Guides Gossip

I am excited to be headed to Thailand for November, not excited that the rivers will soon be frozen, but excited that snow will soon be here. Married life is good, and NO, kids are not on the way.

Jacqueline Hutchison

Enjoying Canmore Fire/EMS work and the my dog walking business. Looking forward to travels in the spring with my family on the Mekong River and Laos and Cambodia.

Alaina Robertson

This past July, I went back to the Nahanni and reaquainted myself with the river and some old friends. Since then I've moved into Peterborough and continue to teach at Lakefield College School. The plan for next summer is to take some of my studetns to the North and travel down the Wind River. I'm looking forward to another great year full of adventure. Let the fun begin!!

Bruce Kirby

This summer, my two young sons - Bodi (4) and Taj (10 months) - insisted I take them to the Republic of Georgia, so instead of the annual pilgrimage to a northern river, we flew to T'Bilisi, managed to avoid the kidnappers we had been so frequently warned of, bought a horse, and headed into the glorious but little known valleys of the Caucasus Mountains. Along the way, a viscous sheep dog adopted our group, protecting us against drunk shepherds, and howling at anything bumped in the night. We survived off the generosity of the the local farmers, buying bread, cheese and honey by the litre. By late August, we had walked almost 500 km, reached the Chechen border, and decided it was time to come home and watch Mighty Machines. They are already planning next summer; and I have told them "anything", as long as I have time to guide at least one river trip!

Brad Kooy

I am still working in Edmonton busy tinkering and designing as a mechanical engineer and using as much of my vacation time as possible to get on the water. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do a trip up north this past summer, but I was able to sneak away from the office for a 9 day whitewater kayaking trip in BC. While the rivers we paddled didn't have the beauty and serenity of their northern counterparts, they made up for it with km's of fantastic whitewater! With the season over; I'm dreaming of fresh tracks and powder turns and maybe an expedition or two down the mighty Tat or the Nahanni next summer.

Diane Gribbin & Sean Collins

Hello River people! We are on the “home stretch” of finishing our recycled off the grid cordwood masonry house in the forest. The final steps are taking place like planting out our living roof, and lime hemp plastering the interior walls using spices, minerals, and earth pigments for colour. With the solar panels amazing us with their power we have joined the present century and now have hot running water and electricity! Our yurt has now become the guest house and we get to enjoy the home we literally built one piece of firewood at a time by hand on weekends with the help of family and many many dear friends. Thanks to all. What a journey!

We have had time this paddling season to explore new rivers in Quebec and Ontario. Tripping together in Spring and Summer and Sean had the chance to go on a longer white water trip with friends in Northern Quebec, while I returned North to Guide a trip on the Nahanni for the Canadian Tourism Commission. It felt so great to return to my other home! Stay warm this winter, we will with our 16 inch walls!
Check out our journey:
http://www.web.net/~kcollins/House/player.html

Melanie Siebert

Melanie just returned from guiding a beautiful trip down the Thelon (lots of blue skies, tailwinds and good swimming holes) and is getting settled back into the school routine, teaching creative writing at the University of Victoria. She also facilitates writing and art groups at the psychiatric day hospital. This past summer she edited a book of creative work by people in recovery. The final edits were done in the wee hours of the morning before flying in to the Nahanni. Happily, Russ and Geoff Courtnall, two of Victoria's NHL stars of the past, and Ron McLean, featured the book at the Courtnall Celebrity Classic where they raised almost a million dollars for mental health services that are so desperately needed here and everywhere. Melanie's very excited to be reading at the Vancouver International Writer's Festival in October. And she's happy it's only a 20 minute bike ride to the docks where she can pop her boat in the water and paddle the Juan de Fuca. "If you're dropping by the Island," she says, "call me for a paddle...and a coffee and Bailey's!"

