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The Year of the Forests

PAGE 10:

Day-By-Day

PAGE 18:

2012 Schedules

PAGE 22:

It's All About Relationships

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For those of us offering “Tongass Tours” life hasn’t been without its complications. Aside from the cost of

fuel, conservation issues have been at the front of our concerns.

A couple of cases in point.

FORESTS

Sealaska, a Native American regional corporation received approximately 292,000 acres (460 square

miles) when the Alaska Native Settlements Claims Act was passed by Congress in 1971. Initially it chose

about 200,000 acres of the oldest and the best of the old growth the Tongass had to offer, cut it to the

ground, exported the logs to Asia and then reinvested the money so poorly it has little to show for it.

Now they have gone back to Congress with the support of Senators Murkowski(R) and Begich(D) to get

the rest of it. Outside of land designated for national parks, national monuments or wilderness areas they

are cherry picking the best of what’s left.

Most disconcerting, they’re also claiming rights to more land using the designation “future” and “cultural

sites”. The latter designation is especially troubling because a number of them are in wilderness, park and

national monuments lands and they are reserving the right to develop them.

FISHERIES

Because of a meltdown of halibut and King salmon stocks, severe restrictions have been placed on all

those involved in fishing in Southeast Alaska (commercial, sport and subsistence).

On the sport side one can no longer keep a halibut that is more than 37 inches long (23 lbs) and the limit

is one per day. For King salmon the limit is also one per day and the fish must be longer than 28 inches.

Most of us involved in fisheries issues believe the major problem is bycatch. Bycatch is created (in Europe

they call it discard) when the large dragger/trawler vessels, towing miles of nets behind their boats, pull

those nets in and throw out the unauthorized species.

A government estimate is that in the past few years the dragger/trawler fleet operating in the Gulf of

Alaska (just north of Southeast from where the halibut and salmon migrate) had a halibut discard of

2,300 metric tons (over 5,000,000 pounds). However, many in the commercial, sport and subsistence

sector believe the actual number is at least two or more times that.

To put that figure in perspective, the total allowable halibut catch by all user groups in Southeast Alaska

this year is 4.5 million pounds, down from 14 million pounds three years ago. There are many who feel,

ourselves included, that if the dragger/trawler fishery isn’t eliminated, halibut fishing in Southeast Alaska

will come to an end within a year or two.

As for King salmon, the estimated bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska last year was 58,000, so the allowable

catch in Southeast has been severely restricted. A particularly annoying aspect of the foregoing is that

because the sports fishing industry brings in 3 to 4 times as many dollars per fish caught (hotels,

restaurants, airfares, tourist shopping et al) as any other user group, the local economy has been

adversely affected as well.

Both my wife and I serve on the Board of a European conservation organization and it’s interesting to

note that the EU, aided and abetted by the retail industry who fear loss of product sales, is now moving

to address the bycatch/discard issue. Hopefully we will do the same.

Notes by Michael McIntosh President, The Boat Company

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Notes

The Boat Company can

be reached at:

Corporate Office

The Boat Company

1200 Eighteenth Street NW

Suite 801

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 338-8055 phone

(202) 234-0745 fax

www.theboatcompany.org

Conservation Programs

and Reservations

Street Address:

18819 3rd Ave. NE, Ste. 200

Poulsbo, WA 98370

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1839

Poulsbo, WA 98370

(360) 697-4242 phone

(360) 697-5454 fax

email: kathy@theboatcompany.org

Staff:

Michael McIntosh, President

Hunter McIntosh, Chief Operating Officer

Bob Vey, Comptroller

Kathy Nissley, Reservations Manager

Ken Gerken, Operations Manager

Mary Ann Confar, Office Manager

Joel Hanson, Conservation Director

Board of Directors:

Michael McIntosh

Winsome McIntosh

Hunter McIntosh

Colin McIntosh

Design by:

Erica A de Flamand

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The Boat Company 5

As The Boat Company focused in on our conservation efforts and goals for the

upcoming year, we were delighted to learn that on December 20, 2010, the United Nations

General Assembly declared 2011 to be the International Year of Forests.

Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development: forest-related economic

activities affect the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people worldwide; they provide socio-cultural

benefits and are the foundation for indigenous knowledge; and as ecosystems, forests

play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The Tongass National Forest is ground zero in the United States for all these reasons.

There is constant threat from the timber industry, from native groups in state hell bent

on cutting, and an Alaskan Congressional Delegation who has never seen a tree they

didn’t want to cut or a mineral they didn’t want to mine for. The Alaskan Congressional

Delegation has for decades defiled the landscape of Alaska, at the expense of taxpayers

across this nation.

The hope is that the International Year of Forests will raise awareness and promote global

action to sustainably manage, conserve and develop all types of forests, including trees

outside of forests. “This is an open invitation to the world community”, said Pekka

Patosaari, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, “to come

together and work with Governments, international organizations and civil society, to

ensure that our forests are managed sustainably for current and future generations”.

