Route Description: Follow trip #7 to Flent Point. From Flent Point cross to Long and Slipper Points exploring Long and Eickelberg Bays. From Slipper Point, paddle across to Campbell Bay on Glacier Island; then either paddle the north side of the island east or round Iceberg Point to the south side of Glacier Island and Chamberlain Bay. Paddling the north side of Glacier Island is much more protected in bad weather. If you paddle the south shore to Chamberlain Bay, you can either portage from Chamberlain to Growler Bay or paddle north around the east side of Glacier Island and then cross back to Elf Point and retrace your route back to Valdez.

Rating: Advanced

Distance: 114-122 miles

To: Shoup Bay 8 miles

Potato Point: 14 miles

Sawmill Bay: 18 miles

Waterfall Beach North of VABM Hatch: 23 miles

Elf Point: 43 miles

North Heather Island: 47 miles

Flent Point: 53 miles

Slipper Point: 58 miles

Campbell Bay: 60 miles

South Glacier Island:

Chamberlain Bay: 69

Finski Bay via outer coast: 77 miles

Finski Bay via portage to Growler Bay: 73 miles

North Glacier Island:

Eagle Bay: 64 miles

Finski Bay: 69 miles

Finski Point: 72-80 miles (3 mile crossing to Elf Point)

Back to Valdez retracing Trip #7: 115-123 miles (add 43 miles)

Days: 12-14 days

Attractions: (see Trip #7 for Valdez to Columbia Bay information)

*Birding: The outer coast of Glacier has nesting puffins, pigeon guillemots, and cormorants.

*Fishing: The salmon start to congregate in late June around the outer points of Glacier Island.

*Marine Mammals: One highlight is a Steller sea lion haulout on south Glacier Island northeast of Bullhead. Humpback whales feed along the outer coast. Sea otters, harbor seals, and river otters are common in the bays.

*Land Mammals: Black bears and Sitka deer are on Glacier Island.

*Historical: Between 1898-1907, Glacier Island was a popular destination for prospectors from Valdez who staked numerous quartz veins and potential copper deposits. Some development work was done on prospects near Finski Point and above Finski Bay. Remains of Pete Jackson's home site (circa 1900) can be seen at Jackson Hole. Other remains of log cabins are on Eagle Bay and at Irish Cove.

Fox farmers used Growler and Eagle Islands. The remains of some feeding huts are still visible in the woods along the southern shorelines.

A mothballed recreation camp is located on Growler Island.

*Scenic: Columbia Glacier dominates the views with the Great Nunatak in the middle. The Bay fills with floating ice creating a tremendous panorama of water, mountains, ice, and snow. Pillow basalts form the shores and cliffs of Glacier Island indicating ancient submarine volcanic activity. Between Bullhead and Finski Point there are a number of sea caves.

*Forest Service Cabins: none

*State Parks: Shoup and Sawmill Bays

*There are two Tatitlek native owned cabins on Heather Island

Hazards: In Columbia Bay, expect to paddle through floating ice. Occasionally the ice may be thick enough that you may have to wait for the tide and/or wind to clear it out.

The south shore of Glacier Island is one of the Sound's more exposed paddles. The cliffy shoreline gets hit by swells from the Pacific and has few pullouts except Jackson Cove and Chamberlain Bay. If you get stuck in Chamberlain due to bad weather, you can always portage over to protected Growler Bay.

Day cruise boats visit the sea lion haul out and puffin rookeries multiple times a day. The large boats often pull right up to the cliffs, and should be avoided as they do not maneuver well in bouncy seas. Some regard kayakers as "photographic opportunities!"

Enjoy the booming sounds from the sea caves but be aware of the danger of wakes and larger seas when nearby.

Hikes: There are three good hikes across Glacier Island from either the north or south shorelines: 1) from the head of Chamberlain (south shore) or Growler (north shore) through peatland bogs to Growler or Chamberlain Bay (also a portage); 2) from head of Chamberlain Bay through woods behind Chamberlain Lagoon to Eagle Lagoon (hike only) or from Eagle Lagoon head up the peatland bogs to the pass then follow the trail down through the blueberry bushes to Chamberlain; and 3) from the head of Jackson Hole follow the obvious openings across the low ridge to Jackson Cove (longer portage).

On the north side of Glacier Island, there are numerous hikes up open bogs and ridges which afford dramatic views of Columbia Bay.

Camping: Glacier Island's north shore has good beaches in most of the bays and coves, although it is best to plan to camp on the island at neap tides. The south shore has few good camping beaches except in Chamberlain Bay.

Fresh water is common in the back of bays, although carry collapsible jugs in case you need to haul water to camp.

Charter Options: Chartering to Finski Point on Glacier Island or Flent Point on the mainland makes this a reasonable trip for intermediate paddlers.

Side Trips: For a longer trip continue east (refer to the Whittier ­ Valdez Expedition Chapter 9) and explore Fairmont Island and Bay.

Land Management: Tatitlek Native Corporation owns Heather Island. Most of Glacier Island is Forest Service Land. Chugach Alaska Corporation owns Growler Island.

Maps/Charts: USGS Topos: 1:250,000: Valdez, Cordova, Seward; 1:63,360: Valdez A-7, A-8; Cordova D-8; Seward D-1.

(From pp. 158-162. Photographs omitted)