Attu Island Bird Watching
Expedition (Proposed)
Minimum cost will be $100 000 for whole boat charter
Trips will be in May and only by special charter
In cooperation with High Lonesome BirdTours and the Grand Aleutian Hotel,
we are offering an exciting new, inaugural trip to Attu Island at the far
western end of the Aleutian Chain. This birding-emphasis trip will depart in
May 2006 and will be out for about one month.
For details and registration materials. Please contact:
Forrest Davis
High Lonesome Birdtours,
email: hilone@hilonesome.com
or phone: 800 743 2668
The Alaskan Island of Attu's position (nearly
1,500 miles from the Alaskan mainland) gives it the designation of being the westernmost
destination in the United States. Attu is every bird watcher's dream come true,
as it claims more first and second ABA Checklist records than any other location
on the continent. Rare and unforgettable birding opportunities abound in this
remote and rugged place, which has been called the end of the earth.
Attu has become increasingly inaccessible
over the past decades. Its position as the last island of the Aleutians makes
it a hard to reach destination, susceptible to Pacific Ocean swells and frequently
harsh weather. Although a landing strip does exist on the island, flights are
impractically expensive and virtually impossible to arrange.
Custom Alaska Cruises would like
to put this remarkable and legendary birding destination back on the map. From
May to early June of 2006, we would like to take part in planning and executing
expeditions to this bird watcher's paradise.
Our flagship, the M.V.
Sikumi, is a sixty-seven foot luxury cruise ship, specifically designed
and built to negotiate the harsh seas of Alaska. For the majority of the year
the boat provides custom luxury cruising all the way from Seattle to Prince William
Sound.
The Sikumi has the necessary facilities for hosting an
expedition to Attu; state-of-the-art navigational equipment, adequate water and
fuel capacities, plenty of storage space for equipment and bicycles for exploring
the island, a full service galley and chef, comfortable staterooms, and a washer
and dryer. His knowledge
and experience of Alaskan waters make him an ideal candidate for skipper to this
scarcely visited remote crowned-jewel of North American birding.
With the accompaniment of experienced and expert birding
guides, our expeditions would offer birders unique experiences to navigate Attu
island and it's famed birding grounds. We would also offer many of the comforts
of home in the form of the Sikumi. From her tough steel hull to her handsome wood-trimmed
interior, the M.V. Sikumi combines the ruggedness of an ocean-going commercial
trawler with the elegance of a luxury cruise ship.
Contact
us today for information on this exciting Attu birding
expedition opportunity.
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