“Each minute that we spend on this planet breathing in and breathing out, about 62

acres of forests are lost,” Joseph Deiss, president of the U.N. General Assembly, said.

“Ultimately, as history reminds us, in the past, entire civilizations collapse due to

deforestation.”

the year of the forests- BY HUNTER H. MCINTOSH

Vice President, The Boat Company

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On February 2, the U.S. Forest Service, with partner organizations, the National

Association of State Foresters and the American Forest Foundation, announced

the U.S. celebration of the official United Nations International Year of Forests 2011.

The theme of the U.S. campaign is “Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life.”

“The International Year of Forests provides an excellent platform to increase

awareness of the connections between healthy forests, ecosystems, people and

economies,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It is also an opportunity to

celebrate our accomplishments, reach out to new audiences, and work with partners

across all landscapes.”

Using the tagline “Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life.” the forest service hopes to increase

awareness and understanding of the value of America’s forests. The connection of our

forests to health will be their focus through four major themes: clean air and water,

ecosystem health, economic health and community and personal health.

As we look to the future of the Tongass, we can only hope that the current administration

truly intends to embrace these notions that they discussed in the February 2nd press

release. Currently, the Forest Service and USDA are doing very little to protect and pre-

serve the Tongass National Forest from logging interests. It took a group of like-minded

individuals and organizations, including The Boat Company, to file a lawsuit against the

U.S. Department of Agriculture in an effort to reinstate the Tongass back into the Clinton

era Roadless Act. In 2003 the Bush Administration had removed the Tongass from road-

less protection and opened it to constant timber sales. I am proud to report that that

fearless groups lawsuit was a victory as a judge ruled in our favor, placing the Tongass

back where it belonged, with no help from the current administration, even though the

President campaigned in this very issue.

With that, we remain ever vigilant, keeping our eyes open and our ears to the ground

to make sure that if a tree does in fact fall in the forest by chainsaw or axe, we do in

fact hear it and don’t let it slide.

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It was a magical tour; the trip of a lifetime. I have traveled

nationally and internationally (extensively) and The Boat

Company offers luxury coupled with graciousness and

without ostentation; a lovely combination.

"

- PAT POILE"

10 The Boat Company

"Working in the trenches" has it's advantages. It was my first job out of college that landed me

the client of a lifetime - The Boat Company. And last August, I had the good fortune of being

a passenger on the M/V Mist Cove. As a creative professional, I have fallen into the blogging

trend, and what started as a way to keep family up to date on my travels, turned into a a day-

by-day account of my journey from Sitka to Juneau - and with it, a deeper appreciation for the

company I have worked with for the last eight years...

Alaska: En Route Friday, August 20 + Saturday, August 21

Last Friday, Bryan and I left for our trip to Alaska with the better-than-ev-

er-couldve-been-imagined Boat Company. And I say that having worked

with TBC for many years, and already thinking they were amazing. As I

have told others who asked me, the thousands of photos and hundreds

of articles that I proofed, laid into design pieces or archived for The Boat

Company did not prepare me for the experience we had this past week.

It was, hands down, ah-mazing. And if you can do without yet another

trip to Disney World next summer, you must get up to Southeast Alaska.

You must. It will change your life.

We left Charlotte on a direct flight to Seattle, where we fell in love with the city over a very short

period of time. I am certain a lot of that had to do with the weather we encountered when we got

there -- sunny, warm, and "the mountain was out" -- which is a condition I learned prior to my trip

as being a lucky day for Seattle. It sucked us in for sure.

The next morning we woke up and jumped on a flight to Sitka, Alaska, where we would meet up

with The Boat Company crew the following day. It was an easy flight (even for me!) and we had

the afternoon to wander about the town. It had been literally four months since we had been in a

climate below 90-degrees, and it felt just wonderful.

Sitka is a charming, comfortable town. There are remnants of Tlingit Indian history, and a strong

presence of Russian architecture and commerce, as it become a leader in the Russian-American

fur trade prior to being purchased by the U.S. in 1867.

There are boats everywhere, friendly people and an

abundance of outdoor gear shops and art galleries.

Needless to say, we felt at home.

On Sunday morning we walked over to Highliner

Coffee Company, a modern-corner of this otherwise

traditional area, brimming with people on laptops

and smart phones. The coffee was great, and the

decor - huge black and white photographs balanced

all over the walls, featuring local fisherman and their

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A B L O G G E R ' S A C C O U N T

BY Erica A De Flamand

The Boat Company 11

day by day catch - gave the place a unique "true-life-gallery" feel.

At 11am we were greeted in the lobby of our hotel by 3 crew

members from the M/V Mist Cove -- and as a mixed group of

21 passengers -- we walked a few blocks to where the vessel

was docked.

