Just back from Alaska

[Dhillen]

We just sailed as a family from Seattle to Alaska and back this summer. We crossed the Gulf of Alaska twice and circumnavigated Kodiak Island. We also went to the Alaska Peninsula, crossed Cook Inlet to Homer and then sailed down to Prince William Sound. After that we returned to our home port.

All told we put 4,000 miles under the keel in the last three months.

It was a fantastic trip and if you like BIG nature with BIG bears and BIG personalities, Alaska is for you. I wrote about the trip and posted it, along with photos, on my blog The Sea Is Salt

I hope to put other posts up there with more details on Alaska and Canada in the future but this is what I have time for now.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[Panope]

Great trip. I hope to make it up that way myself one day.

I Noticed that you "skipped" the north end of the inside passage (Glacier Bay). Was this because of a limited time schedule or have you already been there or..???

Thanks for posting.

Steve

[Dhillen]

Steve,

It's a big place and we only had three months is the simple answer. We are planning another trip up there next year but you could spend a lifetime exploring Alaska and since you have to do it in three month windows because of the weather, I guess you need four lifetimes to see it all.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[markpierce]

What percentage of the voyage was under sail versus with engine?

[Dhillen]

Originally Posted by markpierce

What percentage of the voyage was under sail versus with engine?

I see from your signature you have a "sail-assisted motorboat." I would have to say that on this trip - we were the same! Our experience was the wind is either in the face or non-existent. If you are a purist and want to sail "only" then you can see a tiny, very little, almost nothing, part of Alaska in the summer. You will still have a wonderful time, of course, but to paraphrase Frost:

But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep

So we sailed very little and motorsailed for most of it. There were also times where we motored into it only with no sail up. Be nice to your engine, in many cases it is the best friend you have up there.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[Butler]

Congratulations guys. Love Alaska... looking forward to checking out your blog.

[Treestandpoet]

Thank you for relaxing read! The gift of Mother Nature to your daughters on this trip will be everlasting!