A regular series introducing the professional guides who help make Greatland Adventures a success
For Greatland Adventures guide Jacob, every tour is a distinct opportunity to appreciate where he is and what he is privileged to be doing. Raised in Florida but now proud to call Alaska home, Jacob didn’t grow up skiing, snowboarding, or hiking the forests and mountains of the far north, but it didn’t take him long to become enchanted with its landscapes.
“I was still trying to get ‘into’ the Alaska life when I first arrived, and that’s when I picked up a camera,” he says. “I knew I needed something to do outdoors during the colder and darker months. For me, photography started out as a way for me to show my friends and family what I was experiencing up here. I’ve never considered myself artistic, but Alaska makes it really easy to take impactful photos.”
A large part of that impact comes from the type of guiding Jacob does: aurora borealis tours, capturing the essence of the famous northern lights and sharing it with guests from around the world.
“I love being able to help people check something off their bucket list. It’s not lost on me the significance of the experience for our guests,” reflects Jacob. “Many people have made incredible sacrifices, both financially and in time, to try and see this elusive natural phenomenon, so I try really hard to make sure I put guests in the best spot possible to make their trip successful and memorable.”
Jacob is also all-in on the Greatland Adventures company culture, and appreciates the diverse skill sets of fellow guide teams and the overarching life experiences each person brings to the table.
“While we all have different backgrounds and stories, we also hold an incredible love for Alaska in common, and that’s very apparent with every one of the team members. I often tell people that there is no bad way to see Alaska, but in my opinion, having a knowledgeable local guide is one of the best strategies.”
That’s not to say there isn’t a certain level of challenge when it comes to guiding a tour incumbent upon Nature’s cooperation.
“Besides the late hours and cold weather, the toughest part has got to be learning how to read, interpret and predict weather patterns,” Jacob said. He’s become attuned to the value of clear, dark skies with elevated solar activity, sometimes tough during an Alaska winter.
But when he’s not staying up all night chasing the northern lights, Jacob can be found along the Kenai River, fishing, or in the wilds of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States.
Private Anchorage Sightseeing Tour
Get a perfect introduction to the greater Anchorage area on this 3-hour tour. Stops include Earthquake Park, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Beluga Point, Potter's Marsh, and Flattop Mountain.
Private Turnagain Arm Summer Wildlife Tour
Travel the scenic Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to Portage Valley. Take a scenic tram to the top of a mountain, cruise an iceberg dotted lake, view Alaska's iconic animals up close, or hike the many trails. The choice is yours!
Seward to Anchorage Cruise Transfer/Tour
Combine this amazing, full-day tour with a Kenai Fjords Cruise and Tour. Experience the best parts of the Seward Highway, scenic Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage with a local guide.
