Welcome to our family, and our dream. After a lifetime of outdoor pursuits, we worked, imagined, schemed, and dreamed…driving ourselves toward the creation of Kruger Escapes. We worked to gain the scope of experience required for enjoyment and safety. We imagined a livelihood that would give voice to our passion for adventure and joy in a day well spent. With the help of family and friends we pulled together the endless details required. We are now thrilled to introduce to you:
Captain Karl Kruger taught himself to windsurf when he was twelve years old and worked his way up through 420s, Lasers, Hobies and a variety of Keelboats...always yearning for a better ride. He began teaching sailing when he was 17, and has taught intermittently ever since. Karl now holds a United States Coast Guard 50 Ton Master’s License with Sail and Tow endorsements. He has lived in the great Pacific Northwest for 17 years, cruising extensively in the San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands. During the Summer of 2009, with his wife and young daughter, Karl sailed aboard a 36’ sailing vessel up the Inside Passage from Orcas Island, WA to Ketchikan, AK and back again. Karl and his family loved the daily adventure of investigating remote coves and beautiful beaches. It was on this trip that the dream of marrying skiing/ surfing and sailing was cemented in his mind and heart...North of Orcas there is over 900 miles of mountains you can sail among...
On land, Karl climbed his first Adirondack High Peak when he was three years old. He remembers it well. He climbed the rest of the High Peaks before he turned twelve. Karl began cross-country skiing when he first walked, and has forgotten his first bruises from learning to Alpine ski. Since then, he has guided rock, ice, and alpine climbing. He has climbed significant routes in every mountain state, skied where it matters most, and raced on both skis and alpine snowboard. Karl also worked as a ski instructor, served on several Search and Rescue organizations, and has worked for the National Ski Patrol. He holds current certifications for CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care. Karl holds a B.S. in Environmental Science/ Toxicology and an A.A.S. in Ecology and Environmental Technology. He worked as an intern for the Dept. of Ecology in Bellingham, WA, and was an instructor for several EarthWatch International trips in the Skagit Valley.
First Mate Jessica Kruger has a diverse sailing background. She served as a crew member on the Tallship Lady Washington for two years, first as a volunteer and then as a ship’s officer. During this time she sailed nearly every day. Since then, Jess has lived aboard three different sailing vessels, sailed extensively in the San Juan Islands, the Canadian Gulf Islands, and traveled the Inside Passage in Summer 2009. Jess holds a B.S. in Biology/ Ecology and is passionate about dance and choreography. She is thrilled that Tomahawk has plenty of space for stretching out! Jess is studying for her USCG 50 Ton Master’s license.
Activities Director Dagny Kruger moved aboard a 36’ sailboat when she was five months old. She grew up loving her “boat home,” has excellent balance, and knows all about climbing in and out of dinghies. She took her first multi-day sailing trip when she was five weeks old, and knows a thing or two about diesel mechanics. Her favorite destinations include beaches, beaches, and beaches. A place with ice cream never hurts either.
First Sea Cat Ragnar is named after a pirate, but her favorite pursuits are napping in the sails, watching the antics of folks with fishing poles, and chasing tennis balls.