For today, this is where my

story stops - for a couple

of reasons. The first being

that I couldn't organize

my thousands of photos

from this trip in just one day, or as immediately as I would like. The second rea-

son is the more important one - and that is because each day of this trip was so

special, that I felt each one deserved its own post.

Over the course of the last 8 days I have met some amazing people, been surrounded in

a small skiff by hundreds of sea lions, hiked in mossy forests on bear trails, had break-

fast next to humpback whales and porpoise, visited a glacier, and even tried my hand

at salmon fishing. I have devoured the most amazing food ever tasted, wrapped my

arms 'round a 500-year old tree (33-feet around!) and touched a starfish with 19 legs.

Every bit of it -- even the bits when it rained -- were amazing.

Alaska: Day One on the Boat Sunday, August 22

Sunday was our first official day on the M/V Mist Cove. While docked we had a tour of our cabins and the common

areas on the boat, met the crew and had what was only the first of many amazing meals. Chunky, savory tomato

soup, crusty, hot home-made (or rather "boat-made") bread and piles of fresh cookies. Yum.

We departed Sitka and cruised through Olga Straight and Neva Straight, through Sergius Narrows and later an-

chored in a place called Deep Bay. It was here that we dropped kayaks in the water for the first time on the trip,

and explored the small islands that were positioned throughout Deep Bay.

One of the things that most surprised me about S.E. Alaska were the creatures in the intertidal zones - translucent

floating jellyfish, bright blue and orange sea stars, giant barnacles and

bold purple muscles. Ever since I was little I could spend hours looking

in tide pools, and it was clear to me last week that some things never

change.

The weather was cloudy and drizzly, which I would learn was the norm

for the area. It was this first day, and the one that followed, which gave

us the worst weather -- later on in the week we had prolonged bursts of

sunshine, which the crew informed us were known as "sucker holes" … as

in, better not get used to it.

After kayaking, we cruised up Peril Strait and anchored in Saook Bay for the night. Along the way we saw sea otters

rolling around in the kelp and waves, bald eagles dotting the pine trees like Christmas ornaments, and harbor seals

"sunning" themselves on rock jetties. By the time dinner rolled around, we were already surrounded by untouched

wilderness, and there was no cell phone signal to be seen for the next few days.

12 The Boat Company

Alaska: Day Two on the Boat Monday, August 23

On Monday, we woke up to a breakfast that included

mini omelets, hashbrowns and the best lemon-poppy-

seed scones I've ever tasted - and not-so-great weath-

er reports. With no time to waste, everyone loaded up

on skiffs and either went fishing or hiking -- of which

we chose the latter. It was raining continuously through

the day, but due to the heavy tree canopy and moss

cover, we barely noticed. [Of course, we were head-to-

toe in rain gear.] Bryan, Joel, "Los", Jeremy and I hiked

the Pt Kennedy Trail (our first steps into the Tongass),

which Jeremy referred to as a "four-paw" hike, meaning

the number of limbs (or "paws") one must use to as-

cend the soggy hills on the bear-laden track. It was so

green and lush inside the trail, giving us all a reminder

of just how close we were inside the depths of this amazing rainforest. We hiked for about two hours (and to

300+ft above sea level) until we had to make our way back to the main boat.

On the way out we encountered a giant sunflower sea star who was floating close to the waterline. "She" was

bright purple (because anything purple, must be a 'she') with 19 legs, and was easily 2-feet across. I felt as

though I had been granted a week-long sleepover at Mystic Aquarium… except this was way better.

As we climbed back on the boat, the crew decided that we were going to cruise to another location to try and

escape the weather. Before we arrived at our anchor point for the evening - Kelp Bay - we felt the boat slow

down, and the announcement that there were whales off the starboard side. This was our first whale sighting of

the trip, and even though they weren't super close, it was really exciting. An adult female humpback and what

was assumed to be her calf, were gently swimming along the shore. The floated up and down, fluked several

times, and went on their way. Luckily, they weren't the last whales we saw on the trip, but each time new wildlife

crossed our path, it was as though we were seeing it for the first time all over again.

Alaska: Day Three on the Boat Tuesday, August 24

Tuesday - the third full day on the boat - was both one of my favorite

days, and my most stressful one. We woke up early to go kayaking in

Kelp Bay. The fog was heavy, hovering just on top of the water line;

there was so much moisture in the air, droplets were beading across

every surface. Including my camera. My super-duper-never-failed-

me-supposedly-weatherproof-camera. [And, thanks to the crew, I

had even learned how to fashion a ziploc "case" to go around the

body and keep the rain out.] Throughout the morning, I had been

snapping photos. Of the teal blue water, colored by a glacial stream.

Of the Mist Cove, covered in its namesake mist. Of my fellow kayak-

ers. Of the scenery. You get the idea.

