Once again we are able to offer a unique Alaskan adventure for 2009 with Dolphin Charters and aboard their fifty foot power yacht Delphinus. Captain Ronn Patterson has been leading groups through out Southeast Alaska for over 20 years and is an expert on the landscape, wildlife, and fauna. The 2009 year trip is a very  different itinerary and nine days long traveling most of Southeast Alaska. It starts in Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world , and ends in Juneau, Alaska's capital. Old growth forests, glaciers, and ever abundant wildlife will be our lives for the trip. We will sleep and eat on Delphinus and wander as close to scenery and action as possible. Each day we will leave the boat to explore a different area of the forests that are Southeast Alaska. Highlights will be the abundant number of humpback whales living in the area and the visit to Pack Creek, a brown bear preserve on Admiralty Island and Anan Creek, the best of black bear locations.  I have traveled with Ronn and Delphinus for several years and I am convinced this is the best way to explore the wilderness of Southeast. The following is the official description of the trip written by Dolphin Charters.  This cruise is truly special, offering you an opportunity to not just see but to experience and become a part of some of the most magnificent and overwhelming scenery in North America.

This trip does it all! We'll begin in Ketchikan, a hard working town, and cruise to Kasaan, a native village with an incredible totem park and a traditional long house on an old village site. Then, onto Anan Creek, simply the best place to witness black bears in their own habitat. We will cruise through Frederick Sound and the very best humpback whale area in route to Pack Creek and grizzly bears! Pack Creek is wonderful for observing brown bears and their playful cubs. We'll focus on the needs and desires of the group: we'll immerse the photographer in the wildlife and photographic highlights of southeast Alaska. The possibilities are endless!

It is both easy and exciting just to be around the humpbacks, hour after hour, as they alternately feed and rest. We can record their summer vocalizations—their trumpeting.

Orcas also regularly are seen in Frederick Sound. It is a part of the territory of the resident J-pod of the North—creatures as playful, shore loving, friendly, curious, and as easy to be with as the J-pod of Puget Sound. Frederick Sound is also frequented by transient orcas. These we have seen many times going after various mammals—often close to the boat!

Dall’s porpoise and harbor porpoise are also resident. The former like to bow ride and rooster tail—they zip through the water so fast as to send up a spray of water like a rooster tail! Sea lions and harbor seals are resident too, and both have rookeries on several islands.

Another special feature are the two bear reserves—Anan Creek for black bears & grizzlies (called brown bears or brownies) and Pack Creek for grizzlies. Both locations offer excellent photographic opportunities and great old-growth forest walks—even without the bears, these areas would be quite special. Bears at this time of year are often eating grasses and sedges on the meadow-like river flats and clamming on the tide flats. It makes it one of the easiest times of year to find bears.

Another special feature is the flowers, which are best in the early summer. Flowers bloom early at this latitude, reaching a peak in June. We will find some flower gardens.

 The highlight is exploring the length of Alaska’s Inside Passage. The continuing highlight is the grandeur of the scenery—it equals the natural history spectacle. The Ice Kingdom and calving glaciers of Endicott or Tracy Arm are an option for us. A few groups have changed the itinerary to spend virtually the entire voyage here. By cruising and living onboard Delphinus, you are always where you want to be – in whale rich waters surrounded by awe inspiring wilderness rich in wildlife and old growth forests carpeting numerous mostly uninhabited islands.

Admiralty Island has the greatest concentrations of both nesting bald eagles and breeding brown bears of any area in Alaska—or the world! There are more bald eagles on this one island and nearly as many brown bears than in all the rest of the 49 states.

To the west are the high snow-capped mountains of Baranof Island. To the east are the ice-covered peaks and moving glaciers of the mainland. As we cruise and follow the whales about, this pageantry of splendor continues to unfold. There is always a new angle, new light—sunny, misty, sunny again; broken clouds, scattered clouds, overcast, clear; sunrises and sunsets—that goes on for hours providing outstanding photo opportunities. The light is always changing—great for dramatic photography!

 Each evening brings a chance to fish, and fresh fish can be served for dinner. If you will be fishing, purchase a license in Ketchikan before our departure. While we do not focus on fishing, we do have equipment for your use. You may want to bring some of your own end tackle. Fishing is done incidentally, usually in the evening from our anchorage.

Each day, you can go ashore and explore, photograph, or just sit and contemplate. The days are very full, and life in Southeast Alaska is very rich. You will be in the very heart and spirit of this region.

 And a special feature of this voyage is the opportunity to witness the length of Alaska's Inside Passage—Ketchikan to Juneau. There is a lifetime to be spent here. One trip alone will not exhaust the opportunities for exploration. You will find many reasons to return.

 One of the sufficient reasons for coming to Alaska is just to breathe truly clean air—to fill your lungs with its pureness. You will do it again and again, but, at least once, do it with full awareness. It is something you will remember. Similarly, the water is some of the best. Juneau tap water is bottled and sold in the lower 48—some through Costco! Have another glassful.

Our cruise finishes in Juneau, with its frontier spirit displayed boldly in buildings like the Red Dog Saloon and the Alaskan Hotel. Rather than thinking of it as the end of your cruise, think of it as the beginning of your next experience.

It is impossible to give more than a suggested itinerary for this particular cruise due to its highly opportunistic nature. We deliberately keep the itinerary flexible in order to allow for the unexpected events that often are the highlights of traveling. We can do the things that most interest you, our special guests. Your days will be spent whale watching, hiking on islands, cruising, and fishing. You may also enjoy daily discussions with slide shows and videos designed to enhance your understanding of the area’s marine biology and natural and cultural history. You can bird watch and beach comb. The itinerary allows ample time, as well, for you to relax, read, write, sketch, and, of course, photograph. The best way to say this is we operate without an itinerary. So, the following is only a suggestion.

