Why Are We Here?
Alki Kayak Tours is committed to the conservation and preservation of Puget Sound as a working marine ecosystem that supports the industries of Seattle as well as the spawning salmon headed up the Duwamish River. Our guides provide an additional set of eyes on the Sound looking over its well-being for preventable ecological harm. We utilize best management practices and focus on leaving the smallest possible ecological footprint when operating tours. Our tours are a forum where the Puget Sound community and tourists alike can discuss and learn about the history and ecosystems of the Sound. AKT offers meaningful commentary with a goal of having every paddler leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for our unique corner of the world.
Greg Whittaker
Greg began guiding sea kayak tours in '99 in the San Juan Islands with
Sea Quest Expeditions and Zoetic Research, while spending the winters
up in the mountains. Greg currently acts as the tourism representative
for the Washington State Oil Spill Advisory Council and is also
involved in the citizens advisory committee for the City of Seattle's
Shoreline Master Program Update.
Kara Whittaker
Kara has also been sea kayaking since 1999 and is the first to point
out any bird sightings on the water (she earned her PhD in urban bird
ecology)! She is the Staff Scientist and Policy Analyst at the Washington Forest Law Center
and volunteers to help monitor and promote the conservation of local
Purple Martin populations.
Adam "Sandy" Price
A transplant to the great Northwest, Adam hails
from Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State University in
2005 with a BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management. He
has spent time at Crystal Mountain as a snowshoe tour guide. He
now spends his days managing the rental shack, giving demos of our newest kayaks, and paddling tours on the
sound. When Adam isn't on the water or holding down the kayak
shack, you can find him rehearsing/performing with his band, Bits of Knowledge.
Andrew Pavone
Fourth season as a kayak guide/naturalist in the Puget Sound area.
Graduated with BS from Penn State Uni in 1999. From there moved west
working as a naturalist for North Cascades Institute and then numerous
years lving and working in the North Cascades and San Juan islands.
Most recently working as a project manager on coastal and riverine
restoration projects in Puget Sound area and spending as much time on
the water as possible kayaking, surfing and/or sailing.
Freddy Carley
Freddy is a Seattle local who got into kayaking about seven years ago.
After exploring remote locations during three separate month long kayak
tours in Alaska and some paddling in the warm waters in the Sea of
Cortez, Freddy decided to focus on his own "backyard", Puget Sound.
This is Freddy's second year guiding with Alki Kayak Tours.
Kate Harsch
Kate is in her second season of guiding with Alki Kayak Tours. She is
originally from Vermont where she grew up sailing and rafting every
summer. After graduating from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, she
moved to Seattle on a whim. Kate has always loved working with people
and being on the water, so working as a guide is a natural fit. Kate
loves introducing people to the sport of kayaking and thinks everyone
should give it a try. The unique closeness of the city to the
wilderness that we have in Seattle is of particular interest to Kate.
Ben Estibal
Occupation: Kayaker, NW Coastal Art Carver, Home Remodeler
Hobbies: Olympus Press Inc - Solution Provider(Pays the bills)
Kayaker since: 1980
Kayak: Current Designs - Gulfstream
Favorite place to kayak: San Juan Islands in February - Too cold for everyone else, so Seattle/South Sound any other time of the year. This area has a lot to offer without having to travel too far(Time better spent in a kayak than in a car).
Favorite time of day to kayak: Sunrise and Sunset - No one ever wants to get up early, so come out on a Sunset Tour with me.
Spring Courtright
Spring feels more at home in a kayak than anywhere else. She has been a
guide and/or instructor for many programs, including snowboarding, dog
sledding, backpacking, canoeing, geology, human history and ropes
courses, but kayaking and natural history are her first loves. She
guided, taught, created and managed kayak classes, tours and kids kayak
camps for 7 summers at the Olympic Outdoor Center in Poulsbo. She has
her BA in Environmental Education and just received her certificate in
Sustainable Business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute. She also
just quit her "real job" as the Director of Corporate Social
Responsibility at BabyLegs, LLC to get back on the water, write a book
and develop programs to support her friends in Uganda, Africa.
Greg "Kona" Haapla
It was just a matter of time before I ended up here. Some of my first
aquatic memories are of my Father and I swimming in Echo Lake I would
ride on his back holding onto his shoulders and we would dive
underwater together. When I was running out of air I was instructed to
tap on his back and we would ascend. It was a lot of fun. That is where
I learned to swim. Since that time I have always lived on or near the
water. And I am constantly on it or in it. We moved to Lake Sammamish
when I was 8 and I soon learned how to water-ski and snorkel. Later in
life I moved to Kona Hawaii where I enjoyed body surfing and
snorkeling. I've had some interesting experiences night diving for
lobster on the Kona coast. When I returned to the mainland I moved to
Alki beach and enhanced my scuba diving certification to Rescue diver
then Dive master. I love it here in West Seattle. I am an avid diver,
snorkeler, windsurfer and Kayaker. Alki beach pretty much has it all.
This is my second year of kayaking with Kayak Alki tours. They are a
wonderful group of people who are very safety conscience and
professional. Don't miss the boat! Come out and join us for a tour
TODAY.
Charles "Cory" Johnson
I was born a poor black child in Mississippi....sorry, too dated. No
one remembers The Jerk.
Seattle native, graduated from Summit K-12 in '93, not afraid to get my hands dirty, sarcastic, cynical, and a complete smart ass.
"Blessed is the man who can laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be amused. I find myself giggling a lot."
Samantha Wattson
Samantha has always lived by the water. From Kauai to Jersey to Seattle, she takes advantage of her surroundings and enjoys kayaking, surfing, and scuba diving. She also loves the outdoors, traveling and food. As a Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist, she'll share her knowledge of beach critters with you.
Bonnie Loshbaugh
Bonnie Loshbaugh joined us from the the 49th state where she worked as
the kayak guide and naturalist at Tutka Bay Wilderness Lodge, near
Homer, Alaska. She received her degree in Russian and is working toward
adding a degree in Oceanography to her resume. Bonnie volunteers at the
Seattle Aquarium and is currently working with the Center for Wooden
Boats. If you join Bonnie on a paddle, you are in for a fascinating
natural history discussion.
We offer kayak rentals in Seattle and help people learn to paddle a kayak through Puget Sound waters.