The Boat Company 13

We paddled back to the main boat for breakfast around 7:15am, changed into dry clothes, and devoured yet anoth-

er one of April and Lydon's amazing meals: strawberry-rhubarb pancakes. The agenda for the morning consisted

of a "meadow walk" through one of the grassy flats nearby in South Arm and halibut fishing. It was as we were

climbing into the skiffs that I turned my camera back on and got…. an Error message. Telling me that I needed to

"replace the battery" or "turn it off and on" or the best one yet, "get it serviced." But, no matter how many times I

turned it off/on, or took out the battery, it refused to take a single photograph. "Shooting is not possible. Error 99."

Needless to say, I was deflated. I wanted nothing more than to be able to bring home thousands of images from

this trip to share with family and friends. Besides, I didn't pack a 30lb carry-on full of camera equipment just for

my health.

So, feeling naked without a camera around my

neck, we boarded the skiffs and went off for

our hike. And the 5DMKII stayed "home" on

the boat with its various receptacles shoved

full of tissue paper.

Over lunch we cruised down Chatham Strait

and anchored in Kasnyku Bay, where Jeremy,

Bryan, Joel and I hiked the Ell Cove Trail...[Still lamenting my injuried 5DMKII, and hauling my 'extra' 40D camera

body with me].

This hike was - by far - the most amazing hike we did the entire trip. We got dropped off by a skiff on a beach that

had white sand, round pebbles and a stream FULL of spawning salmon. Fresh bear tracks made deep impressions

in the sand, and you could see why -- it was easy for us to reach down and pick up a fish as it swam by -- I could

only imagine the buffet you would have if you had claws. We walked through a trail made by bears and deer, up

steep hills to the top of a ridge that looked down on the bay, the open water and our boat. The view was amazing.

The rain had subsided. And the contrast of the clouds (literally, clouds!) weaving

through the dark green tree tops made the spot just perfect.

We spent some time sitting on top of the ridge, looking down

at the fishing boats, watching the landscape and just

being at peace. We had scaled rock and limb to

get there (needed considerably more "paws" on

this one than the day before), the only tracks we

encountered were that of animals much bigger than

us, and we never came across a trail marker, a piece

of trash, or any sign of human life. Just raw, untouched

wilderness. And it was amazing.

Alaska: Day Four on the Boat Wednesday, August 25

Wednesday started out with another early morning kayak. A light mist still lin-

gered on the water surface, but there was a glimmer of blue sky peeking through.

We spent an hour or so paddling around the edges of the cove at low tide, which

revealed frosty jellyfish floating about, dozens of sunflower sea stars suctioned

to the rock and assorted crabs and fish hovering near the bottom. The wildlife,

for me, never got old.

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After breakfast the plan was to go fishing for Coho salmon. The last time I went fishing I was catching sunfish

with a red and white bobber, and trust me when I say that it was a long time ago. And not at all frequent. Or

successful. [I want to interrupt here by saying that I did not bring my camera along with me with that morning

-- I had assumed that managing a fishing reel, very large fish (hopefully), my camera and a small boat with 5

people in it wouldn't be a great idea.]

Due to my previous experience (or lack thereof), I would consider this Coho adventure my first "real" time

fishing, and it not only resulted in catching something, but also being able to tell my own story of "the one

{or ones} that got away." During the course of the morning, a bear walked casually out of the woods nearby,

scooped up his own salmon and sat down near the shore to

enjoy it, not 30 yards from our skiff. The fish were literally

leaping out of the water in a mix of celebration and suicide, so

it was not surprising that the bear and our boat intersected.

For me, it was an unforgettable experience, and the outcome

was a 38lb box of fresh-caught fish that made it all the way

home via checked baggage on US Airways.

After lunch (handbreaded 'fish sticks' made from an 85-lb hal-

ibut caught the day before), we cruised down Chatham Strait,

around Admiralty Island and into Frederick Sound. The weath-

er was amazing, and the sky was full of puffy white clouds -

unusual to S.E. Alaska, we were told.

We anchored that afternoon at Payne Island, Keku Straits, and spent a few hours touring

the area in skiffs. Our boat - with Tim at the helm - meandered into a cave where starfish

hung from the rock and the water looked like it was shipped there from the Bahamas.

It was beautiful, and in sharp contrast to the now-cloudy-somewhat-drizzly skies.

From there were headed to Big Tree Island, where we walked through mossy trails

and found a tree that was 33' around (we measured), and over 500 years old. Sitka

Spruce and Hemlock trees were organized according to years of natural process-

es, and those that had fallen became the foundation for new ones to grow. This

old-growth forest was untouched by humans, and home to mushrooms, birds,

deer, berries and a very vocal raven.

While on Big Tree Island, we took the op-

portunity to pick bags of wild huckleberries, which

would later turn up in fresh breakfast pastries. Now

that is what you call organic.

As the sun got lower in the sky, we walked on the beach

for a while before heading back to the Mist Cove for

dinner. That night we were treated to the most amaz-

ing sunset and later a full moon, which became our

backdrop for dinner, a glass of wine, whale-watching

off the starboard side, and re-living our adventures

from the day.

