Well Guided: A Conversation with Michelle Graves of Lindblad Expeditions

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2009-11-04T07:09:40Z

304

<img src="/publisher_page_images/0000/0041/michelle_graves.jpg" title="michelle graves" alt="lindblad" /> Michelle Graves studied Sonoran desert ecosystems at the University of Arizona, graduating with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in 1990. From the desert Southwest, Michelle moved to the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska, living in the small coastal community of Haines for several years and working as an interpretive naturalist, guide and educator. She has been part of the Lindblad expedition staff since 1998, as a naturalist, Undersea Specialist and Expedition Leader.

<img src="/publisher_page_images/0000/0041/michelle_graves.jpg" title="michelle graves" alt="lindblad" /> Michelle Graves studied Sonoran desert ecosystems at the University of Arizona, graduating with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in 1990. From the desert Southwest, Michelle moved to the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska, living in the small coastal community of Haines for several years and working as an interpretive naturalist, guide and educator. She has been part of the Lindblad expedition staff since 1998, as a naturalist, Undersea Specialist and Expedition Leader.

Well Guided: A Conversation with Michelle Graves of Lindblad Expeditions

2009-11-04T06:56:00Z

true

_How long have you been a guide?_ I’ve worked as a guide for 17 years, first leading natural history hikes and short kayak trips in Southeast Alaska, then as a shipboard naturalist for Lindblad. _How long have you been a guide for Lindblad Expeditions?_ I’ve been guiding for Lindblad since 1998. _As a guide, what do you do?_ I’ve worked primarily as an Expedition Leader for the past 5 years, but was a Naturalist and an Undersea Specialist for 5 years prior. _What area/trip is your specialty?_ I’ve spent most of my guiding career in Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of California, but love being just about anywhere on the ocean. _What is it about these areas that most appeals to you and that you love most to share with your travelers?_ Both Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of California are wild, remote corners of the planet, where you can get away from civilization, and experience the natural world intimately. _Can you give an example of any special experience or connection you have that you have been able to pass on to your travellers?_ I feel very fortunate that my husband is the captain of the ship I generally work on, and we work really well as a team. This connection means that we’re able to tailor each voyage to the specific set of conditions we encounter: weather, wildlife sightings, and our guests’ abilities and interests. _Can you give me an example where you think you made an important difference for the travellers on one of your trips?_ Although I’m not sure it was an important difference for the guests on this particular trip, I did follow my instincts recently with some pretty incredible results. On a Sea of Cortez trip this past spring, we were planning to look for whales near Monserrate Island one morning when we encountered unexpectedly strong westerlies. Deciding to change plans, we turned south and went ashore at a protected anchorage on the Baja peninsula for the morning. We then spent the afternoon searching for whales, after the wind had died. Our naturalists spotted a whale to the south of us, but I had a very strong intuition that we should be headed back north. For about half an hour I was not a very popular person on board, and then we hit the jackpot. We started by sighting a pod of 25-30 sperm whales, with bottlenose dolphins among them. After watching these whales for over an hour, we finally turned toward some very tall whale blows, and found a fin whale with three blue whales. We watched these animals for about half an hour, and then I spotted some very big splashes in the distance. We left the fin and blues to find two humpback whales being very active at the surface. Seas were flat calm all afternoon, and the humpbacks were breaching in the sunset! It was one of the most extraordinary days I’ve ever had as a guide. _What are an expedition cruise naturalist-guide’s most important skills?