Towering spruce and hemlock. A brown bear fording a salmon stream. Whale watching in the rich waters of the Inside Passage. A bald eagle gliding to his treetop, passing so low over the flat, still waters of a cove that we can see the heraldic yellow of his markings glow in the late afternoon sun. Alaska is where myth and history meet against a backdrop of Nature that’s larger and grander than most things in the “lower 48.” This is what an Alaska travel adventure is to us. 

Why we love it here: The feeling of transcendence that Alaska gives. The immense “cleanness” of it. The taste of fresh Dungeness crab. The endlessly fascinating nooks and crannies that we’ve been exploring for over 20 years. It’s hard to describe the deep attachment we have to the place, but the sight of a humpback defying gravity in a crystalline fjord comes closest.

Why you might want to visit Alaska: The coast of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia is a majestic maze of fjords, channels, rivers and glaciers gliding towards the sea — ideally suited for small ship cruising that enables our up-close and personal style of exploration. This part of Alaska is an impossibly pristine land where you can see the effects of glaciers advancing and retreating. We’ll go in close — into the small coves and inlets where the big white boats can never go and where the real Alaska is. Get down to eye level: Kayak. Walk through the primeval forest. Whale watch from the desk of our small expedition cruise ship. Drop in on tiny, quintessentially Alaskan towns to experience what living far from “the lower 48” is all about.

Why go with us: Alaska’s waters are among the best for finding and observing whales. Our captains and expedition staff are expert whale behaviorists and sharp-eyed spotters. In addition, we support the work of the Alaska Whale Foundation, so research scientists may also board our ship to share their specialist knowledge with us. The end result means that you’re sure to have prime whale-watching experiences. Stand on the bow of our expedition ship, marveling at spectacular behavior from breaches to lunge-feeding. Listen in to their communications too, as our expedition team lowers our onboard hydrophone to capture the communications being exchanged by the very whales we’re watching. Watch also via footage from our underwater bow cam — mouted to the front of our ship and streaming video images live to our plasma televisions in the lounge. Chances are, the word “Alaska” conjures up many things for you. We’ll make sure that you experience all that an Alaska expedition has to offer. And have the kind of days you want to have there, daily.*

*(this text was copied from Lindblad Expeditions site with their permission.)

“There is probably no body of water in the world where more species of whales can be seen more reliably and more clearly than in the Sea of Cortez,” writes Dr. Lyall Watson in his book Whales of the World. The thirty-nine species that it’s possible to see here include the 17,000 grays that migrate to Baja’s warm waters each year to breed and give birth. Perceptions surround Baja — distant, somewhat mystical, beautiful, a frontier — as they do in Alaska. Which may explain why most of it has remained a pristine wonderland. And now as of July 14, 2005 the islands and protected areas of the Sea of Cortez were registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Why we love it here: We take an almost personal pride in introducing guests to ‘Mexico’s Galápagos.’ Endemic plants and animals, 50 uninhabited islands, rich marine mammal and seabird populations — Baja offers us so much to see and so much to do on and in the water.

Why you might want to visit Baja: Every year California gray whales migrate from arctic waters to Baja’s protected lagoons. It’s the longest mammal migration known, and one of nature’s great spectacles. In addition to the ‘gift’ of observing the grays during their breeding, calving and nurturing cycle, Baja also gives us a season-long feast of whale watching: fins, blues, orcas and humpbacks — plus dolphins, seabirds and sea lions. There are few places on the planet that offer the ‘harmonic convergences’ that Baja does — of desert warmth, glorious beaches, sea activities and the endlessly fascinating spectacle of creatures going about the business of their lives, allowing us to freely observe them.

Why you might want to go there with us: Slim as a blade, the Baja California peninsula jack-knifes from mainland Mexico, creating a cleft filled by the Sea of Cortez. For over 20 years, we’ve been exploring Baja’s twin natures: the Pacific side with its quiet lagoons that act as a safe nursery for gray whale calves; and the Sea of Cortez where marine mammals frolic with abandon, leaping alongside us as we explore. Our Baja experience and expertise virtually guarantees that we will provide you with the whale watching encounters and the wildlife observations that you book an expedition to have. No other company can reveal the magic and mystery of Baja, and give you the through-the-skin level of contact that we can.*

*(this text is copied from Lindblad Expeditions site with their permission.)

