David Dennis
Professional River Guide
Nickname
Triple D, Big Wave Dave
Where did you grow up?
Florida
Where do you call home now?
California
Year started at OARS?
2017
What’s the best part of your job?
Getting to spend all summer sharing amazing river canyons with folks from all across the country. Getting to sleep on a boat under the stars. Getting to cook good food for good people and have fun doing it. Getting to work alongside amazing people!
Tell us about your favorite rapid, hike or camp and what makes it special.
Rippling Brook. Either camp is awesome, the hike is fun, and it just feels like one of the most magical parts of Lodore Canyon.
Do you have a lucky charm or special river tradition?
I scoop up a helmet full of river water and douse my head with it before pushing my boat off. Every single time.
What can you not live without on a trip?
Books of poetry in my ammo can library.
Fun fact, special talent or favorite guiding memory.
It’s always special to run down these canyons, but every time I get to do it in inclement weather it always feels extra special. I’ve now been in Lodore in thunderstorms, crazy wind, rain, blizzards (yes!), and everything in between. This past season we got snowed on while we were boating and watching the desert canyon of Lodore get transformed into a snowy winter canyon for a few days was magical.
About me…
I’m fluent in Arabic, I love to read/write, and I love to backcountry ski as much as possible. Winter in the mountains is magical–maybe my favorite season of them all.