Another week, another adventure in Southeast Alaska!

We kicked things off in Juneau, welcoming 80 excited guests aboard for what would turn out to be a fantastic week. The energy on embarkation day was high, the weather was cooperative, and everyone was eager to see what Alaska had in store for us.

Another week in Southeast Alaska is in the books, and this one had everything: whales, bears, rain, glaciers, surprise wildlife encounters, and just enough chaos to keep expedition life interesting.

We started the week in Sitka welcoming a fresh group of guests aboard, and the energy right from the start was fantastic. Everyone seemed excited to get out exploring, which always makes for a fun week as a guide.

Another week in Southeast Alaska is in the books, and this one had a little bit of everything: calm seas, glacier plunges, humpback whales, muddy boots, and just enough rain to remind us we’re still in Alaska.

We kicked things off at Inian Islands and George Island, which felt like starting the week on home turf. It’s always nice going somewhere you know well enough to already have a mental map of the tides, wildlife hotspots, and where guests are most likely to ask, “Wait…how do sea lions sleep?”…

There’s something special about the first voyage of the season—equal parts organized chaos, excitement, and rediscovering just how quickly life onboard falls back into rhythm. This year’s journey north from Seattle to Juneau aboard a small expedition ship had a little bit of everything: new places, smooth seas, wildlife, questionable food philosophy, and some truly spectacular weather.

Our first stop was at Olympic National Park, which was a first for me and another national park checked off the list. We hiked up to a waterfall that was absolutely worth seeing, though apparently we timed it perfectly with what looked like an elementary and middle school field trip day. Between the waterfalls and the swarm of energetic students, the trail definitely had more traffic than your average backcountry adventure—but it was still a beautiful introduction to the trip.

After a winter away from the water, it’s officially back to work with UnCruise—and there’s no better place to kick things off than Seattle. The past week has been all about getting the boat dialed in and guest-ready. That means plenty of behind-the-scenes effort: organizing gear, deep cleaning, checking systems, and making sure everything is exactly where it needs to be before the first passengers step aboard. It’s not the glamorous side of expedition life, but it’s what makes everything else run smoothly.

I like to say I grew up with a foot in adventure and a head full of questions.

I was born and raised in Colorado, right next to Rocky Mountain National Park, where being outdoors wasn’t optional, it was just life. My family was always hiking, exploring, and getting a little muddy, and that early exposure to nature sparked a curiosity in me that never really went away. I didn’t just want to see the world—I wanted to understand it.

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