The Rand Family

Captain Dean renovating the Discovery

Hello everyone,

Spring is trying to come here at 60 degrees north latitude but this year winter just keeps hanging on. In early May it snowed nearly everyday in this Western Sound town of Whittier. (Food for the glaciers). The good news is that our days are growing longer by 6 minutes every day. It’s already light till 10:30 pm and that big ball of burning gases in the sky is peeking into the east end of Passage Canal as early as 5:50 am these mornings working toward our summer season. Looking at all the snow holding on from winter, it’s hard to believe that our longest day and our solstice voyage are right around the corner.

The kids are doing well and looking forward to the end of winter. Heather was accepted to study in Japan starting in September for the school year. She’s pretty jazzed! I will miss her company. She’s memorizing Japanese characters and plans to take Japanese language courses during this upcoming summer. Hannah continues to do well with her music studying both the piano and also the harp. Such a beautiful instrument. Her next recital is on May 22nd. She hopes to attend piano camp in July. With big sister headed overseas in the fall, Hannah is certain to get spoiled.

We all look forward to another summer exploring the coastal wilds of Alaska’s Prince William Sound with our friends, new and old.

Good energy, much love

~ Captain Dean & family

Chef Matt Tocchini

Chef Matt Tocchini

This past year has been one of leisure, reflection, and self discovery. After selling my cantina in June, I spent a month eating and drinking my way through the bounty of Italy. Then I returned to Alaska to help a friend guide a seven day fly fishing trip on the Kvichak river in southwestern Alaska, catching rainbows longer than my arm.

Much of this past winter was spent enjoying the quiet lifestyle of reading and writing in the sleepy coastal town of Seward. Because of knee surgery, I was unable to ski, but managed to spend a good deal of time biking my way back into shape. I look forward with great enthusiasm to joining the crew on the Discovery this summer, to the opportunity to create food again and to spending a season in the beauty of Prince William Sound. See you soon.

~ Matt

Sarah Heck

Skiing in Valdez, Alaska.

I had a wonderful winter here in Alaska but am getting excited to get back out on the Discovery.  I logged over 130 hours of volunteer work between two adaptive ski schools where  I taught clinics, gave lessons, coached Special Olympic athletes, and even taught a military rescue group how to ski!  I helped dig snowpits for the Forest Service’s Avalanche Forecasting Center, and spent a lot of time skiing our amazing backcountry mountains.

I paid a visit recently to Captain Dean and “the girls” in Whittier to see all the work that has done to the boat this winter. Wow!  I look forward to getting back out into Prince William Sound, to kayak up to glaciers, view wildlife, and hike (while eating berries - yum!). I am excited to meet all of you over the upcoming months.  See you this summer in Alaska.

~Sarah

Brenda Roper

Brenda Roper

From the Anchorage Office:  Tidbits from Brenda

The good news is that nearly all our 2006 trip departures are sold-out which means a busy and fun season on the near horizon. We are excited! I am currently at work on our 2007 calendar for those of you that like to plan ahead. Watch for it on the website in the coming months.

We have had a surge of last minute interest in our ever-popular hike and kayak voyages and we still have a few cabins open on our August 12 - 17th departure. This voyage offers all the regular creature comforts and hospitality as all our Discovery Voyages but is geared toward the more active adventurer. We feature single or double plastic sea-going kayaks that offer great stability, even for first time paddlers, and our crew seeks out the best hiking Prince William Sound has to offer. All this and puffins, otters and glaciers too!

And just a reminder how important it is for those of you already confirmed on a trip for 2006, to email our office or mail in your guest information form. If you haven’t already taken care of this detail now is a great time to do it. Give me a call if you have any questions 800.324.7602.

~Brenda

Hugh Rose - Discovery Guest Guide

Springtime aurora near Fairbanks, photo by Hugh Rose.

Hello from the sunny Interior of Alaska, where spring is finally getting the upper hand over a winter that just does not want to let go, and was the coldest in 35 years!  March and April were great months in Fairbanks with cold temperatures and lots of snow making the cross country skiing great until just a few weekends ago!  Now the early wildflowers: dogwood and viola,  are sprouting at lower elevations and the birds: snow geese, trumpeter swan and sand hill crane are migrating through, including shore birds that passed through Prince William Sound just a few days ago.  Normally, in early May, the Discovery is enjoying and showcasing the spring bounty of the migrating birds and whales of  Prince William Sound, on our 13 day Spring Birding & Wildlife Voyage but as many of you know, the Discovery underwent an extensive retrofit this winter that forced the cancellation of this annual trip back in November.  The good news is that we are already taking reservations for this trip in 2007, and the Discovery is in tip top shape for the coming summer season. 

Please call or email if you have any questions about activities or gear for future trips including the July 10 - 15th photo voyage or the spring birding voyage for 2007. Meanwhile until I see or talk with you, Happy Spring!

~Hugh