Meet the Staff

Olivia is an Oklahoma native! After graduating with an Associate’s degree, Olivia quickly found herself craving the uncomfortable, so she took a step towards making her dream a reality. After getting her hands on an ‘86 VW bus, she was well on her way. Though the van wasn’t exactly in working condition, a few repairs later and she was able to begin traveling, bringing her to Boise! This is Olivia’s first year with Cascade and she is stoked to be a part of the crew this summer! In the off season you will most likely find her working at your local ski area, living the “ski bum” life to it’s fullest. A few of her favorite things include chasing sunsets, teaching yoga, journaling, creating, traveling and saying yes to scary things! Fun fact, she’s never been around white water. Cheers to new adventures!

Erin hails from Troy, Montana, but currently calls Missoula, Montana home. She grew up camping and rafting rivers such as, the North Fork of the Clearwater, the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Rogue River. When she isn’t rafting with her family, Erin loves drawing, reading, writing, traveling, listening to music, drinking coffee and eating delicious food. She is a passionate learner and is studying History, Art and International Development Studies at the University of Montana. She hopes her studies will allow her to explore, wander and meet new people. Growing up rafting has always been something she loves and is excited to experience the Payette River with Cascade Raft and Kayak. She looks forward to meeting everyone and the summer to come.

Gabby comes from the land of Danville, California.  In the off season she can be found at the nearest mountain shredding the gnar or instructing ski lessons at Bogus.  When she isn’t at Bogus or Tamarack she is a full time student at Boise State, working on her major in marketing and minor in sustainability. This is her first year working at Cascade Raft and Kayak.  Her favorite part of her new job is getting to hang out with all the rad customers and capturing their reactions as they go through the gnarly rapids.  In her free time you can find her hanging out with friends, hiking, rollerblading the greenbelt, and doing pretty much doing anything outside.  Her accomplishments this year were passing all her college classes and skiing almost everyday this winter.  Gabby’s future consists of hopefully graduating college someday.

Mitch is originally from Germantown, TN and went to school outside of Nashville. While in school he took advantage of the weekly kayak roll-clinics and became obsessed with paddling. Most of his free time is spent kayaking, canoeing, rafting, wind-surfing, biking, and caving but also enjoys a simple hike with a camera and lots of time. Summers are spent working as a river guide but has also worked as a Canyoneering, Zip-lining, and Hiking Guide. Winters are usually spent working as a Dog-sledding Guide, but he took a break from snow this winter and headed to Hawaii. In Hawaii he worked on a Sailboat as Crew and Snorkeling Guide for dolphins, manta-rays, and whale-sightseeing tours; and also as a Volcano Hiking Guide. One of the things he enjoys most about working as a guide is sharing the experience with others. This will be his 6^th year working as a guide and 1^st here in Idaho. In the future he plans to make plans for the future 🙂

Cody is from Auburn, California a small town north of Sacramento. This is his first season with Cascade and is very excited about it. He has been on the river for his whole life but in the last few years has begun to kayak and raft. He started kayaking and rafting while attending Feather River College and had an immediate passion for both. He loves being on the river. There is something about the river that calms him and he loves seeing the smiles on people’s faces during and after the trip. He loves kayaking and rafting but in the offseason he loves to snow ski. Cody loves to travel and has been to four different countries. When he is not outside doing something he enjoys watching movies or hanging out with friends. He wants to become a firefighter in the future and hopes he can continue to be a raft guide.

Jack is a first-year guide based out of Boise, Idaho. He has rafted the main Salmon river multiple times as well as the South Fork of the Payette. In the off-season, Jack studies biology at the University of Vermont where he is an active member of the crew team. Jack started rafting with his elementary school on the Payette and his favorite part about rafting is the adrenaline rush that rushes through him right before a big rapid. Jack loves the UVM crew team and played basketball all through high school. When he finishes college, he plans to attend medical school and become a surgeon. One fun fact about Jack is that he has broken more bones by now than most people do in an entire lifetime.

Emily is from Caldwell, Idaho and has been a raft guide with Cascade for 3 seasons. She was captivated by the thrills of rafting with her dad at the age of 5, and has been hooked on rafting and kayaking ever since. Her favorite part of guiding is seeing the excitement on the faces of first-time rafters when they hit the rapids. She enjoys kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, biking, and any other way of exploring the outdoors. She graduated in May of 2017 with a degree in Exercise Science from Idaho State University, and plans to continue her education with a graduate program in the next few years. Emily’s first memory of the river is riding on the front of her dad’s raft, squealing like there was no tomorrow, and having the best time of her life, so she loves to take kids rafting and give them the same life-changing experience!

