Rafting Guides and Staff at Orange Torpedo Trips
Our whitewater rafting guides are the heart of who we are. One typically does not just work at Orange Torpedo Trips; they join a family of like-minded, adventurous people who are passionate about sharing rivers and helping families have incredible vacations. While some of our guides only work for us during a specific period of their lives, they always stay in touch and continue running the occasional trip for decades to come. At the same time, many of our guides are teachers or work in education, so they are able to guide regularly with us for decades during their summers, fostering life-long connections with their fellow guides and many of our guests.
All of our guides are thoroughly trained through our unique river skills training program. With most being teachers in the off-season, they are especially skilled at working with kids. Join us on a trip and expect to meet some incredible people as they help take you down the river.
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Erik Weiseth
Nickname: NG
Year Started Guiding: 2002
Favorite River: Main Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Split Rock
In the Off-season:
I get to answer your phone calls and talk about river trips for next summer!What I love about being a river guide:
I love sharing my home, the river, with people and helping them overcome their fears and do things they did not think they could. -
Jim Crystal
Nickname: Crystal
Favorite River: Lower Salmon
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Mike Slagle
Nickname: Captain Skirt
Year Started Guiding: 1972
Favorite River: Main Salmon or Rogue
In the Off-season:
I am a retired high school science teacher and coach, and I volunteer at basketball games and track meets. I also drive the truck for local food bank.What I love about being a river guide:
I love the opportunity to meet new people and to be able to share our rivers with our guests. Also, I find satisfaction from seeing people go from being scared to wanting bigger water and accomplishing something they never thought they could do. -
Tim Satre
Nickname: Satre
Year Started Guiding: 1990
Favorite River: Rogue or North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Upper island North Umpqua
In the Off-season:
I enjoy hunting, fishing, and hiking.What I love about being a river guide:
I love the sense of adventure that rivers give me and that maneuvering boats down a river is a skill that you are continually learning and improving on. I also love introducing inflatable kayaking to people that have never done it before. -
Grant Cannon
Nickname: Cannon
Year Started Guiding: 2000
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Russian
In the Off-season:
I work for the Bureau of Land Management.What I love about being a river guide:
Guiding gives me the ability to relax from normal daily life, which is a truly gratifying experience while on the water, especially in such a beautiful setting. The river is where unforgettable memories are made with great people. -
Ryan Hunter
Nickname: Hunter
Year Started Guiding: 1999
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Upper island
In the Off-season:
I am a middle school health and PE teacherWhat I love about being a river guide:
Experiencing the river and beauty of the nature with adventurous and interesting friends and customers. Teaching and guiding both involve similar skills and abilities but our summer classrooms are amazing incredible and diverse! -
Nicole Brown
Favorite River: The Rogue River
Favorite Rapid: Mary's Pothole
In the Off-season:
I am a high school librarian.What I love about being a river guide:
I love meeting all our amazing guests and making their vacation great. -
Michael Davidson
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Power House
In the Off-season:
I am a Pharmacy Technician.What I love about being a river guide:
I love sharing my passion for the river with other people. -
Steve Tichenor
Nickname: Stich
Year Started Guiding: 1972
Favorite River: Rogue River
Favorite Rapid: Definitely Grave Creek Rapid is my favorite because it is the entry to the Wild & Scenic Rogue River.
In the Off-season:
I enjoy steelhead fishing, playing music, and spending time with my family.What I love about being a river guide:
I love the teamwork with OTT guides to run a good river trip. I also like telling stories about the natural and human history of the Rogue to our guests and playing guitar at the lodges in the evening. -
Nick Dietz
Nickname: Dietz
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Upper Island
In the Off-season:
I travel for work, go boating, and enjoy fishing.What I love about being a river guide:
I love sharing the beautiful places that make me happy with others. -
Tanner Marval
Nickname: Bub
Year Started Guiding: 2008
Favorite River: Main Salmon or Lower Rogue River
Favorite Rapid: Five Mile, Split Rock and Little Stinker at high flows.
In the Off-season:
I teach advanced math to high schoolers.What I love about being a river guide:
I love having the opportunity to show people a part of this beautiful world in which they thought they would only be able see through pictures in magazines. -
Lauren Medley
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Amazon Queen
In the Off-season:
I am a pre-law student at the University of Oregon. I also enjoy painting and playing music.What I love about being a river guide:
The people! -
Elijah Elliott
Nickname: Skeeter
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Rainie Falls
In the off-season:
You can find me slangin' nails and hittin' gnarly drops with Dietz.What I love about being a river guide:
I love being able to share the beauty of the outdoors with people from all over! -
Chris Shields
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Flora Dell Flats
In the Off-season:
I do environmental noise consulting.What I love about being a river guide:
The river is my happy place. -
William Inkrote
Favorite River: Owyhee
Favorite Rapid: Nuisance
In the Off-season:
I work as a fishing guide.What I love about being a river guide:
I love watching people have fun. -
Benito Silva
Favorite River: Salmon or Roque River
Favorite Rapid: Demons Drop or Russian Rapid
In the Off-season:
I teach middle school.What I love about being a river guide:
I love being outside and guiding from an inflatable kayak. -
Tom Wilk
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Mule Creek Canyon
In the Off-season:
I spend my time traveling.What I love about being a river guide:
I love meeting interesting people! -
Joe Ricci
Favorite River: Rogue River
Favorite Rapid: Upper Blackbar
In the Off-season:
I am a student at Oregon State University.What I love about being a river guide:
I love being out in nature. As someone who comes from suburban Portland, it is more than refreshing to be able to experience the quiet and serene time spent on the river. The people I've met along the way have been some of the greatest and I couldn't ask for a better work experience. -
Derek Pratt
Favorite River: Rogue River
Favorite Rapid: Power House Falls
In the off-season:
I am a part-time farmer and gun enthusiast.What I love about being a river guide:
Our guests are always here ready to have a good time and they are a ton of fun to be around. -
Corinne Brady
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Like food, it's hard to pick just one! Nugget Falls is pretty rad, though.