_ Flexibility, attentiveness and a good sense of humor are essential skills for a naturalist-guide on our expedition ships. Of course, this is assuming that the naturalist has the requisite knowledge (or the right books!) for guiding in the region. With flexibility, a guide can adapt to changing conditions and more or less lead whatever, wherever. Most naturalists understand the importance of attentiveness to the natural world, but I think it’s equally important to have good situational awareness and to be attentive to the feedback (both verbal and non-verbal) we receive from our guests in the moment. Finally, without a well-developed sense of humor, no guide would survive the myriad unexpected challenges of leading. _What does a good naturalist-guide add to a journey?_ A good naturalist-guide is able to open your eyes to aspects of the natural world that you’ve probably never thought about, nor ever imagined that you might find interesting. They add depth to your experience of a place, by telling you the stories of its inhabitants. They do this both informally in the field, and in formal lectures and presentations back aboard the ship. _What are the main challenges of travel in your destinations?_ In Southeast Alaska it’s rain and in the Gulf of California it’s wind, elements over which I have no control. _How do you overcome these challenges?_ In the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska, we put on our foulies and boots, and do nearly everything we’d do if it weren’t raining. We hike under the thick forest canopy, kayak in protected bays, watch whales from the deck of the ship and take our Zodiacs out on scenic cruises. There are so many islands in the Gulf of California that I opt to find an anchorage and go ashore when the wind causes rough seas. The contrast of the stark Sonoran desert vegetation on the islands and the very productive marine environment makes this a perfect choice because we can do desert hikes, then snorkel or kayak to see reef fish and seabirds. _What do you enjoy most about your work?_ I’ve always loved to travel and explore the natural world, and this work allows me to do both. On a personal level, I love the variety, the freedom from routine and the constant challenges I’m presented with. Every single day at work is different, which keeps me mentally flexible and engaged. _What has been your one most memorable experience as a guide?_ This is a very difficult question, because I’ve been privileged to see some unbelievable things over the course of my guide career. I’ve watched bears eating salmon just 25 yards away from me, I’ve touched gray whales, I’ve seen enormous calvings of tidewater glaciers and had many, many other wonderful experiences. If I have to choose the most memorable experience, though, I think it would be this. In Baja California several years ago, we were out looking for whales in absolutely perfect conditions. We spotted the tall blow of a blue whale and slowed the ship when we reached its approximate position. It was quiet on deck for what seemed like a very long time, but was probably only 15 minutes. I was leaning over the port bow rail, looking out over glassy calm water, when this blue whale slowly surfaced just 50 feet away from me. It was almost ghostly, emerging from the depths, and I shouted involuntarily, which scared the hell out of everyone on deck. They thought someone had fallen overboard. The whale swam directly under the bow of the ship, and proceeded to circle us for about half an hour. It was amazing, and I remember it like it happened yesterday. _How can travellers get the most out of an expedition ship cruising adventure?_ Doing some homework before the trip can really make the difference. Knowing a little bit about the geography and typical weather conditions goes a long way in packing properly and setting realistic expectations for the trip. Aboard the ship, I find that the guests who are the most willing to “go with the flow,” and who have a sense of adventure, are the ones who get the most out of their trip.

