2008 M/V Sikumi Crew
Each crew member has been carefully selected to ensure our guests have the best experience possible while on board the M/V Sikumi.
Find out more about them below.
Crew for a 7-day custom Alaska cruise
includes the captain, naturalist/guide, personal chef and steward.
This year we also have an independent Crew and Guest advisor onboard.
Captain Blades
Captain Kurt Blades was born in Sitka. He was raised on a float house and grew up on the waters of the Inside Passage.
He started commercial salmon fishing at nine years old with his dad and has been a Bering Sea crab fisherman for the past four winters. He also spent six summers in the charter sport fishing industry.
His hobbies include snowboarding, hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.
Certifications: Certified diver, advanced marine fire fighting, 100 tonne captain's license, 200 tonne mate's license
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Naturalist & Guide: Sierra Cramer
Sierra grew up in Santa Rosa, California. During her life she spent extensive time traveling throughout the world, cultivating a deeper understanding of world culture and the natural environment. Upon graduating from Chico State with a bachelor's of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation, she traveled for the first time to Alaska and fell in love with the immense beauty and wild character of the land. Since then she has skied, rafted, hiked and sea kayaked her way throughout Alaska experiencing the varied climates and geography the state has to offer.
Through guiding and leading trips she has found the perfect medium for sharing her passion and enthusiasm for the land with others. When she is not in the field guiding, she spends her time in the coastal town of Haines in southeast Alaska. |
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Personal Chef Jennifer Johansen
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 "I'm so excited to be a part of Sikumi this summer. I wouldn't have believed that one summer of washing dishes in a small cafe in my hometown almost ten years ago would lead me to such a great experience like this.
I am originally from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, a small town north of Milwaukee known for good wines and great cheeses. Started my love affair for cooking and restaurants there after I begged my parents to help me fund a bike to get to and from the cute, quaint Fork Cafe. Jumped into every part of that cafe, my parents jokingly dubbed it, 'my other family'. After high school, I packed up for Colorado and spent one year as an Americorps volunteer at the Food Bank of the Rockies. Was lucky enough to be placed in charge of one of Denver's Kids' Cafe sites. Each night we prepared about one hundred delicious and nutritious dinners for children that needed that the most. It was a great year and reinforced how much I loved the kitchen. After Americorps spent time on Colorado's State Parks Crew, helping build and maintain some of the Rockies' best trails in the most beautiful state parks. That reinforced how much I love the mountains. Spent the last four years in the Vail / Breckenridge area.
Studied at the culinary school Colorado Mountain College at Keystone. Graduated last May from a grueling three year apprenticeship . I loved it! I worked in some of Colorado's most acclaimed restaurants and had a chairlift commute to take in the scenery each morning. I've spent the last six months in Chicago enjoying the food scene here! Now, I'm ready to trade in the big buildings for Alaska!"
Chef Jenny May 2008
Please go to the Cuisine page
for info on our culinary styles. |
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 Steward Jon Stack
Jon was born in northern Minnesota, but his family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska when he was nine years old. Jon had no problem with this. Alaska in his mind is the biggest playground in the world. Southeast Alaska has provided him with several unique opportunities and adventures. Over the last nine summer seasons, he has worked as a sea kayak guide in the waters in and around Ketchikan. Jon has also paddled several expedition style kayak trips with other avid paddlers from Ketchikan, and he looks forward to one day paddling the entire region. When Jon is not kayaking, he enjoys boating, sport rock climbing, snowboarding, fishing and anything that gives him an opportunity to explore southeast Alaska with others. |
Crew and Guest Advisor - Sara Trafford
 A graduate of Zoology and Wildlife Management from Otago University in New Zealand, Sara has spent many years in conservation research both in New Zealand and throughout the world. She has just returned from five years in South Africa and Kenya, working on projects ranging from Lion, Leopard and Elephant research to Dolphin and Marine Mammal Research. Sara is also a qualified secondary school teacher, and spent three years teaching teenage refugees with emotional and behavioural problems from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, in an inner city London school. Sara is an advanced PADI diver, and trained in Emergency First Response, she enjoys hiking, surfing, diving, and taking guided wilderness safari's. Sara is looking forward to using her zoological background to help interpret the amazing wilderness of the Inside Passage for guests, and having travelled in over 50 countries, looks forward to meeting and interacting with many interesting people during the voyages, helping them in any way she can.
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Compliments for the Crew
"Individually you are each unique and amazing. Collectively you could rule the world! Thanks for the memories you have helped create: kayaking, beach cook- out at sunset, crab pot hauling...."
"... the hikes and paddles were awesome, the food just fabulous, and the fishing was over the top. BUT... the really amazing thing that made it all sooo easy and totally pleasant was the DETAILS you guys look after."
"... had such a great time. Captured some great photos and loved all the adventures. Loved the cooking, loved the boat, and loved the crew!"
"My first impression was your collective energy on the dock. The sparkle of the eyes foretold the voyage. I can not iterate the ways you all made the trip so enjoyable."
"Your passion to make people feel wonderful is unique. The Sikumi holiday in Alaska will be one that I will treasure and remember for many years. I feel honored to have been able to experience this with everyone."
"We loved our wonderful cruise. Never have we been so well taken care of."
"Thank you so much for a fun filled adventurous wildlife cruise. Each and every one of us was impressed with your knowledge, skills, cooking, enthusiasm, friendliness, hospitality and generosity. We loved every minute..."
"This weekend was thrilling and it was primarily due to the crew... They wanted us to have the trip of a lifetime, and we did."
"Never before have I seen and done so many incredible things in such a short time... Whales, fresh seafood, eagles, three delicious meals a day, glaciers, desserts like none other... You guys made the trip - your enthusiasm and generosity were just great."
"Thank you for looking after us and looking out for us; for wonderful trips and even better food. We learned to admire, respect and deeply care for all of you and look forward to maintaining that friendship in the future."
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