Editors note – Melanie is too modest to mention that her book of poetry Deepwater Vee was nominated for the Governor Generals Poetry Award

Mark Kyte

2011 has been another exciting year. My wife Katie and are still living and teaching in Kingston, Ontario. This past summer was very busy and adventure-filled. Katie and I worked at Gould Lake Outdoor School - an Outdoor Education Centre sponsored by the Limestone District School Board - for a few weeks in July. We also traveled to Cape Breton and were able to surf, visit family, and explore the Cabot Trail. The highlight of the year was traveling down the Nahanni with both my father and father-in-law. It was a perfect trip, with fabulous weather, great company and spectacular scenery.

Les Parsons

Last year, on the Thelon River as our arriving guests climbed out of the float plane, I was suprised to see return guest Mary Jean Duncan and Michael Bell step ashore onto the bank, and, especially surprised to be introduced to their 20 year old daughter Stephi who was not yet born the first time Mary Jean & Michael paddled down the Nahanni River with me in 1988!

To Les's past guests who have lost touch, contact Les at his new email address: lesparsonsgreen@yahoo.ca

Haley Elzen

As per usual, I missed being up North this summer and felt the nostalgia stronger this spring than I have in the past. I spent summer back in Golden working 7 days a week, rafting on the kicking horse and working at the bike park. I spent my spare evenings riding XC around the Golden area. The summer was a much needed break from school to rejuvenate my soul. This September I've started my final year of nursing school, and will continue to struggle my way through the program until late July 2012. Not sure where nursing will take me but I'm hoping to return to the mountains, or return to the North!

Tyler Dinsdale

The last update you got from me was November 26th 2010, when our little man Logan was born, it is now September 29th 2011 and a lot has happened, I'll try to keep it brief.

Last winter was a great one with lots of snow, I did a bit of dog sled time, racing dog's from my neighbour's Iditarod team with him in Montana, then doing a winter expedition on the Bowron Chain of Lakes, CRE Guide (BIG) Tyler Garnham was a photographer on that trip and you may see an article on it in Explore magazine if you keep your eyes open.

In April we took Logan out for his first over night ski trip, at four and a half months I'm not sure how much he'll remember. Julie and I figured out pretty quickly that maternity leave is pretty cool and that a baby is pretty portable so set our sights on a bit of traveling around. We spent a week and a half in Mexico shaking off the last of winter and did a bit of road tripping around BC and Alberta.

Whenever I had the chance I picked away at the house we are building as well, pesky thing won't build itself. When July rolled around I was excited to head back up to the Yukon and this year do two awesome trips down the Tatshenshini. I had not been on the Tat since 2007, and it was amazing to see the subtle and not so subtle changes that have taken place there. As always on these journeys, I was surrounded by great people who helped to make every day the best day ever, with the scenery and experiences that the river provided, it wasn't that hard a task. Tyler and Logan

When my river time was up, Julie, Logan, Callie the dog and I spent the next month road tripping up to Inuvik, around Alaska and back to BC. I managed to squeeze in a bit of rafting and kayaking down in BC, but the season seems to be drawing to a close. Now the little man is getting mobile and the mat leave is almost over, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling off the trees. We have one more canoe trip planned before we start to think about snow and ice and all that wintery stuff, I know I will be savouring every moment on the water, cause it will be a long time before the Northern rivers break up, start to flow and welcome us back next year.

Tyler, Julie, Logan, and Callie the dog

Travis Finlayson

So here is a family pic:
This is Blaze CJ finlayson who is now 4 m old
and River TRA finlayson who is 3 years old now.

We are still in Vermilion, and I'm still working at the college.
We are awaiting winter so we can turn out paddles in for our skies and hit the mountains.

Travis

Alana Martinson

This summer I took some time off of guiding to finish my Registered Nursing Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta. I did my practicum at the Edmonton U of A Emergency Department, which gave me an opportunity to see some interesting cases and get some great beginning experience! After completion of my program in August I headed to the Yukon to do a personal trip on the Big Salmon River, then assisted in leading a backpacking trip and a canoeing/moose hunt on the Pelly River with the Porter Creek School in Whitehorse. I'm not sure what the next phase of my life holds, but the opportunities are exciting. Hope to see you on the river again soon!

