Camilo Montaño

About me

H2Snow is a lifestyle of adventure and family that includes rivers and mountains. Marillia, my life partner, and our son Paulo are my greatest joy in life. Lila and I love watching our boy Paulo play the great American sport of baseball and wrestle when we are not on our own H2Snow adventures.

The Best Part of My Job

I love working with the other OARS Idaho river guides and being part of the boating communities of Lewiston and Salmon, and basically living in the Frack Church Wilderness, Idaho, my second home. I love meeting and boating with clients from all over the country and world and introducing them to the life and energy of Idaho rivers and mountains.

How I found OARS

A great man named Curt Chang replied to my response from the application pile and gave me a great opportunity to boat in Idaho on legendary rivers. I emailed and called and bugged Curt, and he told me to be ready for a training trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. I showed up and had no idea about Idaho rivers. My life changed forever, and I was hooked and have returned summer after summer.

My Favorite Spot on the River/Outdoors

My favorite river trip is the Middle Fork Salmon Hiking trip, launched every June 6th. Every rapid is big, fun, amazing, frothy whitewater, with nights spent at beautiful scenic camps and epic mountain hikes. The energy and restoration, as a human being working in the world of education, the Middle Fork Salmon Hiker trip provides that restoration to my soul to continue to work on being the best partner, father, teacher, and river guide year after year.

My Favorite Trip Memory

Every OARS Idaho trip provides great river-living memories. The most recent great memory for me was on a hike on the Middle Fork in Impassable Canyon at an area known as Vail Falls. Amazing and talented guide, Bridie, hiked up their guitar to the falls in a huge metamorphic gneiss cathedral with amazing acoustics and played wonderful melodic music for clients and guides alike. Vail Falls, the sun was shining, and birds sang along. Guides and clients were all so present in the magic of what the Middle Fork provides and lived every second of every minute of time and connectedness.

Favorite River Tradition

Riding the raft down the Middle Fork launch ramp. If you know, you know.

I Can’t Live Without

WATER!

My Fun Fact

In the world of education, people are surprised to find out that my summer job is working as a professional whitewater guide. I will be entering my 19th year with Idaho OARS this season; overall, this will be my 26th season working on rivers in the West.