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Alaska: Day Five on the Boat Thursday, August 26

Before I proclaimed my early decision (at age 13) to be an artist when I grew up,

I made the announcement numerous times that I wanted to be a marine biolo-

gist. Our family had yearly passes to Mystic Aquarium, and as I look back on it

now, I feel a little guilty for dragging my parents there so often - not realizing

that all the exhibits were the same each time. I had aspirations of swimming with

dolphins and making a career for myself at a place like SeaWorld. Of course, in

reflection, I realize I never would have passed biology or any task that involved

dissecting anything. As it is, I can barely give my dog a pill. But, it was days like

this one that reminded me why I had that dream in the first place.

On Thursday morning, we woke up to dense fog in Frederick Sound, and had

breakfast surrounded by whales. Literally. There were humpbacks on all sides

of the boat, and they were close. They moved above and below the surface as

though they were all dancers in an underwater ballet. They dove down deep, showing their smooth flukes and

came up again somewhere nearby. It was amazing.

At the same time that we had interrupted breakfast for whale-watching, a handful of Dall's Porpoise came zoom-

ing by and played in our ship's wake. Dall's

Porpoise look like mini-Orca, and move way

to fast to capture in any way other than one's

memory. I don't know who ordered up the

morning performance of the sea creatures,

but I am forever grateful.

Following breakfast we anchored at Hanson

Hole near East Brother Island. We packed a

sack lunch and set off for an all-day hike on

the island, through what was known as the "Nerf" forest. We were dropped off by a skiff at a beach covered in

smooth rocks and littered with abandoned sea urchin shells. As we wandered through tide pools, a humpback

started breeching off in the distance. The whale must have hurled his/her big body out of the water a half-dozen

times before moving on... when they say Alaska is a wild place, they are not kidding.

We headed into the forest, which was full of old-growth trees. The ground was covered with thick moss, and felt

like a mattress beneath your feet. It would be the perfect place to hike if you had sore knees. The color inside the

canopy was rich with different shades of green, and the air smelled like a prolific greenhouse. We stopped on a

hill to have lunch, share stories and goldfish crackers and just take in our surroundings. Towards the end of the

hike, we climbed to the top of a hill where you could see our

boat, anchored in the distance.

As we all climbed back into the skiff, light rain started to

fall. Before heading back to the Mist Cove, we made our

way over to an island appropriately named – Sea Lion Is-

land. What seemed like hundreds of Stellar sea lions were

sitting on the beaches and rock outcroppings on this little

island. And as we slowly approached in our boat - listening

to Jeremy talk about the sea lion way of life - they started

swimming towards us. Before we knew it we had been sur-

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rounded on all sides by these giant, whiskered beasts - and they circled us, barked at us, and gave us looks

that made all of us miss the pets we had left back home. [A

note: The lens I was using in the following shots is 24-105,

not in any way a telephoto. That should give you an idea of

just how close these guys were...]

Im not sure that my words or my photos can express the

experience we had with these sea lions. It was truly awe-

some, and made me appreciate everything about wild ani-

mals, and the gift they give us humans to see them up

close. And for a brief moment, these barking beasts gave

me reason to reconsider my young career aspirations...

Alaska: Day Six on the Boat Friday, August 27

Friday was known around the boat as "Glacier Day." We had anchored in a fjord named Dawes Inlet, where the

glaciers had carved deep cracks in the earth years and years ago. The inlet was surrounded by steep rock that

was home to dense evergreens and mountain goats. And it was cold.

We woke up early that morning

to go kayaking in Dawes, and see

the floating glacial ice up close

for ourselves. The morning light

was amazing, squeezing its way

through the cracks in the fjord

walls, and casting a blue sheen

across the water. Waterfalls

flowed down from the rock walls, and the

peacefulness of the whole scene was just perfect.

After breakfast we all boarded skiffs and set out to see Dawes

Glacier, at the top of Endicott Arm. The glacier was surrounded by icebergs, harbor seals, waterfalls and blue-

green water that rivaled any tropical setting on Earth. The kitchen had packed a case of hot cocoa and fresh

cookies for each boat, a perfect compliment to the 2 hours we spent just taking it all in. The glacier would calve

in front of our eyes, and you wouldn't know it had happened until you heard the thunder-boom echo across the

water -- well after the chunk of ice had hit the surface.

Dawes Glacier was an amazing display of watching

our Earth in action - the instability of our environment,

and the many reasons we need to focus on taking care

of it. If you didn't understand the potential effect of

global warming on our planet then, you certainly did

after seeing a flow of ice thousands of years old up

close - and learning about what would happen should

it melt any time soon. It was a humbling and inspiring

experience all in one. And well worth having to thaw

out one's toes after lunch.