Gus is from Winnemucca, Nevada though all his family now lives throughout Idaho. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and upon graduation in the spring of 2019 aims to work in the hospitality industry. This is his first year with Cascade but he brings a lot of river experience from recreational trips he has taken in the past. Gus was introduced to rafting by his brother Shane, who is a fishing and raft guide for Cascade Raft & Kayak. Though he is new to guiding, Gus enjoys the outdoors and the insightful perspective that only outdoor recreation can offer. An alumnus of the University of Jamestown and former college football player, Gus enjoys various sports and exercise as well as student life.

Kyleigh (pronounced Kee-lee) hails from the City of Trees. She has taken many rafting trips from her home in Boise and is excited for her first summer with Cascade Raft & Kayak. The thing she is most looking forward to is sharing the excitement of the river with all of our guests. She wants to get the most out of life and encourage others to do the same. She loves summer weather and would follow it around the globe if she could. Kyleigh also enjoys running, biking, hiking, watching sunrises and sunsets, and anything else that gets her outside and surrounded by nature. She is focused on living in the moment and enjoying the journey of life. Fun fact about Kyleigh: she loves the movie The River Wild.

Kev was raised by scientists in a lab as a test-tube baby, in a secret overseas government study during the cold war. Kev is literally a genetically modified organism (GMO’s) designed to fast forward, millions of years and evolution with an emphasis in the following; wit, performance, style, youthfulness, spontaneity, humor and most important… swagger. These days, generally unaffected by his synthetic heredity, has embraced life, being tailored and modified. Currently living a totally normal life as a model citizen. Despite a horrific allergy to kryptonite, he is still able to enjoy many leisure activities including; moonlight spear fishing for sharks, speaking fluent Wookie, extreme vacuuming, time travel, arson, fuzzy handcuff-collecting and combating Darwinism.

Isy was born in Utah and grew up in Sonoma County California. During the off-season she spends most of her time rock climbing, traveling, and working in outdoor retail stores. She has been playing in white water for 7 years, but this will be her first season as a commercial guide. Isabella enjoys all types of adrenaline outdoor sports, which is why rafting and kayaking are perfect for her lifestyle! Her other hobbies mainly include rock climbing but she also enjoys mountain biking, surfing, writing, and traveling around the country! Her biggest accomplishments include receiving her bachelors degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership, and finishing some of her climbing projects in Bishop California. Isabella plans to continue climbing around the country and hopes to someday free climb El Capitan in Yosemite California. She also hopes to progress as a kayaker so she can combine the two sports and go on amazing adventures in Latin America!

Helen is an outdoor enthusiast from the headwaters of the Feather River in Northern California. During the off-season Helen enjoys backcountry skiing and rock climbing in her hometown, Quincy. At age five she found herself thrown into rapids on the American River with her family, and this led to a growing passion for whitewater. This is Helen’s first season as a guide with Cascade Raft & Kayak. She has been kayaking for two years and is eager to learn more. The river is a place of solitude and pure adventure to her, there is nothing quite like it in her eyes. Helen plans on graduating next year with her Associate’s degree in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership, using the skills she learns to continue running rivers around the world. When she is not on the water you can find her playing guitar, rock climbing or ready for the next adventure.

Jan is a mechanical engineering student based in Prague, Czech Republic. Summer 2018 is his first season working for Cascade, but he has been on the river for about twelve years now. He started with flatwater canoe trips (a big thing in Czech!), and he gradually pushed himself to become an accomplished whitewater kayaker with numerous descents in Europe and Asia. Despite calling himself a kayaker he appreciates rafting, for it allows everybody to safely experience the beauty of the river. If not on the river or editing photos from the last trip, you will most probably find him in a car workshop shoulder deep in some old junk worrying that he should finally get some “real” job. He is smart, funny, modest and wrote this bio all by himself.

Jonathan was born in Graham, North Caroline. He works as a ski instructor in the winters. After 4 years on the Nolichucky River in Tennessee and 2 years on the Arkansas he is excited to start his first year at Cascade Raft & Kayak! After his best friend dragged him to a summer job armed with a hammock, a sleeping bag and a pfd, he found a thirst for adventure that could never be satisfied. Both rafting and skiing allow him to be immersed in nature and find love in the outdoors. He is an avid mountain biker and loves reading about history. He intendeds to continue traveling the world as a guide and seeing as much of the world’s natural beauty as he can. Fun fact: He was on America idol season 4 episode 2!

Hadley was born in Missoula, Montana but spent most of her childhood in the oceans, mountains, and deserts of San Diego, California. In the fall of 2017, she returned to her hometown to attend the University of Montana and further immerse herself in the things she loves, like camping, rivers, lakes, natural foods, music, hammocking, animals, and coffee! She is currently studying Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management and hopes to pursue a career in conservation. Hadley is looking forward to summer on the river, doing some gardening at her parent’s house in Boise, experimenting in cooking with new recipes, and spending time with her family/friends and her dogs Poppy and Olive. She is excited to be joining the Cascade team and gain rafting experience!

