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The alarm went off, we got up.

Some of us ("WHO TURNED THAT LIGHT ON!!") got out of bed a bit slower than others, but we all made it eventually.

The morning did not exactly promise great weather ahead. Cloudy and cool, but at least no rain.  We got the general plan from Kenny the Guide, hauled some equipment, then went for breakfast.  We thought it might be the last good breakfast weŽd have in a few days - we greatly underestimated Kenny.

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After breakfast we climbed in the kayaks and headed out on the water. 

The Plan was to paddle out of Valdez, heading west, to Shoup Glacier. WeŽd camp two nights and then paddle back. 

We got lucky, the weather was beautiful.

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The paddle to Shoup Bay (about ten miles) was not the easiest thing in the world.  All of us have kayaked before, but none of us regularly so it took a bit of getting used to.  Sean and Patty took one double, Therese and Jenny the other. Todd and Kenny took singles.

The weather was beautiful, the water calm, and we stopped half way for a great beach lunch and hike to a waterfall (to pick some blueberries.) By the time we got to the entrance of Shoup Bay I think we were all tired of paddling but certainly not worn out.

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The group stops for a rest - and some chocolate!.

Getting us from the ocean into Shoup Bay required moving up a short river-like section of water - with a current moving very strongly against us since the tide was going out.  Icebergs (or more accurately, "growlers") made their way out the river - we knew there be glaciers ahead!

The current was too strong to paddle against, so we were forced to get out of our kayaks and lead them up the river, walking alongside them with the lead rope in our hands, until we got to just barely into the bay.  For the last few feet we got into the kayaks and paddled like mad.

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Once around the corner and up into the bay a bit we came across a magic moment. It was completely calm and dead quiet, and we spent some time drifting silently among the ice...

There are four varieties of floating ice - icebergs, bergy bits, growlers, and brash ice. I donŽt remember what the exact specs for each are, but to be an iceberg a chunk of ice has got to be BIG.

Inside Shoup Bay was nothing approaching the size of an iceberg, or even a bergy bit.  We spent our time floating among growlers and brash ice.

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Campsite at Shoup Bay, Shoup Glacier in the background

First order of business was setting up camp. WeŽd all stashed various parts of our equipment among the kayaks, so we beached them and started to un-stash everything and put the pieces together. 

Pangea provided some great equipment, and Kenny had the routine down.  We had the camp set up in little time and then sat back to relax while Kenny whipped up what was to become the first of many first-class meals.

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We relaxed that night, drank some wine, ate a great meal, watched the sun set over Shoup Glacier, listend to the thunder-like sounds of new growlers calving off the glacier, and then hit the sleeping bags....

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Shoup Glacier

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The next day we spent paddling to the glacier - after an excellent breakfast, of course....

Distances and sizes were extremely deceptive.  The glacier itself seemed like it would be an easy paddle away, but turned out to be three miles. The face of the glacier is about three hundred feet high!

We paddled there and then spent some time floating amongst the new growlers, shooting pictures, enjoying the sunshine, and waiting for giant chunks of ice to fall off the face into the water. 

From there, we pulled up on the beach opposite the glacier for lunch and a walk around on the surface of the ice.  Walking on the glacier is like walking on a new lava flow - itŽs covered in sharp edged rock fragments, and nothing grows there.

After lunch and the hike, we paddled back to camp and yet another great evening of food and fun.

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Unfortunately, we had to leave the next day. After breakfast we started paddling, making our way back to Valdez. 

Before leaving Shoup Bay we made one last stop - at Bird Island, where hundreds of birds flew around our kayaks. Then it was out the entrance (paddling this time, the current was being nice to us) and on our way.

We stopped for lunch, again about half way, and then the wind began to pick up.. The rest of the trip back was a bit of a struggle through the waves and against the wind.

Sorry, no pictures - I was a bit busy fighting to keep the kayak going in the right direction and there was a bit too much water breaking over the top!

Next, on to Squirrel Falls campground and the Wrangell Mountains!

Or, you could always go home.....