 Day 0 Potential extra day in Ketchikan.

 Day 1 - 9 am Departure. Travel to Meyers Chuck, an outpost fishing community. Evening dock or wilderness anchorage. Continue to Anan Creek and Bay. Optional visit to the native village of Kasaan.

 Day 2 Anan Creek and Bay is a black & brown bear reserve and old-growth forest reserve. This is a hiking and photo opportunity. The walk here is quite special and equal to the bear photo opportunities. There are often numerous eagles hanging around. Continue on toward Wrangell in the evening.

 Day 3 Continue to and through the Wrangell Narrows and past Petersburg into Frederick Sound. We will likely anchor at Cascade Creek in Thomas Bay.

 Days 4 & 5 Frederick Sound. We will continue spending time finding and observing feeding humpback whales and other marine mammals including Stellar sea lion rookeries and harbor seals. Dall’s porpoise are common bow riders, and orcas may be anywhere along the trip. Forest walks along a babbling brook, viewing seabirds, and more on Brothers Island.

 Day 6 Seymour Canal and Pack Creek. Seymour Canal is an extension of Frederick Sound, an inland sea inside Admiralty Island. Pack Creek is the famous grizzly bear reserve. Forest walks and bear observation. Tracy Arm is an option today with the day spent in the Ice Kingdom. (This would be in place of Pack Creek.) The other option is another day in Frederick Sound. The decision will be based partially on weather and certainly on your interest.

 Day 7 Ice Kingdom. Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. Thirty miles of ice sculptures—a garden of icebergs and bergy bits—broken off pieces of tidewater glaciers. Some bergy bits are as big as a house, with seven-tenths still below the surface. If we choose Endicott Arm we can visit Fords Terror, a hidden arm of granite carved splendor and, at low tide, grounded icebergs.

 Day 8 Stephens Passage to Juneau. Overnight in Juneau.

 Day 9 Depart Delphinus after breakfast. We recommend spending the night and a day or two following in Juneau.

Day 10 Potential extra day in Juneau.

 Ronn and our naturalist are always available to answer questions, assist, and generally enhance your insights and experience. Our chef is also there full time to delight you.

 We can accommodate persons with particular food needs, including those on special diets and vegetarians. Please be sure to note these on your food questionnaire. We can do this only if you let us know well in advance. If you require a special diet you must return the food questionnaire early.

Seasickness is a rare problem due to the calm conditions in the protected waters. However, if you are sensitive to motion sickness, we urge you to contact your doctor about available treatments for this condition.

If you have any sort of chronic condition that warrants medical attention and could cause you trouble; or if you have any doubt about your physical condition; or if you are over 65 years old, we ask that you have a physical examination. Discuss with your doctor the details of the trip as described in our literature, and let you doctor determine your fitness for this journey. Even though we have adequate first aid and emergency gear onboard, we will be in remote areas far from medical facilities.

If you are not familiar with small ships, you should know that space is at a premium. Small vessels - and large - are designed for maximum efficiency. The cabins are basic, about the size of a small walk-in closet at home. Cabins are used primarily to change clothes and sleep. Very little time is spent there. There is plenty of space in the salon, pilothouse, flying bridge and on deck. Plan to have storage space for your clothes about the size of a laundry basket. Bring clothing in collapsible duffels so that when you have unpacked, the duffel ‘goes away’. Hard suitcases are hard to store. Bring as little as possible and you will be doing yourself a favor.

Delphinus is a fifty-foot power yacht that accommodates eight guests in double cabins. It is a comfortable boat and allows you to intimately explore wilderness areas. Large windows through out provide panoramic viewing from the salon and the pilothouse. The spacious main deck and flying bridge allow outstanding viewing and ease of movement outside. You obtain the benefits normally available only on a camping trip: close up and personal experiences and intimate wildlife viewing. These are combined with the comforts of a small live aboard vessel: warm and dry beds, hot showers, and professionally prepared meals. You can relax and visit with other guests.

The salon seats everyone in a round table like fashion; everyone can see and talk to everyone else. This facilitates discussion and presentations. We have a built-in screen and projector and video for evening slide shows and discussions.

Delphinus is equipped with 24-mile radar, digital depth sounders, recording fathometer, Loran-C, GPS radio direction finder, VHF radios and 110 ac current. She is certified by the US Coast Guard as a passenger vessel and surpasses all safety requirements.

The Cost for the trip is $3795. This price is set by Dolphin Charters with no increase for the trip being a photography workshop. For this reason, we cannot discount this workshop with any of our normal Nature Workshops discounts. The price is all inclusive after arrival at Ketchikan, room and all meals included. Dolphin Charters always has a fantastic chef on board to prepare gourmet meals not found in any other wilderness setting. A $750 deposit is required when registering for the trip to reserve your place. The balance is due April 1, 2009.

Cancellations: A full refund (less $250 per person processing fee) will be made if your cancellation is received 90 days prior to the departure date. Late cancellation (less $500 per person processing fee) will be made ONLY if a suitable replacement is available: otherwise no refunds will be made for any reason. We strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment (check the Access America web site at www.accessamerica.com for one trip insurance alternative - this insurance is not expensive and can protect you from the unforeseen). Rarely is it necessary for us to cancel a trip. In the event that we are required to cancel a trip you will be notified 30 days before departure and all fees will be refunded.