A Sitka story, lived in the wild.
A life in Sitka spent on the water, in the mountains, and in the everyday work of living in Southeast Alaska.
Meet the Captain
Captain Jim Phillips
Born and raised Sitkan. Hunting guide. Spent decades taking people onto the water and into the wilderness.
Captain Jim Phillips was born and raised in Sitka and has spent his life working in Southeast Alaska. For years, he worked as a hunting guide, building a reputation for patience, kindness, and deep respect for the land.
In the community, Jim is known not just for his experience, but for how good he is with people. He is deeply connected to his family, a devoted grandfather, and someone others trust and respect. That same care carries over to the way he guides. His clients describe him as calm, attentive, and generous with his time, focused on helping people feel comfortable and connected.
As a captain, Jim keeps things simple and humane. He moves at a natural pace, and adjusts the day to the conditions rather than forcing an agenda.
His approach is shaped by a lifetime in Sitka: work, family, and a long-standing respect for the land and water that define the place.
Much of Jim’s life in Sitka has taken place within the community. Over the years, he worked as a nursing assistant at the local Pioneer Home, helping care for elderly residents and spending long shifts doing the kind of work that requires patience, attention, and a careful approach. He also spent time teaching at the local school, working directly with students and families who knew him not as a guide or captain, but simply as someone who showed up every day and cared deeply for the job.
Family has always been central to how Jim organizes his life. He is the father of four and the grandfather of ten, and much of his time outside work is spent with them. Friends describe him as someone who listens closely, remembers details, and makes room for others. Those habits carry through everything he does, whether he is working, meeting new people, or spending time with the ones he has known for decades.
Jim is a familiar presence at local middle and high school basketball games, where he serves as a referee. He has long loved the sport and still plays when he can. He is also a regular at local trivia nights. Jim has a deep interest in history, and is often the person his team turns to for answers.
Taken together, these parts of Jim’s life help explain why people feel at ease around him. Whether caring for elders, teaching students, refereeing a game, or sitting at a trivia table, he brings the same attention and respect to the people around him. That attentive nature is carried instinctively into his work on the water.
If this way of traveling feels right, there are a few ways to experience it.