Chris Ford

[2008] Chris is off on his honeymoon with Alison in the Grand Canyon! Congratulations to both of them!

Kaj Johnson

Kaj is back home in Camrose for the fall getting in as much paddling as possible before the ice arrives. He is also eagerly awaiting the official invite from the RCMP to begin training at Depot in Regina, SK.

Kevin Brigadyr

[2008] I just moved to Vermillion, Alberta this past year and have had the pleasure of teaching at the same college as Travis (yes, we get to spend everyday together!). I spend my free time cross country skiing on the trails of Vermillion Park, with my son Jackson in tow. My daughter, Zoe, is already getting ready to go to Kindergarten in the fall. My kids are growing up fast!

Alan Christie

Hi folks, I can't believe I've been working for over 4 years now in Hamilton, Ontario, as paramedic with the city.
This working full-time is good for the bank but interferes with my trips up north. I still manage to squeeze the odd trip in, had a truly amazing trip this past summer down the Alsek with my wee brother and his wee'er wife and some other great friends, lots of ice and grizzlies! Decided this spring that if I am going to stay in southern Ontario for the next few years then its time to make use of that big body of water I've lived so close to since moving over from Scotland. I dove in head first and bought a 32ft sail boat, which I am now living aboard. Never been been on a sail boat before but always wanted to learn to sail, it's been great fun so far. That might change after my first winter onboard though, I'm planning to keep it in the water and enjoy a warm and toasty winter in the exotic locale of Hamilton harbour. Should be very interesting. Then there will always be time for a trip up north next summer.

Lara Fenton

Hi folks! Thanks for a great season to those of you I was lucky enough to spend time with on the Nahanni and Burnside! The fall brings me back to school - collecting data for my PhD and teaching at the University of Alberta - and also back to playing hockey! I am looking forward to a winter of outdoor hockey and cross country skiing!

Mike Neville

The Alsek - I could not stop thinking of it for years and while it waited on the other side of the range from the Tatshenshini. The stories of Turnback Canyon and the explosive whitewater of Lava North lured me in for a closer look. I was in awe and loved everyday of each trip. However, the dream life of northern rivers trips ended promply at the end of August and I instantly thought of next season. The winter months should bring a variety of outdoor pursuits as well as a pile of school work but that does not mean that there is no time to get out and enjoy some great maritime music that Nova Scotia is famous for. Thanks for the season! I hope everyone is well!!

Liz Demers

I have just arrived in Canmore after having to make a torturous decision of whether to live in Canmore, Yellowknife or Whitehorse. Canmore won for this season....but the north beckons and I can see it winning out in the long run. I am working in the ER and various other units at the Canmore hospital. I am learning a ton and working with amazing people. In between shifts and moving I am managing to sneak in a few canoe trips, mountain biking and hiking days and hopefully some climbing days here soon to try to squeeze every last drop out of summer! But don't worry - when winter comes I will be ready for that too - the nordic center has promised snow by October 15 so I wait with great anticipation! I am eager to get involved in the Canmore community and hope to join the Canmore Fire and Rescue Team. As for upcoming plans, I am hoping to go overseas to do some expedition nursing (and of course expedition travelling, would like to do some adventure training and triathlons in the early season and then migrate back up North for the summer. See you there!!
Liz

Maya March

After an incredible summer travelling in every northern territory- Alaska to Nunavut in one season, I am back at McMaster University working towards a second degree in Earth Sciences- Hydrology and Watershed Management. I am also involved in an exciting project to create the largest urban protected area in the world, centring on Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment..

