100 or more Bald Eagles in any given anchorage, and watching these magnificent birds fly is a treat. And of course, no matter when during the summer season, you choose to charter, there are always virgin forests to visit, which are only a myth in most locations, and shoreside towns to visit, each with their history, culture, and gift shops. So, whenever you do a crewed yacht charter in Alaska during the summer season, there is plenty to see and do. But, if you have a particular must do activity, time your charter, not for the weather, but for the migration and various activities of wild and marine life.  Bald Eagle View Yachts in Alaska that are available for charter Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Yacht Charter Alaska Tracy Arm, Sawyer Glacier
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters Website Tracy Arm is a 23 mile long Fjord capped by the twin Sawyer Glaciers, coastal tidewater glaciers; which are a long river of solid fresh water ice, centuries old, flowing from the mountains to the sea. The "rivers" move at a rate of several feet a day. As the glaciers crawl along, when reaching the salt water of Tracy Arm, the glaciers "calve" , and huge chunks of the face ice break off and plunge into the salt water of Tracy Arm. The ice chunks that separate from the face of the glaciers can be several stories high and wide, and break from the face with a loud cracking noise, followed by a terrific splash and radiating wave. The twin Sawyer Glaciers on Tracy Arm each calve at a rate of once an hour, so when visiting, one can almost be assured of seeing this age old glacier action.  Tracy Arm is located southeast of Juneau on the Inside Passage of lower Alaska and a cruise up the fjord should be included in the itinerary of your private crewed yacht when chartering in this area. The twin Sawyer Glaciers are a fascinating sight, however the cruise up the narrow fjord is spectacular as well. Waterfalls cascade over the high rock walls forming the fjord. Overhead, Bald Eagles are often sited and the Dahl goat, a very furry white mountain goat is often seen, along with moose and beer along the sides of the fjord. Meanwhile, while cruising up Tracy Arm, your yacht will be cruising around the ice chunks that calved off the faces of the Sawyer Glaciers and drifted down to the mouth of the fjord. For more information about Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier, please click on the "Read More" button below Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier Tracy Arm, 45 miles south of Juneau, is one of two fjords that occupy the Tracy Arm area. Along with Endicott Arm, the area covers about 653,179 acres and both fjords are about 30 miles long. About one-fifth of the area is covered in ice. Approaching by sea, visitors sail along meandering bends and pass blocks of ice on their way to view the twin Sawyer Glaciers, located at the head of the fjord. The sides of Tracy Arm rise steeply to the 7,000 foot height of the surrounding mountains and reveal numerous waterfalls and glacial blue water. The area is home to a variety of wildlife including black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, sea lions, eagles, mew gulls, arctic terns and pigeon guillemots. Mountain goats are occasionally spotted near the base of Sawyer Glacier. Often little harbor seals are basking on the small blocks of ice that have calved from the face of the glacier. The spectacular twin Sawyer Glaciers are a viewing point to see shedding ice. Chunks as tall as a three-story apartment building have been known to fall into the sea. In fact, the head of Tracy Arm sheds ice about once an hour. Spend time up close to each glacier, watching the calving action, however beware of the large waves created. If in a tender, you can go right up under the face of the glaciers and circle around the ice chunks dotted with harbor seals basking in the sun. Put sea kayaks in the water and kayak around the ice field, stopping to break chunks of glacier ice off for cocktails.  Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Yacht Charter Alaska, Charter itinerary
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters Website The time to book your summer charter in Alaska is now. The Alaska season is short and often booked a year in advance. The summer season is mid May to mid September. Each summer month is great. Weather is expected to be slightly cooler and drier in May and June, and slightly warmer and rainier in July and August, however the weather in Alaska is constantly changing during the season even in one day, where temperatures can be 50 degrees F to 80 degrees F in one day. The real choice of when to go, is about what you want to see and do. There are generally always whales, however the fishing seasons do change, from Cutthroat Trout to various species of salmon throughout the summer. Bears are more easily seen in earlier summer along the shore lines as they search for