Every now and then, something comes across my screen that makes me forget what I was supposed to be doing.
This week, that something was a YouTube video titled Riding 1300 Miles to Alaska on Jet Ski – Camping & Fishing.
I was settling in to tackle the results from the IJSBA World Finals when the video caught my attention. And when a video has racked up more than 4.9 million views in less than two days, well, curiosity is a powerful thing.
So I grabbed some popcorn and hit play.
An hour and a half later, I understood what all the fuss was about.
YouTuber Matt Spears set out from Washington aboard a heavily modified Sea-Doo Explorer Pro, bound for Skagway, Alaska, by way of the Inside Passage. His plan? Cover roughly 1,300 miles, traveling solo and unsupported, camping along the way and, whenever possible, catching his own dinner.
And this wasn’t exactly a shiny new machine fresh off the showroom floor. Spears purchased the Sea-Doo after it had been wrecked, repaired the damage and outfitted it for a journey that would test both rider and machine.
There were fuel calculations to make, unpredictable weather to navigate, and some very cold water separating him from his destination.
There were also whales, glaciers, incredible scenery and a few moments that probably had viewers holding their breath.
But here’s what makes the video so enjoyable: Spears himself.
He’s enthusiastic, funny, remarkably good-natured when things don’t go according to plan, and genuinely delighted by the world around him. Whether he’s dealing with an unexpected problem or discovering something extraordinary just around the next bend, he has a way of making you feel like you’re along for the ride.
And judging by the response, I’m hardly alone in that assessment.
One viewer summed it up particularly well: “No unnecessary drama, no click bait, no sleazy attention grabbing b.s. Just a nice guy on an adventure, which is so relaxing, so enjoyable.”
Another pointed out that most creators would have turned an expedition like this into a 10-part series. Spears simply delivered nearly an hour and a half of adventure in one sitting.
And people are watching.
There’s plenty more I could tell you about what happens along the way, but frankly, I don’t want to spoil it.
The scenery is spectacular, the journey is impressive, and Spears manages to make a trip that required months of preparation, extensive modifications and some serious determination look like something the rest of us might want to try.
Even those of us who start getting grumpy when the temperature drops below 65 degrees.
My recommendation? Set aside an hour and a half, grab some popcorn and watch the whole thing. It’s worth it.
And with any luck, we’ll have more to share soon. I’ve reached out to Spears to see if he’d be willing to spend some time talking with The Watercraft Journal about the journey, the machine and just what possessed him to point a jet ski toward Alaska and keep going.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride.
Watch Matt Spears’ adventure: Riding 1300 Miles to Alaska on Jet Ski – Camping & Fishing