The Boat Company 17

We spent the afternoon cruising closer to Juneau -- which depressed us all as we started to see signs of civiliza-

tion -- other boats, power lines, cell phone service. Along the way we had the unique opportunity to see a male

Orca whale swimming off in the distance. Orcas are so graceful - as they are a member of the dolphin family - and

seeing his black fin against the tree-filled backdrop was a special treat. Not to mention that the sun had come out

and the sky was a deep blue. It was a beautiful, bittersweet after-

noon as we all started to realize our trip was coming to an end.

Dinner on that last night was over the top -- our cocktails were

made with a piece of glacier ice we had fished out of Dawe's Inlet

earlier that day. The food was a little bit richer, a little bit fancier

and we all savored it a little bit more. The crew joined us for a

social after dinner, where Jeremy showed a slideshow of photos

he had taken throughout the week. We toured the "guts" of the

boat - the engine, the kitchen, the crews quarters -- and made

certain we would all leave with one another's e-mail addresses.

Check back on Friday for the last day's post -- docking in Juneau

-- and saying goodbye to the crew.

Alaska: Day Seven on the Boat Saturday, August 28

On the morning of Saturday, August 28, our boat docked in Juneau. In between a 1000-passenger Carnival cruise

ship, and another commercial vessel.

Our week-long immersion into wilderness, peace, stress relief and technology-detox was clearly over.

On any other vacation, I would say I was surprised at the relationships

we had all built over the last 7 days - but this time I wasn't. Having three

meals a day at one table with the same 20 people turns everyone into

an immediate family. And on that last day, hugs were had all around

-- between passengers and passengers, between passengers and crew.

There is very little to say about our last day in Alaska except for: thank

you. Thank you to The Boat Company for an incredible experience --

and especially to the crew: Captain Jim, Kristin, Jeremy, Whit, April,

Jose, Lydon, Becky, Beth, Mandy, Jesse and Tim. The entire trip is not

one we will ever forget, and we can't wait to do it again.

Erica A de FlamandDesigner + Photographer

www.the-summerhouse.com

Erica has worked for The Boat Company for the last eight years.

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Dates Boarding Disembarking May 19 – May 26

May 26 – June 2

June 2 - June 9

June 9 – June 16

June 16 – June 23

June 23 – June 30

June 30 – July 7

July 7 – July 14

July 14 – July 21

July 21 – July 28

July 28 – August 4

August 4 – August 11

August 11 – August 18

August 18 – August 25

August 25 – Sept 1

September 1 – Sept 8

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

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Juneau

2012 Southeast Alaska

MOTOR VESSEL MIST COVE

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Dates Boarding Disembarking May 19 – May 26

May 26 – June 2

June 2 - June 9

June 9 – June 16

June 16 – June 23

June 23 – June 30

June 30 – July 7

July 7 – July 14

July 14 – July 21

July 21 – July 28

July 28 – August 4

August 4 – August 11

August 11 – August 18

August 18 – August 25

August 25 – Sept 1

September 1 – Sept 8

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

Juneau

Sitka

2012 Southeast Alaska

MOTOR VESSEL LISERON

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With 2010 in our rear view mirror, The Boat Company is moving full steam ahead into 2011, with

new partnerships and more events on the horizon.

2011 has seen the addition of four new fantastic partners to our business. We are pleased to

introduce you to Vapur water bottles, the Sonoma Soap Company, Speyburn and Old Pulteney

Single Malt Scotch.

As a conservation organization, we are diligent in our efforts to promote sustainability. At the

same time, as a high-end cruise operator, our guests expect a certain level of comfort while on

board. It is a very fine line that one must walk when claiming to be a sustainable eco-tourism

operator. The Boat Company has walked that line for 31 years now, and we are pleased to

introduce you all to our newest partners:

Vapur

For years we have been asked why we do not offer water bottles, and the truth of the matter was

that we struggled to find “American Made” and “Eco Friendly” water bottle products. However, in

the winter of 2010 we were introduced to Vapur, the “anti-water bottle”. Vapur Anti-Bottles are

completely BPA-free and are constructed of three layers of ultra-durable plastic. The innermost

layer is made from FDA-approved polyethythene, which is then bonded to two layers of nylon

for strength and durability. Every Anti-Bottle is designed to withstand everyday use and regular

cleaning. The inner layer is odor, taste and stain resistant, so it can safely be reused again and

again! Vapur is also proudly made in the USA.

Sonoma Soap Company

Sonoma Soap Company captures the essence of the romance, imagery and lifestyle of Sonoma

Wine Country. This includes a sophisticated sense of style, taking pleasure in the finer qualities

of life, and an appreciation of the natural and fit lifestyle. Sonoma Valley's unspoiled beauty and

healthy lifestyle are captured in every refined Sonoma Soap Company product. Sonoma Valley's

unspoiled beauty and healthy lifestyle are captured in every Sonoma Soap Company product,

made from a traditional Sonoma blend of certified organic ingredients including lavender, citrus,

wildflowers, cedar wood, maple and more. The products are between 99.5% and 100% natural,

100% vegetarian, paraben and phthalate free, and they do not contain artificial colors or

fragrances.

