Our Team

Zinnia remarks that it’s difficult to explain how a river trip really feels until you’ve been on one, and then you get it. We couldn’t agree more! Being on the river removes outside distractions of everyday life and truly allows you to be in the present. Three words that her friends use to describe her: glitter, pink, dance party. And again, we agree. Zinnia is full of life and charisma, and you can pretty much always find her smiling, laughing, and being goofy with her friends. When she’s not taking herself too seriously, she enjoys talking about complex issues on the river, such as salmon or mining, and connecting with her guests on a deeper level. She is interested in how humans can interact and engage with our ecosystem, and more specifically how to advocate for the places we love. Zinnia is a bit superstitious, and nearly always has glitter on her face before running big whitewater.

A year-round McCall resident, Kert joined our team after several seasons studying Chinook and Steelhead fisheries of nearby rivers. He possesses a keen and vast knowledge of the Salmon River and Hells Canyon’s intricate and diverse ecologies–if you’re lucky enough to be on a boat with him, be sure to ask him about it! He is very passionate about getting youth stoked on the joys of landing a fish, especially their first. If he’s not on the river, Kert is probably somewhere on a trail or atop a mountain, regardless of the weather. He is always upbeat, extremely meticulous and constantly moving – just the kind of friend you want on a river trip.

Davis has called various US rivers his home for several years, but we are lucky that he decided to settle into river canyons of Idaho. When asked what inspires him about his job, he says, “There’s a beautiful connectivity being on the water. The river is constantly teaching me and developing my skills as a boater. I love sharing wilderness experiences with people.” Davis is a bit of a foodie and is happiest trying new cuisine, dreaming of traveling and eating across the globe. His friends describe him as meticulous, organized, and goofy. One random fact about Davis? He has worked as a professional Christmas tree light installer – trust him, it’s a lot harder than it sounds.

Kai spent the first half of her life growing up in the US Virgin Islands, learning the ways of the ocean. She transferred her skills of reading water to rivers and has since become a skilled whitewater guide. Ski patrolling in the winters, Kai balances her high-adventure life by moving with the seasons. When she’s not working, you can find her outside, whether kayaking, sliding down a snowy mountain, or diving in the ocean. She is a passionate environmental advocate because her number one value is nature, doing what she can to protect it and share the outdoors with others. She hopes to one day learn to wing foil, as it’s a creative and challenging way to move your body. Her friends describe her as courageous, driven, and passionate – traits for a great river guide (and great human!).

Rachel is a multi-talented, funny, and easy-going woman who constantly surprises us with her wit. She’s a great listener and says that her favorite part about guiding is being present in the moment and meeting new people on every trip. She’s engaged in her work, and it even bleeds over into her personal life – she’s passionate about dam removal and affordable education. She’s naturally comfortable in the summer sun, preferring the heat over anything indoors with air conditioning! When she’s not on the river, you can find Rachel running, skiing, and rock climbing with friends. And she hopes to one day learn to play the fiddle!

Described by her friends as quirky and ethereal, Carolyn wears many hats, both in her professional and personal life. When she’s not on the river, you can find her teaching, reading, or going full lizard and lounging on a rock in the sun. While she takes her many roles seriously, she also has a great sense of humor – ask her about the time she chased down a mail thief and convinced him to mail her holiday cards. While Carolyn finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, she’s also drawn to the grandeur of the world. If given the chance, she’d hop on a plane and head straight to Iceland, where she dreams of indulging in the magic of the northern lights, waterfalls, and hot springs. When asked what she can’t live without, the answer was easy: pretzels and hummus. 

We’ve been lucky to have Olivia on our crew in several different capacities, from nanny and teacher to our children, to shop helper, full-time river guide, and part-time fill-in (coming in clutch with our busy season!). Olivia has a heart of gold and is happiest backpacking through the mountains with her dog, exploring off the beaten path and sleeping outside (her favorite pastime). She cares deeply about young children and helping them to develop a strong sense of place by providing opportunities for positive experiences with nature and with their community. Olivia is a forest preschool teacher when she’s not guiding! She says she can’t live without her community network, which makes sense, because she has grown into a community pillar with her various roles. She is described by friends as vivacious, loyal, and adaptable – all admirable traits for a river guide.

Austin is a southern guy, born and raised in Texas. While he is still tied to the south, he enjoys spending his summers on Idaho’s rivers, sharing his awe for the deep canyons and clear waters with his guests. Austin is a master barbecuer and huge asset in the Salmon Raft kitchen. He says that he hopes to learn to juggle one day – maybe this summer is the one! Austin has an infectiously positive attitude and a natural ability to feel like every trip down the river is his first, constantly being blown away by the scenic views and relishing in the good memories made with guests and fellow crew members. He’s a skier in the winter, loves music, and is described by his friends as charismatic and easy to get along with! 

