Our guides are professional boatmen who have acquired a thorough knowledge of the history of the mountain west. Sharing their perspective will add a meaningful dimension to this memorable adventure. The more you learn of the rivers and mountains; the more familiar you become with the wildflowers, birds, and animals; the more you can relive the history of the pioneer era; in short, the more fully you can project yourself into the yesterdays of the Salmon River country, the more you will delight in finding a portion of that past alive today.

Wayne Johnson, former partner/manager of Barker-Ewing Idaho, and now owner of Salmon River Rafting Company, graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1969. Wayne began floating the Snake River in 1967, and has run the Grand Canyon and Cataract Canyon of the Colorado, the Green, the Gunnison, the Selway, various portions of the Snake in both Wyoming and Idaho, including Hells Canyon, the Middle Fork of the Salmon, various sections of the Platte River in Wyoming, and the James River in Virginia. He has forty-two years experience as a professional river guide, twenty-eight of which are on the Main Salmon. Wayne is an amateur historian specializing in Grand Teton National Park and, of course, the Main Salmon.

Steve Gale, with several prior years river experience, began working with us in 1984. A school teacher in Shelley, Idaho, Steve graduated from Brigham Young University. He teaches English, Spanish and forensics, and is completing a Masters program in Education Administration. Steve has run the Colorado, Yampa, Green, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Hells Canyon of the Snake, the Lower Salmon and the Main Salmon. With a strong interest in public speaking he frequently competes in Toastmasters competitions.

Megan Gale Holbrook is our first second generation guide having accompanied her father, Steve, on river trips since she was 7 years old. ÊMegan graduated from Idaho State University with honors and a degree in Mass Communication. After completing her massters in communication studies at the University of Montana Megan accepted a position with the State of Idaho but still finds time for an occassional trip on the Salmon. ÊHer interest in art and creative talent has resulted in exhibitions in several regional shows. ÊMegan joined us in 2004 and has run the Payette, Middle Fork, and the Main Salmon Rivers.

Doran Bricker transferred from the University of Alaska to pursue a wildlife management degree at Iowa State University. His river career began as a Forest Service River Patrol Ranger and progressed to guiding for a number of Salmon River outfitters. He came to us in 1987 and alternates his river time between floating and jet boating steelhead fishermen in the spring and fall. Doran's river experience includes Hells Canyon of the Snake, the Rio Grande and Chama Rivers in New Mexico, the Middle Fork of the Salmon, the North Platte in Wyoming and Colorado, the Selway, and the Main Salmon.

Bill Guheen began floating on the Snake River in Wyoming some thirty years ago and is now the river manager for Grand Teton Lodge Company in Grand Teton National Park. Bill graduated from Saint Mary’s with a degree in psychology, and has run various portions of the Colorado, the Yampa, the Green, Hells Canyon of the Snake, and the Main Salmon. He primarily works with us on the Spring Wildlife trips prior to the onset of his river trip management responsibilities in Wyoming.

Nick Baird graduated with honors from Colorado State University with a degree in Microbiology, and recently completed his doctorate at ÊPenn State in virology and immunization. ÊNick worked summers with us as a "swamper" while still in high school, four more summers as a guide during his undergraduate college years, and now returns to the Salmon occasionally as his research obligations at the University of Montana permits. He has run both the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers.