Every Alaska season has its surprises, but I don't think any of us expected the final trip of the year to turn into quite the adventure it did!

Our last trip of the season had all the makings of a fantastic finale. We had 76 guests coming aboard in Juneau, ready to cruise south toward Seattle and take in some of Alaska's most spectacular glaciers along the way. After that, we were looking forward to a few days of hard work putting everything away, completing inventory, and getting the boat tucked in for its long winter's nap.

Simple enough, right?

Well, apparently, the boat had other plans.

After spending most of the season bouncing between small expedition boats, skiffs, glaciers, whales, bears, and everything else Southeast Alaska has decided to throw at us, I am currently doing something I don't get to do very often:

Staying in one place.

I've been enjoying a three-week break from the boat, using the time to recharge, catch up on sleep, spend some much-needed time with family, and generally recover some of the energy that disappears somewhere between the early mornings, long days, and endless Alaska adventures.

And while the break has been wonderful...

I'm already missing the boat.

There is something slightly strange about being on land for this long after spending so much time looking at mountains, watching for whales, checking the tides, and wondering what might be around the next corner. I find myself thinking about Alaska quite a bit—and missing all the incredible things we get to see out there.

Luckily, my last trip before leaving Alaska gave me plenty to think about.

If there is one word to describe this week in Southeast Alaska, it would have to be fog.

Foggy mornings, foggy afternoons, fog hanging around the mountains, and clouds that seemed determined to put on a spectacular show every single day. And while the weather was a little dreary at times, I honestly can’t complain. The clouds draped across the mountains in such incredible ways that everywhere you looked felt almost otherworldly.

There was plenty of mist and drizzle throughout the week, but the upside was that it kept the temperatures comfortable and, perhaps most importantly, kept the bugs under control. I’ll happily trade a little drizzle for fewer mosquitoes!

This week, Alaska finally decided to act like Alaska.

Well… sort of.

We started the week with bright sunshine, blue skies, and even a heat advisory in Juneau. Apparently, Southeast Alaska decided it wanted to experience summer after all. The sun stuck around for most of the week, making for some very happy guests—and some very tired guides. Turns out, being outside in the sunshine all day is exhausting when your office is a moving boat.

If there’s one thing Southeast Alaska has taught me this season, it’s that the weather likes to keep us guessing. This week, however, it decided to give us something a little different: sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine.

We cruised from Sitka to Juneau under absolutely beautiful skies, with sunny weather pretty much every single day. The guests were thrilled, of course—and honestly, so were we. But after this much sunshine, the guides have started quietly hoping for a little rain. Not because we don’t appreciate blue skies, but because once you start walking into the forest, it becomes very obvious just how dry things are getting. The moss that is usually damp and squishy is starting to feel crunchy, and the forest is definitely showing signs that fall is on its way.

After a few exciting weeks on the big boat, it’s time to trade the larger decks for smaller skiffs, quiet coves, and the kind of adventures where you never quite know what the day will bring.

My time cruising between Vancouver and Whittier flew by. Getting to make that journey multiple times was an incredible opportunity to see new places, experience different parts of Alaska, and meet so many amazing people along the way. Every itinerary brought something new—from stunning landscapes to fascinating stories shared by guests, guides, and crew.

Every season has those weeks that feel like a perfect ending, and this was one of them. Our final Juneau-to-Sitka run of the rotation packed in glaciers, bears, bushwhacks, and a few brand-new places before it was time to trade a small expedition ship for a larger vessel and a whole new adventure.

This week we made our way from Sitka back to Juneau, and Alaska decided to show off.

We had absolutely incredible weather all week long. In fact, it was so warm that we may have been flirting with record temperatures for this time of year. Needless to say, sunscreen became one of the most important pieces of expedition gear onboard. Who knew that one of the biggest hazards in Alaska would be sunburn?

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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