INTRODUCfIONThis region vies for the tit1e of the greatest crulslng area in the wor1d:
blessed with an abundanee of harbors, magnificent scenery, arts and history,
and burgeoning new 10ea1 erafts. It is so indented with fiords and in1ets,
sprinkled with islands and coves that 1,000 miles of linear distance contains
over 25,000 miles of coastline. The South East Alaska portion accounts for 250
linear miles and Il,000 eoastline miles. There are few other plaees where
inland passages can be fo110wed for hundreds of miles and where the sea's
bounty can be harvested so readily in alI its variety. No other cruising area
has so many glaciers which diseharge their bergs directly into the sea.
The area lies within the migratory low pressure system be1t around the
world. Thus it lacks a settled. continuously sunny cruising season. The
annua 1 movement of summer's North Pacifie High and the winter's Aleutian Low
cause variations in the pattern of the weather but do not completely deter the
passage of the 10w pressure systems in summer, providing for frequently c10udy
skies often laeed with rain. Although one eould wish far more sunshine, it
should not be forgotten that it is this precipitation that keeps these areas so
heavi1y forested. and also produces the glaciers.
When traversing this region one moves through severa 1 different zones.
The south is more popu1ated and has islands that are generally 10w and provided
with shallow. well protected harbors. As one moves further north the inlets
become fiord-like and longer, their walls and shorelines are steeper. and the
harbors are correspondingly deeper and fewer in number. At the furthest north
section of this guide the snowline creeps down the steep mountains, and the
heavy snow cover gives birth to glaciated mountains close to the sea.
These different zones are separated by some cruciai open water passages
that must be treated with care and caution. They are nat of great length.
however; and the majority of the travelling is done within the "Inside Passage"
with protection from the open sea. Vessels of alI types and sizes make the
passage safely, and commerciaI fishermen move up and down the coest annually as
different areas of the coast open for fishing.There is much to invite one to this largely untouched cruising area.
Its beauty alone can commend a visit, but its clean air and waters, and the
friendly people in the small towns and villages are equally attractive. In
addition it has alI the elements of "cruising foreign;" length. diversity of
interest. demands on vessel and crew, and the meeting of new friends -- even
storms at sea ean be hazards of the open water sections.