Doug Reese

Been doing lots of travel. Cuba for a music trip, Italy by Ducati with music thrown in, Utah for family and hiking and Vancouver Island on my own Ducati. Lovely year so far. Heading to Mexico and Arizona next week. Looking to retire from the fire department and continue my career in Guiding next summer. I still love playing basketball. It is a joy for me to visit with the my guiding friends like Gribben and Collins. Hope that's enough. If not check facebook.

Selena Cordeau

Last summer was speckled with extreme events; high floods on the Nahanni river and blazing hot beach parties on the Tatshenshini-Alsek rivers! This mixed up weather didn't prevent lots of costuming and special moments in these majestic landscapes. As if the summer was not filled enough with glaciers, i have now migrated north to Sweden for one year studying Glaciology and Cold Climates. In between ski trips to Lappland and Norway, inspiring daily life in Scandinavia, i am still pursuing glacier monitoring projects in the Canadian Rockies, funded by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Also looking forward to a ski expedition in the Arctic this spring.

Thinking of you guys from the summer will keep me warm through this journey into the cold! Stay cool.

Chloe Steepe and Rob Vance

We're married!! After 9 years of adventure, we got hitched this September in a small ceremony on the Vance family cottage dock on Lake of Bays in Muskoka, Ontario. Instead of walking down the isle, Chloe soloed a cedar strip canoe to meet her future husband on the dock. NRA/CRE guides in attendance included Jeff Siddle and Alaina Robertson.

Although we've tied the knot, by no means have we been tied down. We had an incredible summer of guiding on the Nahanni, Mountain and Tatshenshini Rivers. This past year, Rob has been travelling across Canada teaching Wilderness Medicine, Swift Water and Ice Rescue courses for Wilderness Medical Associates and Raven Rescue. Chloe has been busy continuing her work as Executive Director of her non-profit organization Connected in Motion and working part-time with Buff Canada.

We've been calling Canmore, AB home since last November. When we're not guiding, teaching or travelling, we've been taking full advantage of the outdoor opportunities and activities in our new backyard.

Trish Duncan, Royce Casford, Cohen and Tessa Casford.

We've been busy with the two scallywags and working on the fixer upper house we own. The kids are doing great and lots of fun. Tessa is turning one at the end of September and we've just nicknamed her the "wrecking ball". There is nothing more fun than to demolish that which your brother has diligently built! She has been walking since 10 months and is now pretty much on the run. Cohen is now 3 and loves all sports. He even went rafting with mom and was a super paddler. One of the highlights of the summer was camping at Magic Canyon with Tyler Dinsdale and family.

Hope everyone is healthy and happy. We do hope to return to the northern rivers again soon, we truly miss it. As I write this, Royce is safety kayaking on the Elaho river, so we still get out a bit. Nevertheless nothing beats floating down the river for two weeks in good company, surrounded by the most spectacular scenery in North America.

Smiles and hugs,
Trish, Royce, Cohen, Tessa and Dutchie the dog

Jeff Siddle

Here's a little gossip from the world of Jeff Siddle to wet your whistle! In the past year I have had 3 kids, bought a camper Van then ran away with Less and Neil to join the Alaskan Circus as a Choreographer for the dancing Polar Bears!!!....Ok, you got me, I didn't buy a van!

Besides all that, It has been an amazing year full of challenge and change down in the Bow Valley. In the fall of 2010 I moved to Canmore to start work at a wilderness therapy company for youth with addictions. In my role as a Youth and Family Support Worker I support clients and their families in their difficult and heroic journey through treatment. In addition I have the privilege of taking the clients on therapeutically intentional wilderness experiences throughout Alberta. It is a powerful program full of struggle and reward that I feel honored to be a part of.

Shortly after moving to Canmore I was joined by Mr. & Mrs. Rob and Chloe Vance!!! It has been such a treat exploring the Rockies with them and sharing many delicious meals together (often inspired by the Nahanni cook book!) We can often be found bouncing down the ski hills, marching up the mountains, or sharing a laugh by a camp fire, so if you are going to be around Canmore keep your eyes and ears open we might not be far away!

