About

Katie Rooks is a 17-year resident of Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. She arrived here in 2004 from Minnesota, where she spent 4 years prior to moving here living and working in Ely, the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. She worked at a premier lodge and outfitter, as well as with several other tourism-based companies while in Ely. She spent a winter in Grand Marais learning how to mush sled dogs with one of the sport’s top racers.

 

After spending two years as a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service and developing a love of the country west of the Mississippi, Katie came to Alaska with a drive to succeed and a passion for all things outdoors.

 

Katie worked for the U.S. Forest Service on Prince of Wales Island until 2016 as a Recreation Technician. During her career, Katie visited each recreation site on Prince of Wales Island dozens, if not hundreds of times. She became intimately familiar with each recreation cabin, trail, shelter, water route, and day use site. She has climbed into remote alpine regions to hunt blacktail deer, run her own 15’ Boston Whaler all over the ocean near Craig to fish for crab, salmon, halibut and rockfish, and paddled many of the island’s lakes.

 

In 2015, Katie earned an M.S. in Recreation and Park Management from Frostburg State University in Maryland. This degree prepared Katie for starting her own outdoor recreation businesses. Katie’s mission is to provide the absolute best in customer service and products for passionate outdoor enthusiasts like herself. She understands that many people save for half a lifetime for a trip to Alaska, and she honors that sacrifice with her unparalleled attention to detail, knowledge of outdoor gear, and experience on Prince of Wales.

 

Katie’s first priority is your safety.

 

All gear is meticulously maintained and checked after each rental. Quality safety gear comes standard with each rental, and has been researched and tested by Katie, who spent four years as her District’s Safety Officer.

 

Katie has trained dozens of people in the fields of outdoor survival, Alaskan boating safety, First Aid/CPR, and general outdoor skills. During her Alaskan career, she has been certified as a Saltwater and Freshwater Boat Operator, ATV Operator, Chainsaw Operator, Paddlecraft Operator, and Wildland Firefighter.

 

You will find no one more experienced or professional to outfit your Alaskan adventure.

 

Katie wants to share her love of all things wild and Alaskan with you.