Kate is from the Czech Republic. She lives in a small village but she works in a tearoom and studies Zoology and Pedagogy in Prague. When Kate´s not in the college or at her job she tries to play violin (she has to say, not very successfully). She also likes swing dancing, skiing, and spending a lot of time outdoors, especially running and hiking. When Kate was 3 years old she went canoeing for the first time. Since that time she spent at least one vacation per year on a river. Her university teachers assume that she should become a teacher of biology at high school, but Kate has a better plan; she’s going be a professional birdwatcher who lives nearby a nice river for kayaking! This summer will be her first time in the U.S. and she´s looking forward to spending a great time at Cascade Raft & Kayak!

Ryan was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. When he’s not rafting or kayaking in the summer, he enjoys skiing, playing rugby and soccer, and being an active member of student council. Ryan has been on the river his his whole life when his dad taught him how to raft and kayak at a young age. This will be his first year working at Cascade; however, he was taught how to kayak well by Cascade Raft and Kayak. His favorite part about rafting is doing something he loves, and sharing it with other people. In his free time, he likes to mountain bike, run and explore. He started intramurals at Timberline High School, was captain of his soccer team, and rugby team at Timberline. In the fall he plans on attending the University of Utah, where he will major in Computer Science. Eventually, he wants to start his own business in cyber security.

Sophia is from a small town called Portola, California. When she is not on the river she is attending Feather River College pursuing her passion in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. She will graduate in one year, and after graduation she plans on traveling for a year or so and eventually going to a University. The program at FRC introduced her to a variety of recreation activities, including rafting, and she is honored to have the opportunity to work at Cascade Raft & Kayak for her first year raft guiding! The river, rafting, and kayaking all have a special place in her heart for countless reasons, but one of her favorites, besides the thrill and excitement, would have to be the view and surroundings you are fortunate enough to see when you are on the river. In her free time you could catch her rock climbing, hiking, riding her bike, or playing her guitar.

Derek was born in Missouri and spent 21 years there. He started his river career through canoeing around his hometown of Cameron. Since then, stints in Colorado and Australia have preceded his first experiences in Idaho. Today, sitting at his parents’ house enjoying a couple weeks downtime he writes this piece. He thinks of travelling as a large facet of life. The last 3 years have been full of adventures: such as viewing a Balinese sunset atop Mount Batur, skiing all over Colorado, and seeing the tallest waterfall in Australia from fifteen meters away. Now, the next chapter of stories and people and places in Idaho begin. He hopes to see you on the Payette!

Dylan is from the beautiful little mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He was initially introduced to kayaking at the young spry age of two by his incredible, adventurous parents. This first ride down the river involved a lot of screaming and very little paddling, but he immediately fell in love and has been paddling nonstop ever since. In the offseason, Dylan goes to school at the University of Vermont, where he is the President of the University of Vermont Kayak Club. What he loves most about rafting and kayaking are the incredible friendships and experiences that are formed on the river. Dylan also loves music and plays the Tuba in the University of Vermont Concert Band while at school. In the future, he would love to guide in South America over the winter and eventually would like to go to grad school for Outdoor Education. A fun fact about Dylan is he a double toe on his left foot. Dylan is super excited to explore the amazing rivers and landscapes of Idaho with all of you this season!

Originally from Southern California, Shane’s love for the river came about after joining the Outdoor Recreation Leadership program at Feather River College in 2016. This is Shane’s first year guiding with Cascade and his first summer outside of California! Other than riding wave trains, Shane’s favorite part of rafting is meeting new people and sharing an amazing experience with them. When he is not rafting or kayaking, Shane can be found rock climbing, mountain biking, riding moto, or skiing. In the fall, Shane is transferring to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in English and work for the school’s Outdoor Pursuits program.

Local boy, Sean, is from Boise! With his father he attended a weekend kayaking class with Cascade Raft & Kayak for his 17th birthday. Two days on the river got him hooked and the next year he joined the staff. That was 11 years ago.  During his tenure, Sean has enjoyed the places rafting and kayaking have taken him and the people he has met along the way especially his wife, Erin, whom he married in 2016.  He graduated from the University of San Diego in 2011 with a degree in Biology and is planning to start physical therapy school in the fall. He hopes to specialize in rehab and prevention of sports-related injuries. Sean’s other interests include skiing, backpacking, climbing, soccer, and traveling. If you think Sean looks familiar, it might be because he is in the photo featured on the case of Payette Brewing’s High Side American Wheat Ale.[/amoteam_text]