food, moving up into the mountains, along the salmon streams to fish for dinner later in the summer as the salmon begin to run upstream, with the heaviest salmon runs towards the end of the summer. ALASKA : SITKA to JUNEAU SITKA HARBOR Arrive on board, unpack and rest before taking a walking tour of Sitka. Its natural beauty and history make Sitka one of the most interesting of the Alaskan southeastern towns. Walk to the Sheldon Jackson Museum to view Tlingit and Aleut artifacts. Continue to the Visitors Center at the Sitka National Historical Park to see more native artifacts and an impressive collection of totem poles arranged along the walk that leads to the site of the battle between the Tlingit and the Russians. The Russian occupation period is featured in the Russian Bishop's House, the Russian cemetery, Castle Hill, the Isabel Miller Museum in the Centennial Building and St. Michael's Cathedral. Take some time to shop in the gift and specialty shops for native and Russian-influenced modern arts and crafts. Enjoy cocktails and dinner on board. Depart Sitka after breakfast, cruising through Olga and Neva Straits. Fish for salmon along the way to Kalinan Bay, north of Salisbury Sound, where you'll anchor for the evening. Cruise through Sergius Narrows out Peril Strait, where you'll see eagles and perhaps the little Sitka black tail deer and the magnificent Alaskan Brown Bear. After fishing and whale watching, you'll cruise down the west coast of Baranof Island, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world magnificent Alaskan Brown Bear. After fishing and whale watching, you'll cruise down the west coast of Baranof Island, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Spend the night either anchored in one of the beautiful coves or tie up to the government float at Warm Springs Bay in front of the thundering water of Baranof Falls. Hike up to Baranof Lake or choose to simply sit in the hot springs above the falls.  WHALES IN ALASKA Heading further down Chatham Strait you'll cruise northeast into Frederick Sound. Watch for humpback whales as these waters are the summer feeding grounds for hundreds of Humpbacks that migrate up from the warmer summer waters. You'll see them alone and in large groups from afar as well as close to the yacht. Later, spend the night in one of the most tranquil of anchorages, an island group called The Brothers. This area is known as a place where humpback whales cruise very closely to vessels and it's also a great fishing area for halibut.  BROWN BEAR FEEDING ON SALMON After breakfast, you'll cruise through the small islands, watching for whales and sea lions. Throughout the summer hundreds of sea lions sun themselves on the rocks of this area. After fishing for salmon and halibut, you will anchor for the night in Cannery Cove in Pybus Bay on Admiralty Island. Admiralty is a primary summer nesting ground for eagles and has the densest concentration of brown bears, also known as grizzlies, in the world-about one per square mile; about 2000 on the island! In the morning, take a dingy ride to see if the salmon have returned to spawn. Then, cruise up Stevens Passage and catch some salmon in "no name" cove at the mouth of Tracy Arm.  TRACY ARM Spend a day cruising up Tracy Arm, a Norwegian like fjord 23 miles long, where you will see many large icebergs before arriving at the tide-water Sawyer Glacier. You will probably see seals, eagles, Brown bears, mountain goats and moose in this beautiful area. Continue cruising through the icebergs up Stephens Passage, while enjoying lunch on deck and viewing the snow-covered mountains of Admiralty Island. Anchor for the evening in Taku Harbor.  JUNEAU Cruise past Taku Inlet, up Gastineau Channel and arrive in Juneau. Tour the state capital with visits to the Alaska State Museum and Centennial Hall before disembarking.  Visit Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Yacht Charter Alaska
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters Website Glacier Alaska has been in the news recently, heightening the interest in this remarkable state. Did you know that more Bald Eagles nest in Alaska than anywhere else in the world? Did you know that there are more brown bears in Alaska than any other state in the U.S.? And that is only a small slice of the wonders that Alaska offers. Private yacht charter puts you right in the middle of it all; much closer than on a cruise ship looking ashore from a distance. In private yacht charter you will be in the middle of the action. Sit right in a pod of whales bubble net feeding next to the bow of your yacht. Hike through virgin forests piled high on the forest floor with moss. Watch bears fish for dinner, with salmon fighting up their birth stream for their egg laying destiny. Soak in warm springs overlooking waterfalls. Sit under glaciers as they calve, sending their ice chunks ahead down the fjords as announcements of the glacier to be seen at the head of the fjord. Watch the seals bask in the sun on these same ice chunks, as you sea kayak around, chipping off centuries old glacier ice for evening cocktails. Watch porpoises and killer whales play in the wake of your yacht, diving under, and swimming alongside. Fish the salmon and trout streams, wading in to fly fish in isolated streams, while bald eagles watch. Fish from on board, hauling up huge halibut. Check the crab pots for Dungeness and King crab. Dine at night on fresh steamed crab dipped in butter, fresh grilled salmon, and steamed clams dug along the shoreline of your anchorage. This is all part of a private yacht charter.  At Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we believe that local knowledge of the Captain, crew or on board Naturalist is a must. Therefore, we offer charter on the yachts, where the Owners and crew specialize in Alaska as their destination. A Captain and Crew that specialize in Alaska as their destination keep track of where the wild and marine life gravitate throughout the season and take you there. Wild and marine life will travel and move as they migrate or look for food sources. Only a Captain and crew knowledgeable will know where to look as the season unfolds for where all is happening during your week of charter.  It is important to charter a yacht that is outfitted for Alaska as well, with boots, rain gear, sea kayaks, good tenders, and full fishing equipment for Alaska fishing. Halibut caught in Alaska can be huge and fishing for this species can require heavy duty gear. Fishing for salmon might be from on board with a trolled line, or even fly fishing on a beautiful mountain stream. If the full fly fishing gear is not on board, including waders, a knowledgeable crew knows where the right fishing lodges are for rental. Crab pots should be on board to be set for Dungeness and King crab. Rain gear is important and the weather changes constantly. Who wants to miss a calving glacier due to failure to have the right gear?  Alaska is a spectacular charter location. The experience is impossible to replicate in any other location, so you should be with the best and the most knowledgeable. At Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters we have been offering and working with the knowledgeable crew in Alaska for over 20 years and are looking forward to helping you with this outstanding charter location.  Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Yacht Charter Alaska, Sitka
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter Website Sitka National Historic Park Sitka is a lovely port to either begin, or end your charter or just to visit during your charter. Regular air flights come into Sitka from "the lower 48"' and there are several hotels and a small downtown shopping area for quality local souvenirs of Tlingit Indian crafts, carved soapstone, and of course, smoked local salmon. Click on the "Read More" Button Below For More InformationOnce called "the Paris of the Pacific," Sitka stands out among other ports as a city rich in culture. Built on the empire of Russian fur trade, Sitka is set between steep mountain slopes and the Sitka Sound, just off the shore of Baranof Island. With a population of just under 10,000, Sitka is Alaska's fifth-largest city and has grown to be the cultural and artistic center of the Southeast. Sitka is a town with a history grounded in Russian heritage with a damp, moderate climate that contributes to the appearance of an England coastal community. The local economy is strongly centered on the timber, fishing and tourism industries. Famous for its sport fishing, Sitka's two harbors are dotted with brightly colored boats that look out over the pine-covered islands of the Tongass National Forest. The Sitka National Historic Park offers workshops on Indian arts and crafts, a treat for visitors seeking a creative endeavor. Forty miles worth of hiking trails wind throughout the forested areas within the community. Southeast Alaska totem poles and a temperate rain forest setting combine to provide spectacular scenery along the park’s coastal trail. Onion-dome architecture dots the landscape, and local dancers bring to life the traditions that Russia brought with its conquest. Sitka is home to an annual salmon derby, the Alaska Logging Championship, the Sitka Summer Music Festival, and the Alaska Fine Arts Camp. Several local museums and galleries present the rich history of the town.  Tlingit Indian Totem Pole  Sitka Visit Northrop and Johnson's WebsiteLabels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Yacht Charter Alaska, Juneau
