b'FOGHORN FOCUSTraveling to Alaska is a bucket list item for many travelers, and the team at The Boat Company has found that many people have five common priorities: they hope to catch a fish and see glaciers, bears, eagles, and whales. Spending summers on salmon boats, Michael McIntoshidea of what theyd like to see while visiting. McIntosh Sr., fell in love with Southeast Alaska and the Tongasssaidtheyvefoundthatfiveprioritiesformosttravelers National Forest. The impact the region had on him neverare catching a fish and seeing glaciers, bears, eagles, and faded. He and his wife, Winsome, purchased an old wood- whales. The Boat Company is often able to help people en-hulledex-U.S.Navyminesweeper,converteditintocheck all five off their lists in part because guests arent a tour boat, and in 1980 The Boat Company was born.on a cruise traveling from town to town with only brief Originally a program of the McIntosh Foundation, Theglimpses of the Alaskan wilderness. The Boat Company Boat Company evolved into its own not-for-profit com- guests are only in town when they arrive at the beginning pany with the mission to introduce people to Southeastof their trip and when they fly out at the end. The rest of Alaska,includingtheTongassNationalForest,anditstime, the vessels are far from towns, immersing passengers need for conservation.in the Tongass National Forest.Today, Hunter McIntosh is carrying on his parents legacy.With goals of seeing eagles or spending afternoons fishing, PHOTOS FROM LEFT: ISTOCK, ISTOCK, THE BOAT COMPANYCarrying only 24 passengers per ship, The Boat Compa- a hard sell on conservation wouldnt work. Instead, the nys two vessels host around 750 guests from May to Sep- team lets the Tongass do the speaking for them. As McIn-tember each year, giving passengers an intimate experiencetosh put it, the biggest educator is the Tongass and Moth-withthewildbeautyofSoutheastAlaska.Thecruiseser Nature. Put people out, let them put feet on the ground, offer gourmet meals, fishing, glacier and wildlife viewing,and as we like to say, they drink the Tongass Kool-Aid.hiking, and more. Passengers can get to know the region, learn firsthand the importance of the environment, and beTherearenaturalistsandfishingguidesoneverytrip. inspired to help protect it.Whenguestsembarkonsaltwaterfishingorfreshwater fly-fishing excursions, the fishing guides, well versed in Traveling to Alaska is a bucket list item for many peoplefishery conservation, can explain, This is why we cant living in the lower 48 states, and they often arrive with ankeep the halibut you just pulled up. Or This is why the FOGHORN 16'