Lilli is a student in an environmental studies program, and enjoys learning the histories and intricacies of the landscapes in which she works. She says that she loves guiding on the Salmon and Snake Rivers because it gives her a unique opportunity to share her passion for these landscapes and waterways, and their environmental complexities, with her guests. She is passionate about salmon and steelhead conservation and the protection of their native ecosystems. When she’s not focused on river life, Lilli spends time cooking, exploring the outdoors, and having fun with friends. She strives to one day learn to play the guitar, but says she first needs to find time to work on her patience with such a tricky instrument!

Jonah! Our youngest crew member, but arguably the oldest soul. He grew up in McCall, and decided to go to college relatively locally (Boise) so that he can be close to all of the incredible mountains and rivers that he grew up loving. Jonah began his Salmon Raft career as a shop helper, eventually graduating to full-time river guide. He’s been running big whitewater since he was about five – both in a raft and whitewater kayak – and is incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in whitewater. He knows Hells Canyon and the Lower Salmon like the back of his hand. He’s also a talented mountain biker and skier, and someday hopes to try paragliding or paraskiing. Everyone can relate to Jonah in many ways, but perhaps the biggest common denominator is his number one pet peeve: sand in his sleeping bag! IYKYK.

Matthew started calling Idaho home within the last few years, working seasonally as a ski patroller/EMT and summertime river guide. He loves how grounding it is to be on the river, and enjoys seeing how a river trip inspires his guests to want to protect the places that he shares with them. When he’s not working, Matthew is happiest when surrounded by community – whether a relaxing day at the park or a big day in the mountains, he loves sharing experiences with his friends. He dreams to one day apply his skills reading water to learn how to kite surf! Matthew usually travels with some background music, and says that he can’t live without the mood-boosting effects of good tunes!

Haydn was born and raised in McCall, Idaho, so being on the river is like being at home. Although he has a long list of skills and hobbies, we can’t tell you about Haydn without mentioning his expertise in the kitchen! Haydn’s mom owns Stacey Cakes (the best bakery in the area, if not west of the Mississippi) and his dad is the chef at Rupert’s (one of McCall’s fine dining establishments). Aside from being raised as a culinary whiz, Haydn is also an avid outdoorsman, always seeking new hobbies like whitewater kayaking. He’s a big skier in the wintertime and hopes to someday ski epic pow in Japan! Haydn is super easy going and loves watching the sun rise and fall on the river, relishing the calm moments on his trips. 

Kelly joins us from a medical background, having worked in pediatric oncology before switching summertime gears to river guide. Understandably, she is passionate about kids and is always in awe of their resiliency, and reminds us that they can teach you a lot about life even in its darkest moments. Kelly hopes to one day combine her medical experience with education to find ways to open the door to underrepresented communities and individuals to reclaim their lives from disease or illness through outdoor recreation. Kelly is known to try just about anything, from rock climbing to kiteboarding to canyoneering and even her latest hobby, belly-dancing. We love having silly and thoughtful Kelly on our crew!

Nate reigns as one of Salmon Raft’s earliest employees! Joining us way back in 2016, he has been a huge asset to our crew for many years. Although we still can’t quite convince him to give up his career as a lift mechanic (managing crews and ski area operations), we feel lucky to have him join us on the river whenever he can. Nate is kind of like a father figure on our crew, which makes sense, because he’s actually Jonah’s dad! It’s a special treat to get them both on the river together a few times each summer. The best part about being a river guide, he says, is getting away from civilization, especially next to moving water (a little natural white noise to sleep is so soothing). When asked what he can’t live without, he answered in true Nate form: oxygen. Although we would venture to guess that he would also add his lovely wife, two awesome kids, and adorably goofy dog to the short list.

While Ryan is one of the newer additions to the Salmon Raft crew, he’s been guiding for multiple decades. As a third grade teacher, Ryan is no stranger to sharing knowledge and experiences that shape our guests’ time on the river. He has always been inspired by the folks he gets to interact with, as the river has a way of connecting all walks of life! Ryan is happiest filling his cup with rafting (both as a profession and hobby)  and spending time with family and friends, two things he could never live without – add in his favorite burrito and it’s a perfect day. On his bucket list? Learning to surf and traveling to Mongolia, where he dreams of landing a Taimen on his flyrod.