Welcome to the Alaska Sea Adventures Spring Newsletter 2008! In this issue you’ll find a focus on amazing spring events here in Southeast Alaska, events which are heralded by the incredible herring spawns that begin every year in March. It’s a spring-time only, remarkable spectacle that is witnessed by only a few, and an adventure you won’t find on many cruise itineraries, if any at all. It’s our intimate knowledge of the waters, wildlife, glaciers and forests of the Southeast Alaska home that we live, breathe and endear to share that make Alaska Sea Adventures a most unique Alaska travel option.

Read on and learn more about an Alaska that is known to less than one percent of all Alaska visitors. It’s easy to see why the majority of Alaska Sea Adventures’ reservations are comprised primarily of cherished returning guests and those they have referred. We welcome you into our family of adventurers and to our home, Southeast Alaska!

Sincerely, Captain Dennis Rogers

The arrival of the vernal equinox is a very welcome time in Alaska, especially here in Southeast Alaska. It truly marks the awakening of Alaska’s natural world with a plethora of wildlife events and the promise of many amazing new surprises I’ve yet to witness.

I hope you’ll enjoy learning about unique features within the scope of our new SE Alaska cruising area map - Five Finger Lighthouse, Admiralty Island, Seymour Canal - highlights that help make our adventures so fun and exciting! And be sure to read the fascinating article about herring by our guest contributor, Naturalist/Guide and Wildlife Photographer, Jim Nahmens.

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Enjoy reading a fun article contributed by ASA naturalist/photographer guide Jim Nahmens.

Although every year has its surprises, our Focus on Whales trips in the summers of 2006 and 2007 were especially remarkable. Why? Well, it was the herring. Herring? You know, those seven-inch silvery, fast-swimming schooling fish. We’re talking vast schools, acres upon acres of herring. But don’t expect us to change the name of our trip to Focus on Herring anytime soon, because it’s not necessarily the herring itself that provides the thrill.

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There are not many dates remaining open for 2008, so hopefully you have made your ASA reservations.

Here are the few dates still open for your reservation:

Trip # A058 April 30th – May 7th. 0ne (1) cabin open HALF PRICE! Seymour Canal ‘Whales and Herring’

Trip # A078 May 19th – 28th. 10 days available for Custom Charter. (Number of days can be adjusted)

Trip # A098 June 8th – 14th. Available for Custom Charter. Approaching summer solstice – LONG days!

Trip # A128 July 5th - 12th. ‘Focus on Whales’ adventure with Dr. Adam Pack. One (1) berth for female traveler.

Trip # A138 July 14th – 21st. ‘Focus on whales II’ adventure with Jim Nahmens. One (1) cabin available.

Trip # A188 August 26th – Sept. 1st. Available for Custom Charter. Fantastic silver salmon!!!

If you have a desire to join Alaska Sea Adventures this summer and do not already have reservations, please contact us right away! (As a note to our readers and guests: 2009 is already over half filled, so needless to mention that it’s not too early to be thinking of plans for next year.)

Many of you who have made trips with us are familiar with the lighthouse at Five Finger Islands. Alaska Sea Adventures web maestro, Dr Jeff Reynolds, volunteered to do a very much needed overhaul of the Five Finger Lighthouse web site. Be sure to check it out and remember that they are always glad to have your much needed and appreciated memberships and/or contributions.

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Known as Alaska’s “Little Norway”, Petersburg has a very nice selection of lodging accommodations including two hotels and nearly two dozen quality bed and breakfast locations. Each newsletter we feature information about one of these unique lodging accommodations.

Guest House at Waters Edge is a beautifully located beach home owned by our friends and neighbors Barry & Kathy Bracken. The Brackens are fabulous hosts with remarkable local knowledge and operate Kaleidoscope Cruises in addition to a running a splendid bed and breakfast offering.

Read more about this unique B&B…

One of Alaska Sea Adventures’ favorite incredibly beautiful destinations, and one of the jewels of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass Forest, is Admiralty Island or to Tlingit native Tribe: “Kootznoowoo: Fortress of the bear.” Seymour Canal is located on the eastern side of Admiralty Island and the primary location for our spring and fall whale trips. It is in Seymour Canal that we find very distinct and fascinating whale behavior…

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If you are not aware of Winter King Salmon and/or have never tasted this ultimate of all seafood, then you’ll want to read on to learn more about secret of this rare ocean treat. Winter caught Chinook or King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is one if not the best if not the absolute best tasting and succulent fish in the world.

Try our refreshing recipe for Salsa Verde salmon!

We have focused on herring quite a lot in this newsletter because the herring spawning event is one of the many prime events and highlights of springtime in Alaska. A major herring roe fishery is occurring right now in March in Sitka.

And of course, when you join us on our special Spring Extravaganza Trips, you’ll witness this amazing event up-close-and-personal! The Hoonah Sound Trip (April 21-28, 2008) is sold out this year. But you can still catch a ride on the upcoming Seymour Canal Trip (April 30 – May 7, 2008) as we only have one cabin available.

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