Talk to an Expedition Specialist
1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)
Our team is the key to your incredible experience
Let our expert staff weave a narrative on a Columbia and Snake River tour and, turn what would otherwise be merely a string of extraordinary days, into an immersive experience of the rivers’ natural history. Benefit from their specialized knowledge—geology, history, photography, and more—and enjoy their company on hikes or over a drink or dinner.
Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
R. Aaron Raymond started his career as an underwater photographer, which blossomed from his love of the ocean. He grew up on a sailboat diving for abalone off the coast of California. He loves to photograph landscapes, nature, and wildlife—anything that allows him to capture fleeting moments and showcase the interaction of light and the natural world. Aaron has photographed life on all sides of the planet, from the depths of Madagascar’s oceans to the heights of the Himalayas, which he crested at 18,500 feet via motorcycle.
Wellness Specialist
Becky Timbers was born and raised in Vermont, where she spent her childhood exploring the outdoors and enjoying country life. She is fortunate to have parents who love to travel, so at an early age, she was bitten by the travel bug and subsequently spent five months in New Zealand and a year in Kenya through study abroad programs.
Video Chronicler
Dave grew up in a small town in the Finger Lakes region of New York and at an early age fell in love with the outdoors. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Geology, Dave set out to explore the world, working seasonally as a mountain guide and pursuing a growing interest in photography and storytelling. Since 2013, Dave has dedicated his time to working as a professional filmmaker. His work, projects and travels have drawn him to over 85 countries on six continents and his varied published work has appeared on television, in print and on the internet for clients such as Nat Geo Kids, PBS Nature and Outside Magazine.
Assistant Expedition Leader
Emily grew up in the beautiful, rainy Pacific Northwest. Born and raised on Vashon Island, she then moved to nearby Seattle to attend the University of Washington. After completing her degree in English Literature, Emily spent the next year preparing for and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with her older brother. There she discovered a passion for backpacking and spent the next few years walking all over the world, from the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand to the Spanish El Camino to the Laugavegur trail in Iceland.
Naturalist
Geologist and naturalist, Grace is a Montanan now living in Seattle. Grace received her degrees in geology (BS and MSc) from Montana State University. Funded by a grant from the National Geographic Society, she pursued her master’s degree in Alaska’s remote Pribilof Islands. Here she investigated the volcanic evolution of St. Paul Island, creating a geologic map, and predicting volcanic hazards in the event of a future eruption. Her knowledge of the Pribilof Islands and the Bering Sea region led to her work as a consulting geologist on St. George Island for NOAA’s Pribilof Restoration Project.
Historian
Junius Rochester was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Seattle’s Garfield High School; Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington; took graduate courses in history at the University of Washington, Seattle, and attended Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Expedition Leader
Larry has been a naturalist for more than 35 years. His experience includes extensive work in environmental education in Ohio, Vermont and Yosemite National Park where he was program director for the Yosemite Institute. He has been a ranger at Mohican State Park, Lehman Caves National Monument, and Glacier Bay National Park where he first met up with Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic in 1990.
Naturalist
For the past 20 years, Marylou Blakeslee has traveled the world sharing her love of wild places. She lectures on a number of topics from the bears and wolves of the Arctic, to the leopard seals and whales of the Antarctic, as well as the turtles and fishes of the Great Barrier Reef.
National Geographic Photographer
Michael Hanson is a travel and documentary photographer represented by National Geographic Creative. His images have appeared in National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Adventure, and he is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and Outside Magazine. Michael began his photography career while playing professional baseball in the Atlanta Braves Organization, and in 2013, he was identified as one of the top 30 New and Emerging Photographers by Photo District News. Hanson later went on to create a Republic of Baseball series documenting the sport’s importance in the Caribbean nation of Dominican Republic, which was featured in The New York Times and earned Pictures of the Year International and Communication Arts awards in 2017.
Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Rich Kirchner has worked as a naturalist in Antarctica, Alaska, the Bering Sea, Baja and the High Arctic, including Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and Iceland. His 25 years as a professional wildlife photographer has granted him international publication credits included in magazines such as Geo Germany, Geo France, Natural History, Audubon, National Wildlife and Ranger Rick, as well as more than a hundred books.