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter Website Juneau, Alaska Juneau is only one of many Alaskan cities that can only be accessed by air or sea. Completely surrounded on three sides by glaciers, Juneau opens up to the ocean as a port city, spilling from the mountains to the sea. While this city does have roads and cars, there are no roads leading into Juneau, which makes for a bustling port city, and a great location to begin or end your charter. Click on the " Read More" Button Below for More InformationAlaska's capital and the state's third largest city is a cosmopolitan city located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Nestled at the base of the towering mountains overlooking the Gastineau Channel, Juneau is ideal for travelers who enjoy combining explorations of spectacular natural with local culture although some of the best views are made by sea and air. Juneau's nearby attractions are miles of scenic trails that weave through the temperate rainforest up to alpine meadow mountains. The area allows a convenient access to Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm Fjord, the Taku River, and Admiralty Island and Pack Creek Bear Preserve. Visitors can also view the spectacular Juneau Icefield from helicopters and fixed-wing air craft. The Mendenhall Glacier, which is the state's top attraction, has an impressive face of 100 feet high and 1.5 miles wide. The Alaska State Museum has permanent collections and traveling exhibits that highlight Alaska's native peoples, natural history, the Alaska-Yukon gold rushes, and the American period of the state's history. Exhibits include artwork and artifacts, photographs, murals, kayak models and a children's room.  Mendenhall Glacier Visit Northrop and Johnson's WebsiteLabels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Charter Alaska - Complete Itinerary
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter Website Alaska Chartering in Alaska is a lifetime experience, and one of the only ways to be one on one with the spectacular wild and marine life. Private yacht charter brings you close to the scenery, anchoring in secluded coves, ringed by Bald Eagles, sitting next to a pod of whales bubble net feeding, watching bear fish from the streams, or fishing yourself for salmon and halibut. Rather than high in the air by plane or way offshore by cruise ship, be in the middle of the action, in private yacht charter. There are numerous itineraries throughout Alaska. The following offers an excellent slice of Alaska from Juneau to Sitka. Click on the "Read More" Button below to View a Complete Itinerary ALASKA SITKA to JUNEAU SITKA HARBOR Arrive on board, unpack and rest before taking a walking tour of Sitka. Its natural beauty and history make Sitka one of the most interesting of the Alaskan southeastern towns. Walk to the Sheldon Jackson Museum to view Tlingit and Aleut artifacts. Continue to the Visitors Center at the Sitka National Historical Park to see more native artifacts and an impressive collection of totem poles arranged along the walk that leads to the site of the battle between the Tlingit and the Russians. The Russian occupation period is featured in the Russian Bishop's House, the Russian cemetery, Castle Hill, the Isabel Miller Museum in the Centennial Building and St. Michael's Cathedral. Take some time to shop in the gift and specialty shops for native and Russian-influenced modern arts and crafts. Enjoy cocktails and dinner on board. Depart Sitka after breakfast, cruising through Olga and Neva Straits. Fish for salmon along the way to Kalinan Bay, north of Salisbury Sound, where you will anchor for the evening. Cruise through Sergius Narrows out Peril Strait, where you will see eagles and perhaps the little Sitka black tail deer and the magnificent Alaskan Brown Bear. After fishing and whale watching, you will cruise down the west coast of Baranof Island, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world magnificent Alaskan Brown Bear. After fishing and whale watching, you’ll cruise down the west coast of Baranof Island, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Spend the night either anchored in one of the beautiful coves or tie up to the government float at Warm Springs Bay in front of the thundering water of Baranof Falls. Hike up to Baranof Lake or choose to simply sit in the hot springs above the falls. WHALES SWIMMING Heading further down Chatham Strait you will cruise northeast into Frederick Sound. Watch for humpback whales as these waters are the summer feeding grounds for hundreds of Humpbacks that migrate up from the warmer summer waters. You will see them alone and in large groups from afar as well as close to the yacht. Later, spend the night in one of the most tranquil of anchorages, an island group called The Brothers. This area is known as a place where humpback whales cruise very closely to vessels and it's also a great fishing area for halibut. BROWN BEAR FEEDING ON SALMON After breakfast, you will cruise through the small islands, watching for whales and sea lions. Throughout the summer hundreds of sea lions sun themselves on the rocks of this area. After fishing for salmon and halibut, you will anchor for the night in Cannery Cove in Pybus Bay on Admiralty Island. Admiralty is a primary summer nesting