Our adventure guides don't tote around laptops, but backpacks on their daily commute. They relish the fresh air of the outdoors and spending their workdays amongst wide, open spaces. Socializing with newfound friends around a campfire is their idea of a perfect evening, and they never underestimate the comfort that a pair of warm, dry socks can bring. Our guides are passionate experts in their fields, striving to ensure that your wilderness travels are not only wild but also intensely rewarding and safe. Their expertise guarantees that taking the road less traveled means you'll experience memories that will last a lifetime. Like the great explorers who came before them, our adventurous guides' paths to their careers in the wild were not direct. Here are some of their stories:
Wesley is a Level 3 Sea Kayak guide with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia. Growing up near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada, Wesley sought out the alluring west coast after completing his schooling in adventure tourism.
After cutting his guiding teeth on the Sunshine Coast of BC, Wesley spent the following years paddling extensively through the Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago for both work—as he guided and managed one of the largest kayaking operators on Vancouver Island—and play, of course.
In 2022, Wesley welcomed ownership of Ecosummer to share his passion and dream to facilitate experiences in this paradigm-shifting environment.
As one of the most experienced guides in the area, Rob Watson brings a decade+ of experience in the Johnstone Strait. After migrating from Ontario in the early 2010’s, Rob has spent nearly all of his time either playing in or learning about nature. He is now a certified Guide Trainer through the SKGABC and working toward his Guide Examiner Ticket. Telegraph Cove and the Broughton is Rob’s home. His passion for nature and living in remote communities fueled Rob to drop his career in the mechanized ski world to head back to school to learn more about the ocean. Rob has spent the past five winters completing his degree in Marine Biology & Earth Science at the University of Victoria and Bamfield Marine Science Center and is excited to share his scientific knowledge whether it be seaweeds, invertebrates, weather, marine mammals, or animal behavior.
A favorite of his friends, peers, and guests, Rob is one of those guys who could have made a go at professional sports. Instead, he followed his dreams to the oceans and mountains where his passion pairs mightily with nature’s beauty to facilitate an uplifting experience you will not soon forget.
If not for a quirk of fate, Dave Hilder would be found onstage behind the drums, performing worldwide with his band. Lucky for us, Dave’s path took a turn west away from international stardom and straight into the glorious mountains and ocean of British Columbia.
After years spent honing his craft in and around the Johnstone Strait, Dave is now amongst the most experienced guides in the area. His passion is ignited in seeing nature bring out the inner children in his guests. Hundreds of days and nights immersed in this area have only increased Dave’s excitement as he is most likely to cheer the loudest and the first to dance when the wildlife comes a-knocking.
Those who head out with Dave are guaranteed to experience a multi-day face workout as the constant smiling and laughter comes part of the package.
Bio coming soon!
Kai Friele was born in Squamish BC and raised on the ocean, and the trails, lakes, rivers, and forests of the coastal temperate rainforest. His outdoorsy upbringing by naturalist parents instilled in him a keen passion for ecology and outdoor travel. His first introduction to sea kayaking was at the age of four, plopped in the center hatch of a double with a custom skirt and a makeshift seat, falling asleep to the salt-spray and swell. Since then, Kai has participated in a number of multiweek expedition paddling trips including the lower Stikine River & LeConte Bay, Hakai to Bella Bella, a circumnavigation of Price and Swindle Islands in the central coast near Klemtu, the Coppermine River, and the west coast of Moresby Island in Haida Gwaii. Alongside his outdoor endeavours Kai is also pursuing a degree in forest biology and ecology at the University of Victoria to learn about the intricacies of the natural world.
In 2022 Kai stumbled into the guiding world after being inspired by a personal trip with friends and became hooked on the idea of bringing people into wild ecosystems that have ignited his passion for nature, with the hopes of spreading a passion for wild places. As a keen naturalist, Kai is always eager to explore, share observations, and engage others in learning about our rainforest home.