When I tell people I’m paddling the Inside Passage this summer, I’m often met with a mix of awe and confusion. “Wow, that’s incredible… Wait; why are you doing this again?” It’s a fair question. The idea of kayaking 1,300 miles from Washington to Alaska seems extreme, even to me sometimes. But the reasons go deeper than adventure or personal challenge.
A photo from Gooch Island- one of the islands at the beginning of the Inside Passage!
I first heard of the Inside Passage while training as a kayak guide at YMCA Camp Orkila. A fellow guide had completed the route and spoke of it with reverence—storms, whales, solitude, and serendipitous encounters. I was hooked. At the time, I couldn’t imagine paddling for more than two weeks, let alone nearly three months. But the idea stuck with me. Over the years, the Inside Passage shifted in my mind from an impossible journey to an irresistible one.
A photo of me working as a sea kayaking guide at Northwest Outward Bound School.
What many don’t realize is that this “expedition route” isn’t new. Long before modern kayaks or guidebooks, the Inside Passage was (and remains) a thriving network of maritime pathways, used for millennia by Indigenous peoples. Communities like the Haida, Tlingit, Makah, and many more traveled these waters in dugout canoes, connecting coastal villages, trading goods, and sharing knowledge. I often think of the Inside Passage as a watery Silk Road. It’s less a singular route, and more a living network of culture, commerce, and connection.
Map of some of the Native communities in and around the Inside Passage!
That legacy is one of the biggest reasons I’m drawn to this expedition. While some people pursue long journeys for solitude and introspection, I’m in it for community. I’m excited to deepen relationships with my expedition partners, connect with the communities we meet along the way, and contribute to a long history of travel defined by interconnection.
As I write this, we’re one month out from launch. My house is a chaos of gear, spreadsheets, and resupply boxes. We’ve spent countless hours troubleshooting boats, refining rescue skills, and weighing hundreds of pounds of rice, pasta, beans, and other dried goods. Most recently, I upgraded to a larger expedition kayak—only to discover the skeg was damaged. Cue an urgent scramble to make repairs before departure.
I pack about 400 pounds of food in preparation to ship it out to Canada and Alaska for resupplies.
This expedition is about more than landscapes and mileage. It’s about the people. The ones we’re paddling with. The ones we’ll meet. And the ones who’ve come before us. In many ways, the Inside Passage reflects how I try to live—seeking connection, navigating challenges with others, and finding rest (and joy) even in wild places.
This photo was taken as Nick, Sasha, and I were starting to plan our expedition for Summer 2025! We are pictured at the Northwest Outward Bound School, where we all met working as instructors.
I can’t wait to begin this journey. I’m grateful to everyone who’s helped get us to the starting line—and to Zenbivy for helping make sure we get a good night’s sleep along the way.
- Billy White