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Speyburn Single Malt Scotch

Speyburn represents our offering for the entry-level scotch consumer. It is a medium-bodied

scotch with a delicate, fruity character and a dry, warm, peaty finish. It is a pale gold with

amber highlights, a fresh, clean and aromatic scent with a rich lemony fruitiness. Speyburn

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky was first distilled on the 15th December 1897, the diamond

jubilee year of Queen Victoria. To ensure that whisky was made in the jubilee year, men worked

through the night in a heavy snowstorm in a still house without windows, managing to bond

one single barrel of 1897 Speyburn. Today, Speyburn continues to use the time-honored

traditional distillation methods that created the single barrel of the 1897 vintage, and remains

the only Speyside distillery to draw crystal-clear water from the famed Granty Burn, the heart

of our classic Speyside single malt whiskies.

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch

Old Pulteney represents our top shelf, single malt scotch offering. You will find very few single

malts in the world that rank higher. We are proud to carry both 12 and 17 year old offerings on

both vessels. Since 1826, the Pulteney Distillery has crafted a Single Malt Scotch Whisky that is

the very essence of its remarkable location. In the very far north of Scotland, by Wick’s historic

harbor, the quietly maturing spirit lies in hand-selected oak casks, slowly capturing the unique

character of this stunning landscape with it’s long seafaring history. Old Pulteney is the

embodiment of history, people and place: the Genuine Maritime Malt.

The 12-year is matured wholly in air-dried, hand-selected ex-bourbon casks; the ‘unashamedly

excellent’ Old Pulteney 12-yers-old is the definitive expression in the Old Pulteney family. It is

dry, medium bodied and smooth with a clean finish; faintly salty with a slight sherry note. It is

deep amber with a slight pink hue, medium to high intensity, and dry with a hint of sea air. The

17-year-old predominantly features ex-bourbon maturation, with the addition of spirit that has

been wholly matured in Spanish wood ex-sherry casks, predominantly Pedro Ximenez and

Oloroso. This adds a subtle depth and complexity to the whisky, making for an outstanding after

dinner drink. It is full bodied, with hints of vanilla and floral notes in the background; a long-

lasting memorable finish. It is red amber with a rich autumnal hue, sweet with traces of apples

and pears; slightly wood with a hint of butterscotch.

Make sure to visit The Boat Company website frequently as we continue to add some

outstanding new partners. Even better, if you know of other organizations and businesses that

share the same philosophy as The Boat Company, don't hesitate to introduce us, it could be the

start of something great.

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We have traveled extensively all our lives

both for business and pleasure, from

China to Australia, and virtually every

country in Europe. We have taken tours

and cruises (on those "floating cities", as

Jeremy called them) but The Boat

Company has now spoiled us for future

vacations! I can't think of when I have

enjoyed myself more, given the quality

of the crew, the camaraderie of fellow

passengers, and the fabulous scenery of

Alaska. I find myself still thinking about

the Mist Cove often, wondering where she

is, what the crew is up to... the pristine

scenery of the coves and "arms", the

gentle pace... and the view from the deck

outside our stateroom, always gorgeous.

We feel very fortunate to have seen so

much wildlife, and in the presence of such

great people...All in all, it was most

definitely a privilege to have seen Alaska

with The Boat Company.

- JOEL AND MARYANNE SPINNER"

"

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Old Pulteney, the golden Single Malt rich in maritime

heritage, is supporting conservation by sponsoring

a historic rowing mission to the North Pole. Made in

the most northerly distillery in mainland Scotland, by

Wick’s historic harbor, Old Pulteney matures in hand-

selected oak casks, capturing the character of this

stunning landscape with a touch of ocean air and sea

salt. As such, it is the inspiration for noted adventurer

and seafarer Jock Wishart, who is boldly setting forth

on the Old Pulteney Row to the Pole Expedition.

Until just a few years ago, there has been an ice cap

surrounding the North Pole, making entry impossible.

However, global warming has caused that ice cap to

melt, creating a waterway. Jock’s journey to row to

the North Pole will be the first of its kind in history.

While on their adventure, Jock and his team will have

an additional mission: collecting samples and data to

bring back and share with scientists studying the region.

Stay tuned for an update

on this great adventure!

Now on both Boat Company vessels.

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The Sonoma Soap Company’s commitment to a cleaner,

better planet extends to our partnership with Clean the

World Foundation, a nonprofit organization that

collects discarded soaps and shampoos from hotels

and redistributes them to people in need around the world.

With each recycled item, men, women and children are

given the power to combat deadly diseases with the

simplest of weapons: soap and water. And in the process,

hundreds of tons of needless waste are kept out of our

world’s landfills.

