The OARS Team
Professional Outdoor Guides and Adventure Experts
“As OARS guides we are the luckiest people on Earth. We not only get to “live” in some of the most beautiful places on this planet, even better, we get to expose and interpret the secrets of these fantastic rivers to OARS’ clients. It’s better than being a pinch-hit delivery boy for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. A great byproduct of all this is being able to awaken people to the urgent need to take part in defending these vanishing or threatened river canyons. Only by working together can we protect them for the future.” ~ Michael P. Ghiglieri
The OARS Family includes more than 300 talented guides and employees. Not all are included here.
Filter the Team:
Ally Klaes
Professional Guide
Alyssa Schaffer
Professional Guide
Amanda Willis
Main Office
Andre Potochnik
Professional Guide
Andrew Goetting
Professional Guide
Andy Hutchinson
Professional Guide
Ashley Brown
Professional Guide
Ashley Sozzi
Main Office
Austen Verdugo
Professional Guide
Ben Kardas
Professional Guide
Blessed Ndlovu
Professional Guide
Bram Role
Professional Guide
Bridget Sidwell
Professional Guide
Bruce Keller
Professional Guide
Bruce Lavoie
Regional Manager
Cari Morgan
Main Office
Carly Boyden
Professional Guide
Carrie Aronson
Main Office
Chris Moore
Regional Manager
Christopher McIver
Professional Guide
Cindell Dale
Professional Guide
Clavey Wendt
Main Office
Cliff Ghiglieri
Professional Guide
Collin Page
Professional Guide
Cortney Bayuk
Professional Guide
Curt Chang
Regional Manager
Dakota Goodman
Professional Guide
Dana Dickinson
Professional Guide
Dave Garcia
Professional Guide
Dave Holmberg
Professional Guide
David Dennis
Professional Guide
Debbie Howard
Main Office
Doug Nechodom
Professional Guide
Emily Lewis
Professional Guide
Eric Hudelson
Professional Guide
Eric Sjoden
Professional Guide
Erick Larson
Professional Guide
Evan Basinger
Professional Guide
Evan Olson
Main Office
Garret Thomason
Professional Guide
Gena Moore Hudelson
Professional Guide
Gordon Verdugo
Professional Guide
Hannah Stevens
Professional Guide
Hillary Mosman
Assistant Manager
Hunter Holtrop
Professional Guide
Jeff Berkey
Professional Guide
Jess Wallstrom
Regional Manager
Jim Grantland
Professional Guide
Jimmy Fulmer
Professional Guide
Jose Langarica
Professional Guide
Josh Spradlin
Professional Guide
Kate Wollney
Regional Manager
Katy Stevens
Main Office
Kelby Ankerson
Professional Guide
Kersten Schnurle
Professional Guide
Lars Haarr
Regional Manager
Laura Beutelman
Professional Guide
Lauren McCullough
Professional Guide
Lauren Petersen
Professional Guide
Lee Bassett
Professional Guide
Lew Steiger
Professional Guide
Lindsey Ferrini
Professional Guide
Lindsey Mersereau
Professional Guide
Madalyn Rainey
Professional Guide
Madalyn Russell
Professional Guide
Madeline Friend
Professional Guide
Mariah Hibarger
Professional Guide
Mark James
Professional Guide
Matt Haberman
Professional Guide
Matt House
Professional Guide
Matt Zeugin
Main Office
Michael Fabry
Professional Guide
Michael P Ghiglieri, PHD
Professional Guide
Mike Kiddy
Assistant Manager
Miller Scott
Professional Guide
Mindy Gleason
Main Office
Nick Grimes
Assistant Manager
Nicole Smedegaard
Professional Guide
Peter Lefebvre
Professional Guide
Rachael Moffatt
Professional Guide
Rachel Tigges
Professional Guide
Rio Hibarger
Professional Guide
Robin Ruckhaus
Professional Guide
Roger Dale
Professional Guide
Rondo Buecheler
Professional Guide
Rose Triolo
Professional Guide
Russell Haussermann
Professional Guide
Russell Schubert
Professional Guide
Sarah Mallory
Professional Guide
Scott Cragun
Professional Guide
Sean Sorrin
Professional Guide
Seneca Kristjonsdottir
Professional Guide
Seth Davis
Regional Manager
Sherry Parkey
Main Office
Steve Heerema
Professional Guide
Steve Markle
Main Office
Tanner Abare
Professional Guide
Tom Patoff
Main Office
Tom Rylands
Professional Guide
Tony Ezell
Professional Guide
Tony Gower
Main Office
Travis Hale
Professional Guide
Tyler Wendt
Main Office
Zachary Williams
Professional Guide
Zack Horowitz
Professional Guide
“I am not sure people realize that River Guides are so much more than your guide to The River. They are poets and writers, cooks and musicians. They are scholars and scientists. They are your cheerleaders when you are going on a tough hike and they are your caretakers if you get an injury. They listen to your stories even if they suck and they let the Canyon speak for itself when you are just floating in awe and silence.” – Trisha Fortuna & Jason McVearry
“I did not realize how controlling the raft was just a fraction of their [the guides] duties. They were entertainers, historians, geologists, botanists, chefs, medics and more. They entire crew was SUPERIOR!!!” – Craig Sellers, Golden, CO
“Awesome job! Thanks for enjoying your jobs as much as you do. Without the guides there would be no OARS” – Kathryn McPherson, Lake Elsinore, CA
“All the guides were superb. They really must be the elite on the river.” – Sarah and Bill Bordac, Los Angeles, CA
“I continue to be impressed with the quality of your staff. Every member of the crew was first rate, both personally and professionally. That they were expert boat handlers almost goes without saying. Their concern for safety as well as attention to individual personal problems and desires is remarkable.” – Frank T. Gutmann, Exeter, NH
“The relaxed yet professional way the guides handled everything from the first evening’s meeting to the last “Thank you for boating with us” was wonderful; I never ever imagined being treated so well on a river trip.” – Dave McDanel, Reynoldsburg, MA
“The boatmen/women added so much to our experience — very qualified, friendly, accommodating, excellent hiking guides, very knowledgeable about the geology/geography of the canyon, excellent story-tellers, great chefs — their qualifications are endless!” – Nancy Lohnes, Quartz Hill, CA