| Thousands of miles of awe-inspiring coastline have | | | | few places on the west coast where one can watch |
| enticed a small, but growing, number of adventurers to | | | | the sun rise over the Pacific. |
| discover the wonders of sea kayaking Southwest | | | | Within a day's paddle from the city, kayakers can visit |
| Alaska. At the forefront of destinations in this remote | | | | any of a dozen uninhabited islands. These waters are |
| region is Kodiak. The island is the second largest island | | | | also home to five species of whale, which come to |
| in the United States, yet, owing to it's numerous fjords, | | | | Kodiak to feed continuously during the long summer |
| no point of land on Kodiak Island is more than 15 miles | | | | days. Whale sightings just offshore are relatively |
| from the sea. Don't be deceived by Kodiak's listing as | | | | common to local paddlers. |
| the fourth-largest community in Alaska; it is still small | | | | Though Kodiak can be exposed to the ferocity of the |
| enough to get by with it's one traffic light turned off. | | | | North Pacific, during the summer months calm winds |
| Locals have long known of Kodiak's natural bounty; | | | | and seas prevail, and open-ocean crossings of one to |
| native Koniag hunters used the qayaq or baidarka for | | | | three miles are commonplace. A series of these |
| thousands of years for hunting, transportation and | | | | crossings intermixed with coastal exploration suggest |
| recreation. Today, the community boasts more than | | | | possibilities for roundtrip expeditions from simple |
| 100 resident paddlers, young and old, and experience | | | | overnights to weeks-long trips of several hundred |
| levels vary from recreational to expedition-ready. | | | | miles. |
| Despite its reputation as a fishing community, on the | | | | On windier days, a short drive from the City of Kodiak |
| streets of this town more watercraft are carried on | | | | to Anton Larsen Bay provides paddlers an escape |
| roof racks than trailers. From their lofty perch atop | | | | from the easterly seas, and is home to an abundance |
| vehicles, Kodiak's kayaks pivot through the city's bustle | | | | of seabirds and aquatic wildlife who seem to take a |
| between evening and weekend paddling outings, | | | | similar interest in the refuge provided there. Sea otters |
| making their way to the rocky islets and protected | | | | in this bay, once hunted by paddlers in baidarkas, |
| bays unique to the island. | | | | watch curiously from a safe distance. When heavy |
| The geophysical relief of Kodiak Island is phenomenal. | | | | surf is on the menu, drive to the nearby Pasagshak |
| Rocky coasts at sea level quickly rise to 3,000-foot | | | | beaches to find surf kayakers, surfers and harbor |
| peaks in the space of a few miles. Ice fields still | | | | seals riding waves alongside one another, and put in to |
| dominate the interior of the island, and snow is visible | | | | ride some of the island's wildest waves. |
| on the major peaks though midsummer. At sea level, | | | | Kodiak is proud of its kayaking heritage and newfound |
| coasts with easterly exposure consist of jagged rock | | | | status as an adventurer's destination. Several local |
| cliffs and towering spires, while more protected shores | | | | shops and outfitters provide kayak sales, equipment |
| may enjoy gentle coastline and broad beaches, either | | | | and guided tours and rentals. Paddlers wave to one |
| white from volcanic ash or black from volcanic shale. | | | | another, passing in cars or out in the channel. Whether |
| With a long look east toward continental North | | | | it's for the recreational or expedition paddler, Kodiak is |
| America some 500 miles away, Kodiak is one of the | | | | a world-class sea kayaking destination. |