Our Team

A young man with a mustache and goatee smiling, wearing a gray cap with yellow embroidery and a checkered button-down shirt, standing outdoors in front of green leafy plants.

  • Pearse W. Narum is a Humboldt County based outdoor adventure professional, University of California certified naturalist, and the founder of Redwood Coast Experiences, a local outdoor adventure and culinary experience company offering immersive nature tours in the redwoods, along the rugged Northern California coast, and throughout Redwood National and State Parks.

    With more than a decade of experience in expedition guiding, interpretive programming, outdoor education, and adventure operations, Pearse brings deep expertise and a genuine passion for the natural world to every program he leads.

    From Adrenaline to Interpretation:

    Pearse grew up in Humboldt County, surrounded by the towering redwoods, wild rivers, and dramatic coastline of the region. His outdoor career began in the world of adrenaline: skiing, biking, climbing, and backcountry travel across the American West. What started as a pursuit of adventure gradually evolved into a deeper calling: to understand, protect, and teach others about the ecosystems he loved.

    This transformation began when Pearse returned home from Utah and began working as an interpretive guide in the redwoods. He pursued formal training in ecology, conservation, and naturalist interpretation. That foundation, coupled with his deep roots in the region, ultimately inspired the creation of Redwood Coast Experiences.

    Guiding & Outdoor Leadership Experience

    Pearse’s career spans guiding and leadership roles across the Western United States and Hawaiʻi. Highlights include:

    • 265 backcountry field days in southern Utah as a four-season expedition guide (backpacking, mountain biking, climbing, canyoneering, skiing).

    • Leading sea kayaking and bird-watching tours for upscale resort guests in Hawaiʻi, regularily finding rare and cryptic species

    • Managing outdoor programs, guide teams, guest services, and lodging operations in Humboldt County and Redwood National and State Parks.

    • Founding an outdoor adventure consulting firm that designed and facilitated high-end, multi-state adventure programs for summer camps, hospitality groups, and corporate clients, handling everything from permitting, risk management, logistics, and interpretive content.

    • Creating accessible outdoor experiences for guests of all ages and ability levels, including adaptive and therapeutic recreation programs.

    In Pearse’s free time you can find him birdwatching, hiking, fishing or riding his bike.

A woman with long brown hair and blue eyes smiling, standing outdoors in front of green shrubbery, wearing a white shirt and a colorful floral apron.

  • Sophie Narum is a Humboldt County based chef, floral designer, and creative entrepreneur with a Le Grand Diplôme in Cuisine and Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu in Wellington, New Zealand. With a background that spans fine dining, farm-to-table culinary arts, sustainable horticulture, and high-end event design, Sophie brings a rare blend of technical training, creativity, and local knowledge to Redwood Coast Experiences.

    Sophie is passionate about nature, arts, community and high quality local food which leads to her excellence in crafting intimate culinary experiences—beautiful tablescapes, small private events, and nature-inspired gatherings that feel warm, intentional, and deeply connected to the Redwood Coast.

    From Classical Training to Creative Expression

    Sophie’s grew up in Humboldt County, where the region’s farms, forests, and coastline shaped her appreciation for seasonal ingredients and natural beauty. She deepened her craft at Le Cordon Bleu in Wellington, New Zealand, mastering classical French cuisine and pâtisserie before returning home to pursue more personal, community-centered work. Her career has taken her from lead chef roles in Waimea Valley, Hawaiʻi where she catered high-profile events such as the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the Vans Pipe Masters, and the Navy Seals Gala aboard the USS Missouri.

    Back in California, Sophie built a thriving catering and personal chef business, crafting weekly farm-sourced menus and designing intimate events for clients with dietary restrictions. She expanded her creative work into floral design, producing arrangements, wearable florals, and botanical pieces for homes and events, and she founded Peppernut Cakes, a boutique cakery specializing in high-end wedding cakes specializing in vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-conscious recipes. Her early experiences across vineyards, bakeries, sushi bars, and sustainable farms helped shape her thoughtful, hands-on approach, blending technical execution, artistic detail, and holistic, farm-to-table values.

    Culinary, Floral & Creative Leadership

    Sophie’s multi-disciplinary background gives her a unique perspective. Highlights of her work include:

    • Le Grand Diplôme in Cuisine & Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu

    • Lead chef for upscale clients and major events in Waimea Valley, Hawaiʻi

    • Founder of Peppernut Cakes, a high-end custom wedding cakery

    • Personal chef specializing in dietary-conscious, farm-sourced menus

    • Floral designer creating arrangements, bouquets, and wearable florals

    • Hands-on experience in sustainable farming, beekeeping, and horticulture

    In her free time you can find Sophie painting, walking her beloved dog, Otto, and gardening