I spent Memorial Day weekend in Sitka, Alaska. Despite growing up in Anchorage and spending most of my adult life here, I had somehow never made it to Southeast — and honestly? It was great.
We hiked through old-growth forest, snorkeled in the ocean, kayaked out to an archipelago of WWII bunkers, climbed one of their iconic mountains, ate a lot of delicious food, and basked in the small-town vibes of one of Alaska's most beautiful places.
And because it is Alaska — and it was definitely not feeling like summer — I wore a lot of Skhoop. And wished I had packed even more, because I was cold.
A Rainy Day Hike
We started our trip with a hike on the Herring Cove Trail. When we packed up to leave, the sun was nearly shining — and of course, by the time we reached the trailhead, the windshield wipers were running at full speed.
Luckily, I was prepared. I had my Ginny Rain Coat in the car, which was perfect for this mellow hike. And because it was a balmy 39 degrees, I layered my Long Down Hoodie underneath. Yay for summer in Alaska!
Ginny Rain Coat + Long Down Hoodie
The Ginny kept the rain out; the Long Down Hoodie kept everything else warm. A 39-degree hike in the rain definitely called for both!
After the hike, we made a quick stop at Sitka National Historical Park to walk among the totem poles — and some more really, really big trees.
"The car thermometer read 38 degrees when we parked. So that was encouraging. (Not!)"
Snorkeling in Alaska...yep, we really did that.
The one thing I really wanted to do in Sitka was snorkel. Perhaps an unconventional cold-weather activity, but I'd heard the sea life was vibrant — and I am obsessed with the ocean, so any chance I have to don a mask and snorkel, you best believe I am going to take it.
After a leisurely morning, we gathered our courage and headed out at low tide. Thankfully, our friends had 7mm wetsuits that we could borrow. They were a chore to put on, so we did that at home and then drove to the beach. The car thermometer read 38 degrees when we parked. Encouraging! (Not.)
Our snorkeling spot involved a slightly spicy descent down to the water, which was pretty hilarious in full wetsuits. I waded in with extreme trepidation — and was genuinely surprised that I didn't feel a thing. This must be how seals feel! It was a different story when my head went under, but, thankfully, the ice cream headache only lasted about five minutes.
We saw sea stars, anemones, urchins, and the biggest sea cucumbers I have ever seen in my life. One was nearly three feet long. Apparently Sitka is known for its sea cucumbers — who knew?! Sadly, no photos from this part of the trip since I forgot my underwater camera!
A Full Day on the Water
We started Day 3 the best way possible: a delicious breakfast from WildFlour Bakery.
Then we took kayaks out to the Sitka Causeway to explore some WWII bunkers. The Causeway is a small archipelago from WWII times. There were bunkers everywhere in the woods, hidden in the trees and mossy ground. There were more than 30,000 military personnel stationed in Sitka during WWII. Which is absolutely wild to think about! Today, Sitka is home to about 8,000 people.
It was windy and cold while we were exploring, and I was very glad to have my Limpet Kari Skirt keeping my bum warm from the ocean breeze.
This little bun warmer was right at home on the beach! Sadly, I didn't see any Limpets in the wild that day.
Sunshine! We went up high to celebrate.
Our first real day of sunshine, and we were not going to waste it. We hiked Mount Verstovia — a local favorite for backcountry skiing in the winter — and the views did not disappoint.
Neither did the Jill Tights. The wind-blocking fabric was perfect for the gentle breeze, and the reinforced seat meant I could take a rest on the jagged Picnic Rock without fear of any snags!
Wind-blocking where it counts, reinforced where you need it. The Jill Tights were made for exactly this kind of day.
Everything I wore — and wished I'd packed more of
Kept the rain out on a 39-degree hike. The MVP of the whole trip.
Layered under the Ginny. Because 39 degrees calls for everything you've got.
A cold weather skirt inspired by Alaska's Coastline, and made for weekends like this.
Wind-blocking on the front, reinforced on the bum. The perfect adventure pant.
The Ginny Rain Coat is going on presale.
It was the real MVP of this trip — and a lot of you already agree. You've nearly sold us out (thank you!), so we ordered more. Presale is live today.
Shop the presale →Thanks for coming along on this one. I feel really lucky to keep discovering new corners of this beautiful state I call home.
— Megan