Our Guides
Our guides are the best in the industry. Not only that — they own the company! At Spirit Walker we recognize that the guide is the most important part of any trip. We invest heavily in our guides to make sure they have more than just the necessary skills to make your trip safe and enjoyable. Our guides have the experience and training to provide the safest, most enjoyable wilderness adventure possible.
Qualifications and Training
All of our expedition guides have a Wilderness First Responder certification. Each year our guides complete a 40-hour training course, which includes kayak safety and rescue, wilderness medicine, and in-depth training in tides, wind, current and weather. Natural history is an equally important part of training, and instructors are selected from among our local experts: whale and bear biologists, geologists, and naturalists.
In addition, our guides have the training and experience to:
Make things easier for you. Guides handle all trip planning, logistics, packing, and many camp chores. So relax and make the most of your trip! They provide complete instruction in kayaking and minimum impact camping. No experience is required for our trips!
Keep you safe. Our experienced guides are highly trained to anticipate and avoid dangers to help ensure your safety. While every outdoor activity entails an element of risk (we can't promise you won't get hurt), we have never had an injury during our twenty years in operation.
Keep you informed. Guides enhance your appreciation and enjoyment by sharing personal knowledge of the natural and cultural history of the areas we visit. Not only do they know the names of plants and animals, but can help weave together the rich connections between the plants, animals, geology, ocean and weather in a way that conveys the richness of the area.
Share the experience. Our guides are good company too!
Meet our guides for 2008...
Our expedition guides all have a current Wilderness First Responder Certification. Each year they also complete a forty-hour training course. Topics include kayak safety, rescue, and wilderness medicine — plus review of tides, wind, water currents and weather systems.
Gary Carlson, Senior Guide
Gary Carlson has been guiding wilderness expeditions for over 20 years. He has guided and worked in Canada, Wales, the United States and Belize.
Throughout his career he has guided wilderness canoeing, sea kayaking, and whitewater kayaking expeditions. Many of these trips have been part of programs that he has designed and run. In addition, Gary teaches kayak safety classes and kayak building classes.
Gary has extensive natural history knowledge of Southeast Alaska. In the off season he has worked as a social services counselor, high school teacher, brick layer, and a computer consultant.
Stephen Van Derhoff, Senior Guide
Born in East Africa and raised throughout the world, Stephen Van Derhoff has been seeking out wilderness adventures all of his life.
From mountain climbs, safaris, and rafting trips in Africa, to sailing trips through Central America, Stephen has always been passionate about wild places. His travels brought him to Alaska in 1999, where he immediately fell in love with the expansive wilderness, abundant wildlife, and chance to live and explore in such a wild place.
Since moving here, Stephen has spent his summers guiding sea kayaking expeditions throughout Southeast Alaska, as well as hiking, fishing, berry-picking, crabbing, trying to grow tomatoes, and learning all he can about the nature of Southeast Alaska.
In the winter, Stephen lives in Sitka with his wife and daughter, where he volunteers for the Sitka Mountain Rescue Team and organizes the annual Mountain Film Festival.
Jai Crapella, Senior Guide
When not guiding for Spirit Walker Expeditions, Jai Crapella (pronounced "jay") works for Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), a non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the unique environment and culture of Southeast Alaska. Her work as a grassroots organizer and fundraiser contribute to her ability to work with people from all walks of life.
Jai's very first kayak outing was a one month expedition in Glacier Bay in 1996. Totally inspired, she came back to Alaska for 2-5 week annual expeditions over the next 7 years, honing her kayaking skills, wilderness experience and local knowledge. In 2001, Jai moved to Douglas, Alaska (just outside Juneau) to be closer to the region she loves.
Jai is CPR and Wilderness First Responder accredited, with a deep appreciation of nature, and an ability to make personal connections with guests — providing them a unique wilderness experience.
Nathan Borson, Senior Guide
Nathan Borson has nearly 20 years experience as a sea kayak guide, with abundant local knowledge. He has extensive experience as recreational sea kayaker in Southeast Alaska as well as broad backpacking and camping experience.
Nate has lead trips all over Southeast Alaska and is one of the most knowledgeable guides in the industry. When he is not guiding or enjoying the outdoors, he works for Glacier Bay National Park as a computer specialist.
Annette Pearson, Senior Guide
Since her first trips in the middle of the family Grumman canoe, Annette Pearson has had a strong drive to spend time on the water.
Annette has explored many facets of paddle sport, from the wild and crazy, to calm and scenic. She has colorful stories and experiences to share from her adventures.
For the past several years, Annette has spent the winter months in Portland, Oregon, where she is a kayaking instructor. Her passion for safety and exploration, plus her leadership skills, make her a fantastic leader on any trip.
Adam Andis, Senior Guide
Adam Andis first fell in love with Alaska on a month-long sea kayaking and backpacking trip. He decided one month wasn't enough, so he has returned to share and enjoy this beautiful area with others.
Recent adventures have found Adam mountaineering and kayaking in New Zealand, and on a month-long backpacking trip in the American Southwest. During the off-season, he he can usually be found ice climbing and skiing in the Lake Superior region.
Adam is CPR and Wilderness First Responder certified, and has a passion for sharing the outdoors with others. He is currently working on a degree in Environmental Ethics from Northland, the Environmental Liberal Arts College in northern Wisconsin.
John Schnell, Photographer/Senior Guide
John Schnell is an award-winning adventure travel photographer. His images have appeared in Audubon and Nature Conservancy Calendars, in numerous periodicals, and on the web sites of many adventure travel companies.
As a Peace Corps Business Advisor in Africa, John trained aspiring students in entrepreneurship, and later he taught marketing at the University of Alaska.
John has been the expedition photographer on a variety of Alaska expeditions, including rafting the Alsek, Chilikadrotna, Sheenjek and Tatshenshini Rivers, dog sledding in the Brooks Range, whale-watching (while sea kayaking) in Icy Strait, Frederick Sound, Tebenkof Bay, and at Pt. Adolphus, and sea kayaking in Glacier Bay, Icy Bay, Le Conte Glacier Bay, Russell Fjord, and Ford's Terror Wilderness.
In 2008, John will be spending several weeks with Spirit Walker Expeditions, guiding sea kayaking expeditions, whale watching trips, and photo workshops.
Ilana Guttman, Guide
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ilana Guttman grew up in Seattle, Washington, where she has worked for the past 15 years providing Experiential Education. Her instructional design, group facilitation and training techniques have inspired hundreds to reach beyond their perceived limits to achieve seemingly "impossible" tasks.
Illana founded Womens' Outdoor Adventures, providing guided snow shoeing, rock climbing, hiking and skiing excursions for women, ages 14-80. She has also guided high-risk teens in week-long hiking and trail maintenance expedition in Mt. Rainier National Park and trained facilitators in "ropes" Challenge Course activities at Washington State University.
Illana attended Brown University and Reed College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. During the summer months Ilana can be found kayaking and pounding nails in Southeast Alaska, where she and her husband, Gary, are building a small cabin.
Kaylyn Messer, Guide
Kaylyn Messer believes that life’s best experiences occur under an open sky surrounded by good company and conversation. She wants to share this appreciation for life and nature with others.
Kaylyn began paddling on the backwaters of the Mississippi River and fell in love with the ocean while studying with a sea kayaking company on Vancouver Island.
Kaylyn is joining Spirit Walker this season as an intern. She is finishing a double major in Photojournalism and Recreation Tourism from Winona State University in southeast Minnesota. She hopes to use her photography and her love for wild places to inspire people to experience and preserve the outdoors.
Kaylyn is CPR and Wilderness First Responder certified.