The journey from Amsterdam along the coasts of Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal blends authentic European experiences with dramatic coastal landscapes.

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Antarctica is a wild, pristine place with unlimited photographic opportunities. Penguins by the thousands are of course the real stars here. Their comical antics are truly captivating. A visit to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands is the perfect complement for a voyage to Antarctica. The Falklands, whose windswept terrain is reminiscent of Scotland, are a wildlife-rich area with species not seen elsewhere. Visit one of the largest albatross colonies in the world, and see gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins.

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Begin in the enchanting Azores, nine volcanic islands isolated in the Atlantic 900 miles off the southern coast of Portugal. Island landscapes range from rolling green pastures to mountain forests with volcanic peaks. Vineyards climb steep hills. And it is one of the most rewarding whale-watching regions in the world.

Continue to the Portuguese island of Madeira, famous for its port wine, and the Canary islands, situated in the sunny subtropical mid-Atlantic. See Columbus’ house on La Gomera. At the Cape Verde archipelago, meet islanders whose rich traditions link to three continents. Enter Fogo’s spectacular caldera for a startling experience.

Arrive at Brazil’s vibrant coastal city of Salvador. Walk amid brilliant pastel-colored Baroque buildings. Travel south to the small coastal town of Ilheus, known for its cacao plantations and colonial charm.

Explore Rio de Janeiro, a vibrant city framed by beautiful environs. At Floresta da Tijuca, Rio’s largest national park, feel transported as birds and insects symphonize the forest. Or visit the Golden Lion Tamarin reserve to learn about conservation efforts. Swim from Rio’s legendary beaches and dine on Brazilian specialties. And of course you will experience the music of carnival.

In Parati witness tropical paradise in this World Heritage Site. Anchieta offers a visit to ruins and walks on lovely beaches. Sail to Montevideo, capital of Uruguay and also visit the charming and historic city of Colonia, today a World Heritage Site. At Argentina’s Bahia Blanca, see the vast pampas. Researchers help us look for Southern Right Whales during our time in the Valdes Peninsula.

This expedition can be experienced as one epic journey as outlined below, or in segments. The box at right gives you details about your options.

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The following is an account of our Svalbard (Spitzbergen) trip in July 2004 to the Land of the Ice Bears, 600 miles from the North Pole.  This trip is available on several dates each summer.  You can be a part of such an adventure too.  

K9PET, W3ASA, W3WKO, W3WKP
Operating MM and JW on shore
Icom 706 IIG, Shakespeare whip w/Icom AH4 tuner
Icom 706 IIG and Big SteppIR vertical on shore
We traveled to the Land of the Ice Bears — Svalbard (see map) for a week of unforgettable pleasure. From the safety of our ship, Zodiacs and kayaks, we explored the wonders of Arctic life. The sounds of walrus, reindeer and the enormous flocks of seabirds and yes, of course, the great Polar bears. We saw and photographed 20. Some were as close as we cared to get, as they snorted and licked the air to get a better scent of us. Reindeer grazed in the meadows right in the town of Longyearbyen as we arrived. While some clicked cameras, our Ham group communicated with 346 eager stations from Japan to Brazil and Asiatic Russia. In all we logged 29 countries and 7 U. S. States on SSB, CW and PSK31. This wasn’t your typical DXpedition. We enjoyed the sights as well and that was the point. Do it all and bring the family.

Jim, W3ASA summed it up so well in an email to me after I got home. “Being a person with multiple interests and hobbies the Endeavour expedition fitted my needs perfectly. My wife could hang out with “normal” people and I could play with the radios as much or as little as I wished. Since I am interested in technology and environmental issues the trip certainly had elements of both which had a lot of appeal to me. Joan, who has no interest in ham radio, had a great time – especially since I didn’t have to set up the radio in our cabin!”