In the off-season:
I care for my son Caspian James, teach, hike, and read.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love being on the river, working in nature, improving my skills, meeting people, and cracking jokes for my guests and fellow guides.
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Parker Wright
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Amazon Queen
In the off-season:
I am attending Linfield university and working on a sports management degree.
What I love about being a river guide:
I enjoy hearing all of the different stories that our customers have. I also enjoy seeing them get more comfortable with the river and having a good time.
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Rebecca Miller
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Argo
In the off-season:
I am a student at Oregon State University.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love how much the river challenges me. I love the people I get to meet and work with. Argo is my favorite rapid not because it's the craziest or biggest, but because of all the memories I have there of people conquering their fears. It's such a great feeling to be a part of so many new beginnings.
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Bradley Farrell
Favorite River: Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Rainie Falls
In the off-season:
I work in wildland firefighting and real estate.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love teaching people new skills and empowering them to push their limits.
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Kalen Calia
Favorite River/Rapid: I haven't found a favorite yet — there are too many to choose from!
In the off-season:
I spent this past year recovering from an injury.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love the constant challenges that the job offers and the pretty sweet office view.
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Richard Alves
Favorite River: Main Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Elkhorn
In the off-season:
I work as a teacher.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love reacquainting myself with the elements and cycles of the natural world while on the river.
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Joshua Rabjohn
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Amazon Queen
In the off-season:
I am an assistant manager at fast food restaurant.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love having the opportunity to meet some amazing people and getting to share the rivers that we have to offer in the area with others.
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Christopher Cline
Favorite River: Lower Rogue
Favorite Rapid: Burial
In the off-season:
I just recently finished up my college degree.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love being out on the water and seeing the wildlife.
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Kate Burke
Favorite River: Lochsa
Favorite Rapid: Lochsa Falls
In the off-season:
I do contract work as an educational curriculum designer.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love building connections with people from all over and sharing a slice of life by the waterside under an open sky!
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Brandon Neddermeyer
Nickname: Tall
Favorite River: Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Black Creek
In the off-season:
I spend most of my time skiing.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love putting smiles on peoples' faces. It's pretty fun to occasionally lose gear boats, too.
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Sami Riggs
Favorite River: Main Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Ruby at high water flows
In the off-season:
I go to school at Willamette University in Salem Oregon, and I am studying exercise and health science. I am also on the women's basketball and track team at Willamette.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love being a river guide because I am able to work in some of the most beautiful places, and it gives me the opportunity to guide people on an experience that they will remember forever.
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Abbey Govett
Favorite River: Main Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Time Zone or Black Creek
In the off-season:
I am a student at the University of Texas at Austin where I am pursuing degrees in both the liberal arts and marketing.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love watching people overcome their fears, challenge themselves, be totally goofy, and connect with one another and nature.
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Gabriel Gonzalez
Favorite River: Salmon River
Favorite Rapid: Chair Creek at 32,000 CFS
In the off-season:
I'm currently pursing a degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Management at the University of Idaho.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love being able to help others experience the amazing river I grew up alongside.
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Nathan Burton
Favorite River: North Umpqua
Favorite Rapid: Wright Creek
In the off-season:
I am a college student.
What I love about being a river guide:
Meeting new people and all the interactions! Also, I love being able to help teach our guests about the river and everything that goes with it.
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Christos Makarounis
Favorite River: Lower Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Lower Whitehouse at 4,000 CFS
In the off-season:
I am a full-time BioHealth student at Oregon State University.
What I love about being a river guide:
The incredible relationships made with my fellow guides and the bonds created with guests and guides while conquering whitewater in the gorgeous wilderness of Idaho.
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Scout Larson
Favorite River: Lower Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Sluicebox
In the off-season:
I teach high school.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love to unplug and connect with amazing people.
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Catherine Mooney
Nickname: Mooney
Favorite River: Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Bunghole or Whitehouse
In the off-season:
I work as a Wilderness Therapy Guide and Mentor.
What I love about being a river guide:
Meeting new people and getting payed to play!
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Nathaniel Hering
Favorite River: Lower Salmon
Favorite Rapid: China
In the off-season:
I work as a lift operator at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Oregon.
What I love about being a river guide:
The whitewater and the friends!
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Chloe Quinn
Favorite River: Main Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Split Rock
In the off-season:
I go to the University of Utah and work in the ski shop at Alta Ski Area.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love being around great people in a beautiful place. I also love introducing people who haven’t been on rivers to rafting and kayaking and helping them to get excited about it.
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Hayden Vanderbeek
Favorite River: Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Chair
In the off-season:
I go to college in Washington.
What I love about being a river guide:
The rapids, the freedom, and most importantly the community!
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Cameron Fox
Favorite River: Salmon
Favorite Rapid: Time Zone
In the off-season:
I go to school. I also work part time at S.L.O. Farms in Eugene and as a Doordash Driver.
What I love about being a river guide:
I love instilling in people a sense of the awe and wonder that resides in our natural world in the hope that in the future they will support either legislation or charities that protect and/or expand what little remains of our environment.
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Devon Spickard
Favorite River: Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Favorite Rapid: Mule Creek Canyon
In the off-season:
I ski!
What I love about being a river guide:
I love sharing my passion with others.