Alaska kayaking

We have an inflatable, 2-person kayak but did not take it to Alaska. As others have said, the water in the rivers is too cold and it's too rough in the Lynn Canal, Cook Inlet, or Turnagain Arm (not even mentioning the hazard of the bore tides!). I have rafted on the Nenana River in midsummer in a dry suit, but my face and hands still froze.

As Sue's photos show, lakes are your best bet, but even lakes in northern BC are too cold for me. We might have used the kayak when we were in the Okanagan Valley in southern BC or in the US Rockies, but it wouldn't have worth carrying it for 10,000 miles just for that short time period.

We took our two kayaks along, strapped on top of the truck camper.
Actually,that was some of the better part of the trip. Went on lakes only, rivers were too fast. Floated in ak,yk and be. Caught rainbows and had them jumping higher than my head.

aguablanco wrote:
I have been in 52* water in the Grand Canyon on a mile long swim after a flip and without the help of my fellow rafters I am not sure the outcome would have been as positive as it was.

Did that happen at Upset Rapids, by chance? It did us using a six-person paddle boat. We all flipped. I totally believe in life jackets!

OP: I don't think you'd have use on the rivers as much as on the lakes or if you have sea kayaks - some nice calmer waters such as at Seward, Homer or Valdez.

If you enjoy kayaking on lakes, then by all means take them. It is extremely soothing being out on a calm day on northern lakes...

Kluane Lake, YT


Nabesna Road, AK


Simpson Lake, YT


Rowing too, on Kluane Lake

In 2008 we spent almost 2 full months in AK. As an active paddler, I didn't want to not have a boat available if I wanted one, so I hauled an inflatable canoe along. Except for a 4-day layover at Hidden Lake on the Kenai (highly recommended!), it never got inflated. Rivers were way too fast and cold, ocean was way too rough and cold. Not good for solo paddling! There are many outfitters who offer kayak tours if you are so inclined. My inflatable travels well - if we went again I'd take it along. My rigid boats would stay at home. Hope that helps! ST

tjschaefer wrote:
Going to Alaska this June with 28ft TT for a 2 month stint. Is it worth hauling two kayaks on top of Expedition all the way up and back? Are there very many opportunities to kayak or is it just not worth the hassle? Anybody else hauled there's up and back?

Opportunities is an understatement when comes to watercraft of any kind in Alaska. If you really enjoy kayaking take them, but be prepared for cold water. Great opportunities in Canada as well.

While I have never been to Alaska, I have been rafting and kayaking for ~19 years and many of my friends have rafted, kayaked and canoed in AK and Canada. All of the water is extremely cold, sometimes in the 30's depending on location. Those temps are extremely dangerous. Survival time in water that cold, without a drysuit or other exposure protection, is literally 15 minutes or less. Unless you are an expert kayaker with a ton of paddling experience and are fully prepared to self rescue I would advise against taking the kayak out. I have been in 52* water in the Grand Canyon on a mile long swim after a flip and without the help of my fellow rafters I am not sure the outcome would have been as positive as it was. Hope you have a great time in AK!
RichH

tjschaefer wrote:
Going to Alaska this June with 28ft TT for a 2 month stint. Is it worth hauling two kayaks on top of Expedition all the way up and back? Are there very many oppertunities to kayak or is it just not worth the hassle? Anybody else hauled there's up and back?

I've never hauled a kayak up here, so can't speak to that effort, but Alaska abounds with kayaking opportunities. Not sure if you're focused on fresh- or saltwater but there are lots of options for both. Most folks (in my limited experience) go out for the trip......Alaska doesn't have any (as far as I know) "river" or "whitewater" parks wherein one takes repeated runs. That being said, 2-hour to multi-day trips can be selected that focus on a certain type of water....lakes, rapids, etc,

You might go look at the Knik Canoers and Kayakers website (www.kck.org) or even at REI's local site: KCK is an active paddle club that is based in Los Anchorage with a fair amount of info and links.

Many of the more popular areas (although I'll admit to many years having passed since my last personal experience) have available shuttle services (for a fee, obviously) to haul you and your boats back to the put in from the takeout.

Alaska waters are cold, often silt-laden, and can be fast: a fair degree of thought should be put into clothing, skills, and route selection.