I hope the year has been good to all of you and your families, and I look forward to seeing you all again up in in the beautiful Canadian North!
All the best and happy travels!

Tyler Garnham

Well this year brought a little bit of everything.
Keaton is 3 years old!

My second boy (Halen) was born on May.16. A little too shortly after that I found myself on the Firth then Alsek rivers for an amazing guiding season with Whitey, Rhodes and the Tornado.

Unfortunately upon my return from the North my Father's battle with cancer took a turn for the worse and we lost him in August.
In happier news, my oldest turns three today as I write this update.
Hope this finds you all well and I look forward to another great season in the North.

Rob Warburton

Another year has gone by and much of that is due to the summer seeming to simply vanish! I was lucky to do two trips this year on the Nahanni River. On the first trip of the season I guided with Rob Vance in June. We were gifted with having amazing weather and almost a week of solid sunshine.

The second trip was a particularily special one for me as I was finally able to share this amazing river with my partner Sarah after years of Nahanni stories. It also seemed a great place to ask her to marry me and to my suprise she said yes!...and then it rained hard for 2 days and the river flooded higher than I've seen in 7 years!! If that isnt't love then I dont know what is:) This fall I bought a house and started planning our wedding but I promise I will see you out there next summer on another northern river.

Morten Asfeldt and Krystal Shirley

I am still working at Augustana Faculty (now part of the University of Alberta) in Camrose teaching outdoor education and leadership. Our kids, Jasper and Kaisa, are now 9 and 6 and we are going on longer and longer bikes rides, ski trips, and hiking trips and on a recent canoe trip Jasper and Kaisa demanded that they paddle a canoe together; it was a surprising and proud moment as Jasper sterned the canoe in a straighter line than either Krystal or I have ever seen Neil pull off. In June I did a canoe trip with my class from the north end of Artillery Lake over Pike's Portage and along the north shore of Great Slave Lake. There was more ice than water; we pulled our canoes over ice for 95 kms–it was a great adventure.

Lars Hartling

I am working hard this fall to save up and travel through the winter. I am planning to get some good ski touring turns in the deep B.C. powder for the first part for the winter. Then I will head over to Europe with a nice stop-over in Iceland. Once in the Alps I will break out the skis and become a snow snob, comparing the powder of BC to Europe! I plan to return north for another great guiding summer of good fun and great memories. Yahoo!
Lars Hartling

Dave "Whitey" Evans

After another amazing season on the Firth River, I returned to my fishing lodge in BC for a great steelhead season, but first I married my partner Melissa. Winter finds me on the National Geographic Expedition Great White, where I am the scientific assistant and shark tagger (wrestler). Watch for it on TV. Between trips I squeeze in some skiing and rescue instruction. Can’t wait to get back to the Firth!
Dave Evans

Chad Gennings

I had a great summer seeing two places new to me - the Burnside and Wind Rivers. Both were beautiful; I would be hard pressed to choose between these two very different rivers. The summer ended with a road trip through Yellowstone Park with my dad. I plan to try and drag the summer out as long as possible by heading to Utah for one last river trip for the year. After that it will be time to spend some time at home in Golden and work in the office for a while. My winter plans are still unfolding with some fun ski touring trips planned for 2012.
Chad Gennings

Keri Rutherford

I am currently working as the Operations Coordinator for the Arctic Winter Games that are being hosted here in Whitehorse March 2012. Although I missed being on the river, I had a great summer hanging around Whitehorse doing lots of biking, water kiting and paddling. A group of us did a personal trip on the Firth River and it was absolutely spectatcular. The Firth is a river that everyone must see!!! I currently got back from a successful moose hunting trip with Thane here in the Yukon so we should have enough meat for the winter! Looking forward to a great winter in the Yukon full of adventure!
Keri

Christopher Rhodes

After two outstanding Alsek trips - my favourite Northern river so far - I had the good fortune of running the Hart river in the Peel watershed with my girlfriend Sarika and her family. As we floated through the confluence of the Hart and Peel rivers, I got down on one knee (which is hard to do while guiding a raft) and popped the question. Initially Sarika thought I was joking. After a few tense seconds, once she saw that I was indeed not kidding, she said yes! Very exciting stuff.

