At UCO Gear, we’re all passionate adventurers who live and breathe the outdoor lifestyle. In this UCO staff feature, we’re highlighting Kerrie, our Ecommerce Sales Manager, based in Seattle, WA. Kerrie’s love for Alaska is a huge part of her adventurous spirit, and we’re excited to share her story with you!
A Lifelong Passion for Travel
Kerrie’s love for adventure started at a young age. She’s been lucky enough to travel to over 30 countries, exploring some of the world’s most incredible landscapes. But no place has captured her heart quite like Alaska. Having visited four times, she finds that it’s one of the most breathtaking and untouched places on Earth.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Bear Camp Experience
One of Kerrie’s most unforgettable trips was with Natural Habitat Adventures, where she had the chance to visit a remote bear camp in Lake Clark National Park. Surrounded by Alaska’s rugged beauty, Kerrie found herself in a truly unique and humbling situation—being in close proximity to brown bears in their natural habitat.
“At the bear camp, I was able to get incredibly close to these majestic creatures,” she recalls. “We observed them in their natural behavior, as they roamed the wilderness, foraged, and fished for salmon. Being so close, yet safely from a distance, was one of the most exhilarating and awe-inspiring experiences of my life. It’s not something you’ll find anywhere else in the world—watching these powerful animals live freely in their environment.”
Kerrie had the opportunity to see brown bears in all their glory: hunting for salmon, feasting on clams along the shore, and simply moving about their territory without fear. The experience left her in awe of their strength, intelligence, and beauty. “Seeing them in their element, free to roam and do as they pleased, was both humbling and peaceful,” Kerrie explains. “It reminded me just how important it is to protect places like Alaska and these wild creatures.”
The Magic of Alaska
What draws Kerrie to Alaska is its vast, untouched wilderness. The trees, the mountains, the air—there’s just so much to love. She says, “It feels like one of the last truly wild places in the world.” One of her favorite experiences was sea kayaking around Halibut Cove, where she had the chance to see sea otters up close—a true highlight of the trip! From witnessing glaciers calve into the ocean to seeing a moose and a baby moose run past her just 100 feet away in Homer, Alaska, every visit deepens Kerrie’s love for this special place.
Exploring with UCO Gear
Kerrie’s passion for the outdoors aligns perfectly with UCO Gear’s mission to provide high-quality, sustainable products. Whether she’s using UCO’s mess kits to keep snacks secure on a hike in the woods or lighting a beeswax candle on a local outdoor adventure in WA, Kerrie trusts UCO to equip her with reliable, eco-friendly gear for all her adventures.
Where’s Your Special Place?
Every adventurer has a place that speaks to their soul. For Kerrie, it’s the raw, untamed beauty of Alaska. Where is yours? We’d love to hear about your favorite outdoor destination—share it with us in the comments or tag us on Instagram @ucogear!
Stay adventurous
