Meet Tori! 

Tori, a born and raised Alaskan native, originally from a village of 35 people, has always felt a strong connection with Alaska’s lands, waters, and wildlife, especially the whales of Southeast Alaska, even more, so the rarely sighted orcas.

Her love for Alaskan waters began before she was born, as much of her family are fishermen and crabbers in Bristol Bay and her dad grew up on a floating logging camp in Ketchikan. When she was 12 her dad bought a 48-foot wooden liveaboard and from then on all their summer (and winter) vacations were spent exploring all the unique places the Southeast has to offer.

When she turned 18 she went to the local university for one and a half years but didn’t know what she wanted to do. So, she left school and started working towards her captain’s license. Working the whale watching season and then worked for her dad’s transport business. She got her 50-ton license in 2019 and excitedly traveled to work in Hawaii after a successful summer season in Alaska, but of course, we all know what happened soon after…

After moving back to Alaska and working for her dad and as a barista anxiously waiting for tourism to begin again for two years, she was able to do what she loves best last summer. Meeting and connecting with new people and showing them her love for Alaska’s land, sea, and animals!

In her free time, you can find her on a trail or at the beach with her two best friends, her husband Rye and her floofy two-year-old sheepadoodle Balto.

She is excited to be working with people from the beginning of making their experience with Jayleen’s Alaska to being out on the water with them!

Note from Captain Jayleen: “We feel so lucky to have Tori join the Jayleen’s Alaska team! As a born & raised SE Alaskan she shows so much love for the area where we live. Tori will be your guide as you make a reservation with us & may also be your captain on the water — all while doing it with a smile on her face and the sweetest personality! We have no doubt you will love your time with Tori, whether you meet via email or on the water!”