ground for eagles and has the densest concentration of brown bears, also known as grizzlies, in the world - about one per square mile; about 2000 on the island! In the morning, take a dingy ride to see if the salmon have returned to spawn. Then, cruise up Stevens Passage and catch some salmon in "no name" cove at the mouth of Tracy Arm. TRACY ARM Spend a day cruising up Tracy Arm, a Norwegian like fjord 23 miles long, where you will see many large icebergs before arriving at the tide-water Sawyer Glacier. You will probably see seals, eagles, Brown bears, mountain goats and moose in this beautiful area. Continue cruising through the icebergs up Stephens Passage, while enjoying lunch on deck and viewing the snow-covered mountains of Admiralty Island. Anchor for the evening in Taku Harbor. Cruise past Taku Inlet, up Gastineau Channel and arrive in Juneau. Tour the state capital with visits to the Alaska State Museum and Centennial Hall before disembarking. JUNEAU Visit Northrop and Johnson's WebsiteLabels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Charter Alaska - Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glaciers
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter Website Sawyer Glacier For any itinerary out of Juneau, it would be a shame to miss a cruise up Tracey Arm to see the north and south side of Sawyer Glacier crawling bit by bit down the north and south arm of Tracy Fjord. Sawyer Glacier is one of the few glaciers abutting salt water. It is an actively calving glacier sending bits of ice floating to the mouth of Tracy Arm announcing the glaciers presence at the top of the fjord. See more information by clicking the "Read More" button below Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier Tracy Arm, 45 miles south of Juneau, is one of two fjords that occupy the Tracy Arm area. Along with Endicott Arm, the area covers about 653,179 acres and both fjords are about 30 miles long. About one-fifth of the area is covered in ice. Approaching by sea, visitors sail along meandering bends and pass blocks of ice on their way to view the twin Sawyer Glaciers, located at the head of the fjord. The sides of Tracy Arm rise steeply to the 7,000 foot height of the surrounding mountains and reveal numerous waterfalls and glacial blue water. The area is home to a variety of wildlife including black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, sea lions, eagles, mew gulls, arctic terns and pigeon guillemots. Mountain goats are occasionally spotted near the base of Sawyer Glacier. Often little harbor seals are basking on the small blocks of ice that have calved from the face of the glacier. The spectacular twin Sawyer Glaciers are a viewing point to see shedding ice. Chunks as tall as a three-story apartment building have been known to fall into the sea. In fact, the head of Tracy Arm sheds ice about once an hour. Spend time up close to each glacier, watching the calving action, often announced by a loud crack before large face pieces of ice separate from the glacier and fall into the waters below. If in a tender, you can go right up under the face of the glaciers and circle around the ice chunks with harbor seals basking in the sun. Put sea kayaks in the water and kayak around the ice field, stopping to break chunks of glacier ice off for drinks later. When cruising up and down Tracy Arm, also watch for the many waterfalls that drop down from the mountains into the fjord, and be on the lookout for wild and marine life. Visit Northrop and Johnson's Website Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
Charter Alaska, Summer 2009
 The state of Alaska is in the News! Visit yourself and see this majestic state via private yacht charter next summer. Private yacht charter allows entering the small anchorages ringed with Bald Eagles, going ashore in virgin forests, fly fishing the salmon streams, setting crab pots, fishing for halibut, clamming on the shores, watching for bears, moose, and wild mountain goats, and sitting in a pod of whales while they bubble feed.
Cruise right up under major glaciers and watch them calve. Kayak around ice floes, while harbor seals bask in the sun, chipping off million year old ice for evening cocktails. Private yacht charter is the way to really see this area and interact with the wild and marine life that is so plentiful. Catch a King Salmon in the afternoon and dine on fresh poached salmon with hollandaise accompanied by wines from the west coast of the United States and Canada. The season is June through August. Northrop and Johnson is pleased to represent private yacht charter in Alaska with great local options with very knowledgeable crew. Afterall, seeing the area is about knowing the area, and very experienced, knowledgeable crew make all the difference. We look forward to arranging your next charter.
<>  Alaskan Song Labels: Pacific Northwest / Alaska
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-709747.bmp)