The coming year will be spent mostly in England with Sarika, with a few side trips around Europe and some rafting and kayaking Nepal and Chile respectively.
Chris

Andrea Mikus

The past few seasons have found me sunburnt and scouting the rapids of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, dreaming about icebergs and the cool northern air! In winter, I am available for powder laps out of Nelson, BC where I work as a ski patroller. Otherwise, I'm just another girl with a truck and a dog!!
Andrea Mikus

Jamie and Nadine Burdon

Nadine and I were so thrilled to have spent half of this past summer up north on the Mountain River and the Nahanni. What made both trips were the amazing guests we were able to share the experiences with. Thank you to all who joined us. I’m busy up to my teaching school, while Nadine is equally busy working at an outdoor education centre just east of Sherwood Park and processing thousands of images from various photo shoots we did in August and September. Frankly, I don’t know how she does it. We are both wishing everyone a fantastic winter and look forward to crossing paths again.

Jim Muir

Trish and I have had a great year starting out the year trekking in Nepal and Bhutan for six weeks. Then spent the winter ski patrolling and doing finish carpentry. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to guide a trip this summer for the first time in over thirty years but as a consolation did a great private canoe trip on the spectacular Wind River. I finished the summer with lots of hiking and a slalom canoe race where I finished first overall, placing in the top three of solo, men's and mixed tandem. Looking forward to getting back up north next summer.

Brett Pawlyk

I am currently guiding with HeLa Ventures in Rocky Mountain House, AB, www.helaventures.com, until the end of October. Sometimes we get snow storms but it keeps us well versed in the art of preventing and treating hypothermia. I am planning on going back to Patagonia for 2 months to explore that awesome wilderness some more and fulfilling a promise I made to myself 7 years ago to go back. The rest of the time I plan on relaxing, skiing and doing whatever I feel like at the time until work starts up in April again. It sure is nice having the Rockies in your back yard. As for my future plans, I do not plan on getting married or having kids because my life is great right now. I can do what I want, when I want and it feels great!!! Take care everyone and get out there and enjoy the wilderness!

Jamie VanDrunen

I am currently back in Golden, enjoying biking, hiking, trail running and dreaming of the amazing moments had on the Nahanni and Ram Plateau this past summer.

Planning on doing a few BC rivers in the month of Oct (brr brr) but the fall colors are stunning. Soon I will be back on the slopes of Kicking Horse working as a patroller, so bring on the pow pow! Also I have a heli ski trip to look forward to this upcoming season! All in all I think I have been a very lucky girl this past year and already looking forward to paddling up north again next season!

Roger and Linda Estey

Still running rivers but not actively guiding. I am now a Station Captain but looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life as I will soon be retiring from the Edmonton fire department after 30 years of service. Linda and I are planning on selling our house in Edmonton soon and doing some travelling. Yes Linda has somehow managed to put up with me for 32 years but has gotten a little more personal space recently by paddling her own white water kayak. There are some dream rivers on the bucket list and at the top is a month long trip down the Nahanni. We’re on a budget so we plan on couch surfing our way around the world relying on the hospitality of all the folks we’ve met guiding for Neil…
be seeing you soon.

Martha and Rod Taylor

Recently we made a huge decision: Uncommon Journeys (UJ) is closing down our winter trips at the beginning of October. It has been a fantastic business and lifestyle for the past 15 years, but new endeavors we are involved in are making it difficult to dedicate the time and resources required to run UJ effectively. Over the past few years, in addition to Uncommon Journeys, Rod has been developing Waste to Energy Canada (WTEC), a sustainable energy company based in British Columbia. The company has generated tremendous interest, and it has become a full time job. This decision has not been made lightly as dogsledding has been such an integral part of our lives. Uncommon Journeys has not only been our place of business, it is our home and as such, we have chosen not to sell. We will be staying on our property in the Ibex Valley just outside of Whitehorse.