How long have you been a guide? I’ve worked as a guide for 17 years, first leading natural history hikes and short kayak trips in Southeast Alaska, then as a shipboard naturalist for Lindblad. How long have you been a guide for Lindblad Expeditions? I’ve been guiding for Lindblad since 1998. As a guide, what do you do? I’ve worked primarily as an Expedition Leader for the past 5 years, but was a Naturalist and an Undersea Specialist for 5 years prior. What area/trip is your specialty? I’ve spent most of my guiding career in Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of California, but love being just about anywhere on the ocean. What is it about these areas that most appeals to you and that you love most to share with your travelers? Both Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of California are wild, remote corners of the planet, where you can get away from civilization, and experience the natural world intimately. Can you give an example of any special experience or connection you have that you have been able to pass on to your travellers? I feel very fortunate that my husband is the captain of the ship I generally work on, and we work really well as a team. This connection means that we’re able to tailor each voyage to the specific set of conditions we encounter: weather, wildlife sightings, and our guests’ abilities and interests. Can you give me an example where you think you made an important difference for the travellers on one of your trips? Although I’m not sure it was an important difference for the guests on this particular trip, I did follow my instincts recently with some pretty incredible results. On a Sea of Cortez trip this past spring, we were planning to look for whales near Monserrate Island one morning when we encountered unexpectedly strong westerlies. Deciding to change plans, we turned south and went ashore at a protected anchorage on the Baja peninsula for the morning. We then spent the afternoon searching for whales, after the wind had died. Our naturalists spotted a whale to the south of us, but I had a very strong intuition that we should be headed back north. For about half an hour I was not a very popular person on board, and then we hit the jackpot. We started by sighting a pod of 25-30 sperm whales, with bottlenose dolphins among them. After watching these whales for over an hour, we finally turned toward some very tall whale blows, and found a fin whale with three blue whales. We watched these animals for about half an hour, and then I spotted some very big splashes in the distance. We left the fin and blues to find two humpback whales being very active at the surface. Seas were flat calm all afternoon, and the humpbacks were breaching in the sunset! It was one of the most extraordinary days I’ve ever had as a guide. What are an expedition cruise naturalist-guide’s most important skills? Flexibility, attentiveness and a good sense of humor are essential skills for a naturalist-guide on our expedition ships. Of course, this is assuming that the naturalist has the requisite knowledge (or the right books!) for guiding in the region. With flexibility, a guide can adapt to changing conditions and more or less lead whatever, wherever. Most naturalists understand the importance of attentiveness to the natural world, but I think it’s equally important to have good situational awareness and to be attentive to the feedback (both verbal and non-verbal) we receive from our guests in the moment. Finally, without a well-developed sense of humor, no guide would survive the myriad unexpected challenges of leading. What does a good naturalist-guide add to a journey? A good naturalist-guide is able to open your eyes to aspects of the natural world that you’ve probably never thought about, nor ever imagined that you might find interesting. They add depth to your experience of a place, by telling you the stories of its inhabitants. They do this both informally in the field, and in formal lectures and presentations back aboard the ship. What are the main challenges of travel in your destinations? In Southeast Alaska it’s rain and in the Gulf of California it’s wind, elements over which I have no control. How do you overcome these challenges? In the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska, we put on our foulies and boots, and do nearly everything we’d do if it weren’t raining. We hike under the thick forest canopy, kayak in protected bays, watch whales from the deck of the ship and take our Zodiacs out on scenic cruises. There are so many islands in the Gulf of California that I opt to find an anchorage and go ashore when the wind causes rough seas. The contrast of the stark Sonoran desert vegetation on the islands and the very productive marine environment makes this a perfect choice because we can do desert hikes, then snorkel or kayak to see reef fish and seabirds. What do you enjoy most about your work? I’ve always loved to travel and explore the natural world, and this work allows me to do both. On a personal level, I love the variety, the freedom from routine and the constant challenges I’m presented with. Every single day at work is different, which keeps me mentally flexible and engaged. What has been your one most memorable experience as a guide? This is a very difficult question, because I’ve been privileged to see some unbelievable things over the course of my guide career. I’ve watched bears eating salmon just 25 yards away from me, I’ve touched gray whales, I’ve seen enormous calvings of tidewater glaciers and had many, many other wonderful experiences. If I have to choose the most memorable experience, though, I think it would be this. In Baja California several years ago, we were out looking for whales in absolutely perfect conditions. We spotted the tall blow of a blue whale and slowed the ship when we reached its approximate position. It was quiet on deck for what seemed like a very long time, but was probably only 15 minutes. I was leaning over the port bow rail, looking out over glassy calm water, when this blue whale slowly surfaced just 50 feet away from me. It was almost ghostly, emerging from the depths, and I shouted involuntarily, which scared the hell out of everyone on deck. They thought someone had fallen overboard. The whale swam directly under the bow of the ship, and proceeded to circle us for about half an hour. It was amazing, and I remember it like it happened yesterday. How can travellers get the most out of an expedition ship cruising adventure? Doing some homework before the trip can really make the difference. Knowing a little bit about the geography and typical weather conditions goes a long way in packing properly and setting realistic expectations for the trip. Aboard the ship, I find that the guests who are the most willing to “go with the flow,” and who have a sense of adventure, are the ones who get the most out of their trip.

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2009-11-04T07:16:15Z

michelle-graves-lindblad-expeditions