Shakes Glacier by Jet-Boat
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Port
Wrangell, Alaska, US
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
14,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$319.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Shakes Glacier, at the head of Shakes Lake in the Stikine River Le Conte Wilderness area, is a wide field of ice approachable by jet boat.
Your tour begins with a highly-skilled skipper navigating a 29-foot state-of-the-art, covered and heated, shallow-draft, aluminum twin-engine jet boat across the mouth of the Stikine River. Your skipper is also a wildlife biologist with extensive experience in marine and fisheries. The first mate is a retired US Fish & Wildlife manager or a biologist.
You'll discover that this delta is an ever-changing maze of sandbars. Seals, eagles and gulls prey on the salmon navigating these shallow, silted waters.
Your route is via Shear Pin Alley — a section of Shakes Slough, which leads to Shakes Lake.
The boat crosses a shallow riffle and takes a hairpin curve before entering the lake, which is choked with icebergs that have run aground at the outfall.
Shakes Glacier is your destination, about six miles across the deep lake, with its glacially-carved walls. The skipper will approach the glacier, and you'll learn about the geology of Southeast Alaska and how the land was formed, and have plenty of photo opportunities.
Notes:
Access to Shakes Lake is dependent on the water level of the Stikine River and the condition of the ice pack in the lake. Occasionally, in May and September, the tour does not reach the glacier. Participants are not allowed to walk on the glacier. The boat features bus-style seating. Not advisable for guests requiring frequent access to restroom facilities; please take this into consideration when booking. Restrooms are not available on tour; instead, there is an extremely basic wilderness rest stop, which requires navigating a very steep and narrow ramp off the boat's bow and walking a wilderness path. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, inclines, gravel, grass, roots, rocks, and steps. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. A maximum of 12 total people are allowed on shore at any one time. Bring insect repellent. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. Dress warmly in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer layer; bring a warm hat, gloves and a scarf.