Because of this change, we are actively seeking new homes for several of our Alaskan Huskies (up to age 7) while our older ones will stay with us for retirement. We have both intact and altered males and females from great bloodlines and the majority of them have spent time up front leading our tourism teams. Our dogs are well socialized and would make ideal additions to any recreational dogsled team or family looking for a skijoring or hiking companion. In the past they have also proven that they adapt well to life as a pet. We have several dogs living all over North America and the UK with past guests and staff of Uncommon Journeys. We are happy to adopt the dogs to loving homes free of charge. If you are interested in learning more about these dogs, please feel free to contact us at info@uncommonyukon.com.

Andy Preto

Andy's sabatical year from teaching is now over but it was very enjoyable. A wide variety of activities around the planet have him all energized for his return to teaching. The sabatical year capped off with a trip down the Firth river during which he and Lisa were married high up on a tor studded ridge. Perfect. A backyard bbq followed, back in Whitehorse, and a record number of moose burgers and yukon Brewing Company IPA were consumed to the tune of live music. Andy and Lisa are pleased to announce the impending arrival of Baby Preto this spring!

Andy plans to continue guiding one or two trips per summer in the coming years and is also looking forward to sharing the rivers he loves with his growing family.

Breaugh Ingarfield

I'm currently in my second year of studying psychology at Quest University in Squamish, BC. Hoping to get some canoe and swiftwater certifications in the next couple of years so that I can start doing more trips with NRA again!

Dylan Bajer

Had a blast my first Season guiding in the north and experiencing the sights of the great Nahanni River. I am planning on seeking and reading more rivers for the winter either too India or New Zealand but have yet decided in which direction ill head. Found My self a new river guitar so plan on picking some new tunes for next year adventures. I look forward to head back up north for another great seasons. Hope to see you all up here and wish you the best on your travels.

Geoff Holmes

Geoff has been working in the Energy and Environment field for the last few years, after growing tired of staring glacial retreat in the face and experiencing first-hand the many other environmental challenges faced in the wild places he had been guiding. Geoff is working on carbon-negative technologies with a small company called Carbon Engineering, finds time each year to lead outdoor learning and mentorship river trips for youth with US-based charity GOALS (Get Outside and Learn Something), and spends the rest of his spare time complaining about living in the big city! Geoff misses the days of campfire cooking and grizzly spotting, and hopes Neil will bring him back for a few more Tats one of these summers.

Nahanni River Adventures, Nahanni offers exceptional expeditions by raft and canoe on the great rivers from Alaska to Nunavut including: South Nahanni River, Tatshenshini River, Alsek River, Firth River, Snake River, Wind River, Stikine River, Burnside River, Coppermine River, Horton River, Mountain River, Yukon River, Taku River, Gataga River and Sea Kayaking and whale watching at Point Adolphus, Alaska, over-looking Glacier Bay National Park.

Our expeditions encompass Nahanni National Park (South Nahanni River), Kluane National Park (Alsek River), Ivvavik National Park (Firth River), Glacier Bay National Park (Alsek River), Herschel Island Territorial Park (Firth River).

Nahanni River Adventures operates in Alaska (United States of America), Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and British Columbia (Canada).

Nahanni.com is the online presence of the company, Nahanni River Adventures Ltd.

Nahanni River Adventures works with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to ensure the environmental integrity of our wild places.

Neil Hartling, founder of Nahanni River Adventures, is also the author of: Nahanni, River of Gold...River of Dreams. Alaska to Nunavut - The Great Rivers. Nahanni River Guide. These books may all be purchased through Nahanni.com.

Common misspellings of the name are Nahani, Nahannie, Nahanie, Nahoni, Nahonni.
Nahanni River Adventures.

Adam Binder