And they're off! After a delayed start, BHS alum Matthew White and girlfriend Skye Marchesi set off from West Bay Park in Olympia, Wa on Sunday afternoon to travel to Alaska by triak.

The four month journey through the historic Inside Passage is an effort to raise a $100,000 endowment for YMCA's Camp Orkila.

Follow the couple's journey at http://triakfororkila.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/TriakforOrkila

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BHS alum sets out on four month journey across the Inside Passage
2012-03-04
By Anne-Marije Rook

Starting April 8th, BHS alum Matthew White will spend four months paddling and sailing through the Inside Passage in an attempt to raise a $100,000 grant for Camp Orkila.

Departing from Olympia, Wash, White and his girlfriend Skye Marchesi will travel 1300 miles through the historic Inside Passage to Glacier Bay, Alaska on Triak vessels - a hybrid between a trimaran sailing ship and a kayak.

"The Inside Passage is considered the Holy Trail of sea kayaking. There's a lot of history there and it really is one of the most incredible waterways on the planet," said White, who is an avid outdoorsman.

Since graduating from Ballard High School in 1994, White has worked in the adventure travel industry, exploring remote parts of the world in over 15 countries. He had worked as an instructor for Outward Bound and is a published photographer, working for such projects as the Mirador Basin Project in Guatemala where the pre-classic Mayan city of El Mirador is being uncovered and documented. He currently lives in Maui, where he leads kayak tours.

His expedition to Glacier Bay is a way to give back to the camp that fostered his love for the outdoors.

"I love to be doing something to give back to the camp because it meant so much to me and still means so much to me," said White.

Located on the north side of Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, YMCA Camp Orkila is a 280-acre camp that has been serving the Pacific Northwest for over 100 years.

Founded in 1906, Camp Orkila is one of the most beloved camps in the entire United States, said White.

"I first experienced Camp Orkila in the early 1980’s as a camper when I was 8 years old," said White. "Camp Orkila really got me in touch with nature. It was the first time I slept under the stars. The first time I went on a kayaking trip. The first time I learned what a sea star is. It was a big part of my childhood."

White returned to the Camp summer after summer, first as a camper and later as a counselor, instructor, and trip guide.

"Camp Orkila has been the most influential and magical place I have ever experienced," said White, as he recalled the big mudslides, and sitting by the fire at night, sharing the highlight of the day with his fellow campers.

"I felt like I was really being listened to for the first time," White recalled.

But running a 280-acre camp isn't cheap and one in six campers receives financial aid to attend the camp.

"The camp has been kept alive largely thanks to alumni. You'd be surprised how many people are connected with Camp Orkila," White said. "Just think how many more kids can attend the camp and have that wonderful experience with our endowment of $100,000."

At the time of the interview, White said they had already raised five percent of their goal. Additionally, White and Marchesi have received a lot of support from the outdoor industry to make their expedition possible.

As they leave for their first journey through the Inside Passage, an impressive list of sponsors has stepped up to make sure they'll be warm, dry, and prepared on the trip.

Their vessels were supplied by Triak, the sails by Olmen Sails in Seattle, and they'll have dry tops and Gore-Tex dry suits to make the weather at sea bearable.

The couple will pull over and camp at night. And Marchesi, who is a cook, has prepared hundreds of dehydrated meals, which have been shipped to different sites along the way so that they only have to carry small amounts of supplies on the vessel.

They also have access to a GPS and satellite phone, which they'll use to document their journey every step of the way.

"It's a big commitment to take four to five months off work to commit to this," White said. "And I really hope people will look at our website and follow our journey which will be documented on a blog and facebook."

The couple decided to start their expedition in April with the hope of making it into Alaska in June or July for the summer months.

Before the couple sets off on their meaningful journey, Shelter Lounge in Ballard is hosting a send-off party. All proceeds from the tickets purchased will benefit Camp Orkila.

The event will take place April 7th at 3 p.m. at the Shelter Lounge, 4910 Leary Ave NW.

"We need the support of the Ballard Community," White said. "I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces at the Shelter."

Follow the couple's journey at http://triakfororkila.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/TriakforOrkila