One Generator, Plenty of Orcas, and a Season Finale We Didn’t See Coming

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.

On embarkation day, our boat decided it was only interested in running on one generator. Not exactly the start we had in mind for a trip with 76 guests!

After a bit of negotiating and some careful planning, we departed that evening for Bartlett Cove and Glacier Bay, hoping the engineering team could get the problem sorted out while the guests enjoyed some of Alaska's beautiful trails, learned about local plants, and spent time with our entertaining guide team.

Meanwhile, the engineers were working hard, with a mechanic flown in to help get the generator back online.

Unfortunately, despite everyone's best efforts, the repair wasn't successful. So, rather than continuing south toward the glaciers, we turned around and headed back to Juneau.

And just like that, our grand season finale became an extended stay in the harbor.

For the next three days, we remained tied up at the dock, finding ways to keep our guests entertained while the office worked tirelessly to track down the necessary part.

Although we weren't going anywhere fast, we certainly weren't sitting around doing nothing!

We ran plenty of skiff tours and kayaking excursions around Juneau Harbor, along with a trip up to Mendenhall Glacier. There were the usual bald eagles keeping watch over the harbor, a couple of harbor seals making appearances, and even a sea lion popping up during one of our skiff tours.

Not a bad collection of wildlife for a trip that wasn't supposed to spend much time in Juneau!

One of my highlights was a kayaking excursion that I co-led with another guide. The wind and currents were strong, which made for a rather exciting ride under the bridge. Going downstream was a blast. Coming back upstream, however, was a completely different story.

It took us about 45 minutes to paddle down and a whopping hour and a half to make our way back against the wind and current.

By the end, we'd covered approximately six miles in a single afternoon. That's the sort of distance we would usually tackle on an all-day kayaking excursion, not something squeezed into a few hours!

Needless to say, I was absolutely exhausted afterward. There is nothing quite like realizing that your afternoon paddle has turned into an unexpected upper-body workout.

The guests, thankfully, remained in good spirits despite the change of plans. Our guide team did its best to keep everyone engaged and make the most of the opportunities available, and I was proud of how everyone pulled together during a frustrating situation.

Unfortunately, even with the office working every possible angle to locate a replacement part—from Alaska down to Seattle and even across Canada—we couldn't find what we needed in time.

Ultimately, the Coast Guard determined that the vessel could not sail with guests aboard while operating on only one generator.

Safety always comes first, even when it means disappointing news.

With no replacement part available and no way to continue the itinerary as planned, the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the trip.

We said our goodbyes to the guests, who had been incredibly patient throughout the ordeal, and prepared to continue south to Seattle with crew only.

It certainly wasn't the ending any of us had envisioned. We had been looking forward to showing our guests glaciers, wildlife, and all the incredible scenery along the way. Instead, we spent several days exploring Juneau Harbor and learning just how much flexibility expedition travel sometimes requires.

But that's part of working in Alaska. You can have the perfect itinerary, the best team, and the most enthusiastic guests in the world, and sometimes a piece of machinery has the final say.

Once we were underway toward Seattle, things settled into a different rhythm.

For the most part, we cruised south while the crew shifted into end-of-season mode. There was, however, one particularly fun break from the work: we made a stop that allowed the crew to get off the boat, run around a small island, and participate in a game designed to give morale a little boost.

After everything that had happened, a chance to stretch our legs, get some fresh air, and have a bit of fun together was very welcome!

We also had the good fortune to spot some beautiful orcas as we continued south. It was a wonderful reminder that even when a trip doesn't go according to plan, Alaska still has a few surprises left to offer.

Of course, the main job was getting the boat ready for winter.

That meant inventorying equipment, organizing supplies, packing things away, and making sure everything was accounted for before the boat settled in for the off-season.

Normally, we'd have our usual shutdown days in Seattle to complete all of this work. But with the extra days we'd accumulated while dealing with the generator problem, we had plenty of time to spread out the tasks.

And by spread out, I mean we perfected the art of working slowly and making every task last as long as humanly possible.

When you're working for ten days straight without the usual rhythm of guest activities, wildlife sightings, and changing scenery, even the most straightforward jobs can begin to feel endless. Keeping crew morale up became its own little expedition.

Still, we worked through the lists, packed away the equipment, and eventually got everything done.

The boat was officially tucked away for its winter's nap.

Looking back, the final trip of the season was certainly not what we'd planned. There were no grand glacier days with our guests, no leisurely cruising south with a full itinerary, and no picture-perfect end to the summer.

Instead, we had generator troubles, unexpected kayaking workouts, several days exploring Juneau Harbor, some excellent orca sightings, and a whole lot of teamwork.

It wasn't the finale we wanted, but it was a reminder of how important flexibility, patience, and a good sense of humor are when working in expedition travel.

Now it's time to head back to Colorado for the winter, spend some time recovering from a busy summer, reconnect with family and friends, and start thinking about whatever adventures come next.

I'll miss the mountains, the wildlife, the boat, and the wonderful people who make each season special. But I'm also looking forward to a little time on land before the next chapter begins.

After all, there's always another adventure around the corner.

And hopefully, next season, the generators will cooperate!

Until next time, Alaska. Thanks for another unforgettable season—just perhaps a slightly less dramatic ending next time?

Two Ravens enjoying each others company on top of the mast of a near by fishing boat.

Bald Eagle sitting in by a channel marker in Juneau Harbor

Sunset on Mount Baker while cruising back into the United States from Canada.