You will not forget the fine food, your warm and comfortable cabin and the naturalists who return year after year to share their life’s work with groups like ours: guiding us through the Arctic beauty that few will ever see. We saw walrus, seals, beluga whales and thousands of birds everywhere. Oh yes, and did I mention “ice.” The beauty of it all was etched in my mind forever as our ship delicately “crashed” through the pack ice as it moved and shifted from day to day. This uncertainty created excitement for us and sometimes a challenge for our Captain and crew as we cautiously moved to new locations in search of nature on the wild side.

You can skim effortlessly across the surface of the Arctic in your kayak and be in the midst of a scene of frosted glass-like water, while floating past large and small icebergs. You’ll have safe and memorable experiences as well as more photos than you can imagine to document your close encounters with animals and of course the flowers of the Arctic tundra. With names like Reindeer Flats and Bear Sound, you can imagine this is only a taste of what’s to come.

In this land of the midnight sun it’s been said, sometimes the ice itself seems to come to life with more bears than one could imagine and it’s fitting to label these experiences as truly “The Land of the Bear.” The bears are just as at home in the water, which explains why sea bear in Latin describes their grace while swimming.

Some have described the birds that follow our ship as kites attached by invisible strings as they float effortlessly along with our ship. We’ll explore old whaling stations from the 16th and 17th century. Along the Continental Shelf, we may see fin whales, the second largest animal in the world: 80 feet long and 100 tons. The chances are good we’ll also see bearded seals, minke whales, walrus and hundreds of thousands of sea birds and maybe the ivory gull. Hiking to the tundra gardens frequented by reindeer, we can watch as they hurry to graze 24 hours a day to store fat for the long dark winter. We can watch the Arctic fox play among the wild poppies.

This Amateur Radio trip was our first group trip as CasualDX, but one of many for Lindblad Expeditions. They have been sharing this pristine Arctic land for many years. Your first contact should be Marc, K9PET 206-546-8952 (Seattle): email K9PET@arrl.net.  After our communications to answer your radio related questions, Lindblad’s Travel office will handle the details of your travel needs for this and other CasualDX trips.

Planning for your “radio appetite” is my part. Together, we will attempt to tailor the group’s radio interests to the opportunities we see as we move along. Our exact day-to-day movement will always depend on local conditions.

For Trip & Radio Details Contact Marc K9PET@arrl.net or K9PET@casualdx.com

 

For Ham Radio details like onboard conditions for operating, shore based antennas; power sources, frequencies, gear to bring, etc. contact:

Marc Weinberg, K9PET at:
K9PET@arrl.net or K9PET@casualdx.com

Remember it’s been noted earlier on this site that the group that travels on this expedition will negotiate together to attempt to give everyone the opportunity they wish based on the conditions we find.

Spitsbergen Island	Close Encounters

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An expedition that runs the length of an entire ocean has to be a mind-stretching experience! Here is an opportunity to visit some of the most remote communities on earth in the wake of the world’s greatest explorers.

We begin our epic journey in the Falklands, a place where the wildlife massively outnumbers people, from impressive colonies of albatross to four species of penguins. Next, head east towards the Antarctic Convergence and the fertile waters of South Georgia. Witness tens of thousands of king penguins vying for space on beaches with uncountable numbers of fur seals and elephant seals. At Grytviken, visit the grave of a more recent explorer, Ernest Shackleton.

On remote Tristan da Cunha, meet the hardy souls who make their living from the sea. Land on St. Helena, where Napoleon was exiled in 1815 after the battle of Waterloo until his death in 1821. Explore the island’s rugged, moun-tanous landscape.

Sail north to the Cape Verde archipelago, once an important holding center for the notorious Atlantic slave trade. The island of Fogo is a smoldering volcano, active as recently as 1995. Sample the local wine and cheese where it is made: inside the caldera (crater) of the volcano!