Move Your Magnets

Safety Bear at the helm

“Don’t forget to move your magnet!” shouts Julie as guests board the skiff for a ride to shore. It’s a mantra that we have come to live by on the Wilderness Explorer. A status board sits on the fantail where guests get on and off of the vessel. One colorful magnet represents every guest and crew member onboard. It’s the tried and true method of making sure that everyone is accounted for before we pull anchor or leave port. It’s also a metaphor.

Kincaid, the man who keeps the props turning and the lights burning.

Another summer season in SE Alaska is drawing to a close and we are headed for Seattle. We are officially moving our magnets from Alaska to the unknown. The 26 crew members of the Wilderness Explorer have spent the last four months plying the waters from Sitka to Juneau and back. They have cooked meals, cleaned cabins, led hikes, made security calls, hauled garbage, explored glaciers, changed oil, served martinis, avoided ice bergs, scrubbed decks, checked voids for signs of danger, made endless cups of coffee and much much more. They did all of this without ever having the possibility of being more than 186 feet from each other. Despite the long hours, cramped quarters and the lack of freedom, the crew embraced Boatworld. And they seemed to thrive on it. They proved themselves day after day by giving it their all and some of them never managed to wipe the ever-present smiles from their faces.

When we hit Seattle and wrap up the ship for winter, we will scatter to the winds. It is the way of the sailor. We spend every minute of every day together and then poof, we disappear from each other’s lives. Maybe that it is part of why we do this. Life on a boat means that eventually we will come back to port. With that arrival we get to begin again and feel the rejuvenation of spreading out in bed, taking a 20 minute shower, sitting alone in the forest and of course….beer, beautiful beer.

This post is a tribute to the 30+ people I had the privilege of working with this summer. From Captain Marce to Ron the Galley Assistant, you were all incredible in your own way and I feel lucky for having had the chance to experience Alaska with you. Take care and see you down the road.

Connie turning one more cabin

Andy getting rid of some extra bits

Kevin taking in the view from the back porch