We all look up to our dads, even when they make mistakes, even when they're tough on us, or frustrate us. That's no different for me. Jerry Jacques is a huge name in Alaska and one I doubt I will ever live up to. Knowing that used to really bumb me out, but it makes sense to me now. Just look at the Erwins and the Goodalls. It can be very difficult to grow up in the shadow of a huge figure. It can feel like that shadow is so big you can never escape it. I never really had an interest in flying bush planes, or bears, or Alaska as a little kid. In fact, I loved horses, goats, salamanders, and lizards. I lived in Alabama at first with my aunt. I would beg my aunt every time she got off from the hospital to take me on an adventure. To me, an adventure was going down to the creek and catching bugs, and lizards, and then fishing for catfish. My entire life I have loved every animal I have ever come into contact with: they fascinated me. When I got the opportunity to first pack bags for Art Wolfe in 2012 and see the bears, I didn't do it because I liked bears. In fact, I still think there are way cooler animals out there. Now that I have been doing this for over a decade and I've spent thousands of hours around bears and in the back seat of bushplanes, I am ready for a change, and to start a family of my own with my wife who I love more than there are stars in the sky. I don't know where my next adventures will take me, but I know that no matter where I go or what I do, I will always surround myself with amazing animals. Where do you think I should go next?
Grizzly Alaska
We all look up to our dads, even when they make mistakes, even when they're tough on us, or frustrate us. That's no different for me. Jerry Jacques is a huge name in Alaska and one I doubt I will ever live up to. Knowing that used to really bumb me out, but it makes sense to me now. Just look at the Erwins and the Goodalls. It can be very difficult to grow up in the shadow of a huge figure. It can feel like that shadow is so big you can never escape it.
I never really had an interest in flying bush planes, or bears, or Alaska as a little kid. In fact, I loved horses, goats, salamanders, and lizards. I lived in Alabama at first with my aunt. I would beg my aunt every time she got off from the hospital to take me on an adventure. To me, an adventure was going down to the creek and catching bugs, and lizards, and then fishing for catfish. My entire life I have loved every animal I have ever come into contact with: they fascinated me.
When I got the opportunity to first pack bags for Art Wolfe in 2012 and see the bears, I didn't do it because I liked bears. In fact, I still think there are way cooler animals out there. Now that I have been doing this for over a decade and I've spent thousands of hours around bears and in the back seat of bushplanes, I am ready for a change, and to start a family of my own with my wife who I love more than there are stars in the sky.
I don't know where my next adventures will take me, but I know that no matter where I go or what I do, I will always surround myself with amazing animals. Where do you think I should go next?
1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 48