Katherine Schake

Growing up in Minnesota, Katherine fell in love with black spruce and sphagnum moss at an early age. Exposure to the southern extent of the boreal forest cultivated Katherine's deep curiosity about the Far North. In 2005, she arrived in Alaska for a summer job in Denali National Park and today makes Anchorage her home. Katherine spent eight years exploring Denali: backpacking, guiding day hikes, driving buses and educating visitors. When she's not hiking the backcountry of Alaska, Katherine has worked as an aerial surveyor and project manager for remote-sensing mapping projects, and she coordinated a salmon data synthesis project that strives to make salmon information readily available to the public.

Katherine's educational background includes an associate's degree from Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland, the base from which she spent two years traveling throughout Europe, and a bachelor's degree in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota. The latter led her to Kenya for four months where she worked with East African Wildlife Societies to support alternative livelihoods for farming communities. Today, when she's not guiding for Natural Habitat Adventures, Katherine contracts as a program manager for Alaska's Kenai Mountains–Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area. A naturalist at heart, Katherine loves to teach others about the wildlife, ecology and colorful cultural history of northern regions and maintains a particular passion for botany and birding.

Upcoming Adventures with Katherine:
Iceland: Circling the Land of Fire & Ice

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

J. Prothro
"Katherine had excellent knowledge, was a very good communicator and was great at keeping the group organized. She made the trip. All details were handled seamlessly with a caring and cheerful demeanor."   

A. Jacobs
"Katherine really has a way with people that made her become a part of the group quickly. She was so good a spotting and identifying wildlife! She was also great with working with the chefs to be sure they understood our dietary restrictions."

M. Hawk
"Katherine was a very professional guide. She had excellent communication skills and made sure to let everyone know what was coming. She also provided interesting insights through her talks on various subjects." 

E. Leonard
"I have been on many expeditions of this type and can say that Katherine was the best Expedition Leader I have traveled with. Katherine, we joked, was the 'Wikipedia' of Alaska! There was nothing about Alaska she did not know. Her joyful and enthusiastic attitude was infectious to all!"  

C. Jacobs
"Katherine was extremely knowledgeable about flora and fauna. She was very well prepared, explained the itinerary well, had great attention to detail and was very professional."