Each package of Sonoma Soap Company Bar Soap now

features the Clean the World logo, and a portion of the

proceeds go directly to the nonprofit—generating funds

and awareness to help save lives and the environment.

The Sonoma Soap Company and Clean the World: Together,

we make good things happen.

www.sonomasoapcompany.com

www.cleantheworld.org

Now on both Boat Company vessels.

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It is a trip that

we will remember forever.

We were afraid the second time

could never live up to the first trip.

We were wrong.

Each trip is unique.

Each actually stands alone. "

"

- PAIGE INNERARITY

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I'm 70 years old. This is – without a doubt – the finest

vacation of my life. Everything you said we'd see/do, we

saw and did... and more. First class…."

"

- LARRY FROST

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THE MOST PORTABLE WATER BOTTLE ON THE PLANET

The Vapur Anti-Bottle is a foldable, reusable water bottle designed for easy and convenient on-the-go use anywhere. Unlike traditional rigid bottles, the Vapur Anti-Bottle is flexible, which means it stands upright when full and can be rolled, folded or flattened when empty – easily fitt ing into pockets, purses or packs.

Now on both Boat Company vessels.

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SThe Boat Company Receives Prestigous Award

The Hospitality Sales Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announced

the Gold Adrian Award honorees of the first-ever “Leader in Sustainable Tourism”

Award, presented in conjunction with National Geographic Traveler. The winners

were Fairmont Hotels for its Green Partnership Program/Fairmont’s H20 Package;

Hotel Punta Islita/Costa Rica for its Sustainable Tourism: Learning, protecting, cel-

ebrating; Inkaterra/Peru for INKATERRA; Namibia/Africa for its program Namibia’s

Communal Conservancy Tourism Sector: Achieving Community Benefit at Scale;

and The Boat Company/Alaska for its campaign The Boat Company: 30 Years of

Sustainable Eco-Cruising. The Gold award winners were in the running for the top

honor - a Platinum Award, announced at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Reception and

Gala, January 31, 2011, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

“The growing importance of environmental initiatives is a central theme to the tourism and hospitality

industry, as we all try to be more responsible for our community footprints. We are very pleased to be

partnering with National Geographic Traveler in this new award & delighted to be recognizing outstanding

work in this area from all around the world,” said Fran Brasseux, Executive Vice President of HSMAI. “The

winning entrants each demonstrate clearly that it is possible to increase tourism in a sustainable manner

that can respect and protect our communities and environment.”

The Leader in Sustainable Tourism Award recognizes a person, company or community for demonstrable

leadership and innovation in preserving and communicating an authentic sense of place through a wisely

managed tourism campaign. How their efforts preserve the environmental, cultural and historic integrity

of a destination, and how the program demonstrated leadership, innovation and accomplished its goals

judged nominees. Entries required details on Project Analysis, Objectives and Goals, Creativity and Innova-

tion, Communication, Results, and Leadership.

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"Sustainable tourism has been part of National Geographic

Traveler's DNA for over 10 years," says Kimberly Connaghan,

publisher of National Geographic Traveler magazine. "Our

mission is 'to report on destinations of distinction and char-

acter, and we support efforts to keep them that way-believ-

ing that to enhance an authentic sense of place will benefit

both travelers and the locations they visit.' We are excited to

be partnering with HSMAI on the first ever Leader in Sustainable Tourism award to recognize

the innovators in the tourism industry that are truly making a difference in their communities."

The HSMAI Adrian Awards honor creative brilliance and best practices in hospitality, travel

and tourism-related marketing. In its 54th year, the competition has evolved into the world's

most renowned and prestigious advertising, public relations and digital marketing competition

customized to the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. The winners were honored at the

HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala January 31, 2011, a black-tie networking event featuring award-

winning campaigns, lifetime achievement recognition and the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary

Minds in Sales & Marketing.”

2010 HSMAI ADRIANAWA R D SWINNERSUSTAINABLE TOURISM

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PREPARATION

Bring water, wine and lemon juice to a boil in medium-sized skillet. Stir in chicken granules.

Reduce heat to a simmer, and place halibut steaks in the pan.

Cover and simmer over low heat, 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at thickest part, or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.

Remove fish from pan; keep warm.

Boil remaining liquid in pan until it reduces to approximately 1/4 cup.

Whisk in butter, and stir in capers.

Spoon sauce over fish.

Season with pepper, and sprinkle with parsley.

Serve on a bed of cooked noodles, if desired.

Makes 2 servings. Recipe may be easily doubled.

RECIPES FROM ALASKAN WATERS

INGREDIENTS

2 (4 oz.) Alaska Halibut steaks

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup white wine

2 tsp. lemon juice

1/8 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

1 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. capers

Black pepper, to taste

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Cooked noodles, optional

ON THE MENU: Pan-Poached Halibut Piccata

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Visit us online: www.boatcompany.org

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