An adventurer throughout his life, Brian was an avid climber, skater, and snowboarder while working in Washington, DC for the U.S. Senate. After getting snowed out on a powder day, he gave up the city and uprooted to Bozeman, MT where he pursued his outdoor passions on the Ridge at Bridger Bowl, the Dictator Chutes at Big Sky, and little-known backcountry steeps near Cooke City, MT.

After taking a 14-day trip down the Grand Canyon (and almost losing his job managing a trucking company over it), whitewater rafting became a new interest. He attended a guide interview trip in Big Bend National Park and joined Wilderness Aware in 1999 as a first year guide. A couple of years later, he was WA’s Head Boatman and Trainer, was competing at the national level with his raft racing team, and worked as a Senior Guide with Wet ‘n Wild Rafting in Rotorua, New Zealand. His resume also includes a stint as a Statewide River Ranger with Colorado State Parks and as a member of the Monarch Mountain Ski Patrol.

As a hot-shot river guide, he jumped on the opportunity to become the head honcho when it arose. If you’ve had the chance to join him on the river, you may have encountered his alter-ego “Hans Dudenz”. When he’s not in the office or on the river, you can find him busting out some sick EDM beats of his own creation. You may also catch him in the wild sporting his super sweet JNCO jeans and Gucci kicks, rapping along with his favorite lyrics, “There are those that watch what happens. There are those that wonder what happened. And there are people like us from the streets that MAKE things happen!”

Colorado native, born in Telluride, and grew up in Somerset / Paonia, CO. Enjoys being a grandma, going to church, rafting, baking, and playing with Katie, her cat. Started working at Wilderness Aware in 1986 and can do everything except guide a raft.

A true Buena Vista native, Kelsie started with Wilderness Aware in 2010 and has only spent a couple of summers since then not in the WA office. Her favorite time of year is the time she spends on a beach in Mexico with her family. She loves playing volleyball and softball and spends the fall season coaching volleyball at the local high school. When she’s not at the office, you can probably find her hanging out with her dog, Thor.

Kolt aka Kolt 45 is a former army combat veteran who now owns a travel agency. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, German, Croatian, Russian and Vietnamese.

Gatlin dropped out of college when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and became a river guide. He hasn’t looked back since. His goal is to see just how far he can take guiding in 10 years. He’s from Arlington, but now splits his time in CO for the summer and winter months, and Arizona in the spring. Ultimately, he will transition into a career flying helicopters. He is always looking to push his own limits and redefine himself. Two things in this world that have never let Gatlin down in this world are his Border Collie, Bonnie; and the Grateful Dead.

Caroline is about to enter her third year as a student at Kansas State University, pursuing a master’s degree in architecture. She enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, working at the university’s fabrication lab, and anything that means being active and in the outdoors. She loves to try new things and believes that smiling does the heart some good!

Snack hails from Boulder, Colorado, where a childhood filled with recreational activities fueled his passion for the outdoors. An avid fly fisherman, snowboarder, skier, climber, and downhill mountain biker, Snack found his love for rafting during a river trip on the Yampa. After finishing his associate’s degree, he moved to Leadville in 2020, seeking adventure and a fresh start. Snack has spent the past four summers rafting in Buena Vista and now manages a restaurant for Vail Resorts in Breckenridge during the winter.

Sunny moved to Colorado after earning her bachelor’s degree to work as a ski instructor at Copper Mountain. After one winter, she fell in love with Colorado and decided to stay year-round, discovering a new passion for rafting. Her love for reading the river and being outdoors all day made rafting the perfect fit. When she’s not on the water, Sunny can be found reading, planning her next adventure, or daydreaming about skiing.

Gomez aka “Drip Drainage” brings energy and experience to the team, having made a name for himself in the industry. Simply by watching Gomez, you can see his passion and love for the art, aiming to become a master at his craft. Though his origins lie in Milwaukee, his skills on the river have earned him respect and recognition from those who have crossed his path. But be warned, if you are in his boat . . .   you may get wet.

https://youtu.be/7eXhI27hQPs?si=YWedP_qmeID3httE

Mac has been with the company for three years and brings an infectious energy to every trip. First rafting the Gunnison Gorge at just 11 weeks old, Mac hasn’t slowed down since. With more river miles than most guides, you can find Mac riding the numbers or chasing tennis balls in the play wave after work.

Ashley transitioned to the outdoor industry in 2020 after COVID-19 disrupted her PhD studies in molecular and cellular biology. Starting in the kitchen for a backpacking and rafting company in Glacier National Park, she quickly realized that her passion lay on the river. Ashley has guided rivers in California, Oregon, and now Colorado, where she spends summers with Wilderness Aware and winters as a chef at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Jelly followed her passion for the outdoors after university, splitting her time between snowboarding in the winter and rafting in the summer. A collector of hobbies, she has played rugby, competed in roller derby, and guided zip-line tours. Whether she’s rafting or hiking with her dog, Jelly brings an adventurous spirit to everything she does.

Anna is the founder and president of the WA Chess Club. Currently studying biology in Bowling Green, Kentucky, she enjoys yoga, gardening, and taking care of her chickens. When she’s not outdoors or studying, Anna is likely running with her cross-country team or enjoying her favorite meal—oatmeal.

Kira brings a wild spirit to the team, whether she’s ripping through rapids or dancing at a local concert. An avid fly fisher and horseback rider, she loves hard work and early mornings. With a love for the outdoors and a Jeep named “Fridge,” Kira is always up for adventure—and she’s probably having more fun than anyone else around.

Kat, or “the beast from the east,” started her whitewater career on the East Coast but moved west in search of whitewater, mountains, and bearded men. At Wilderness Aware, she’s known for her fearless attitude and gets “absolutely pitted” on the river. When she’s not working, Kat enjoys hanging out with friends and locals in Buena Vista.

Ash is a second-generation rafting guide, following in her father’s footsteps at the same company he worked for in 1999. When she’s not guiding rafts during the summer, she studies mechanical engineering at Colorado Mesa University. In the winter, Ash spends her time boot-packing at Crested Butte Mountain, making the most of her favorite outdoor activities year-round.

Gato was born in the far reaches of not-so north Alaska, but it’s a hell of a lot cooler than where you’re from. She overthinks most things in life, yet feels most at home amongst challenging whitewater rapids and sleeping under the stars beside a river. You can find her rowing a boat (and overheating) on the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, guiding rivers in central CO and AZ, and still attempting to make her next decision

Ryan moved out to Colorado from Rhode Island as soon as he finished up his degree in psychology. Ryan has quickly become one of the most advanced young guide Wilderness Aware has ever seen. His love for boating can be seen on the river and his bad jokes can be heard on the ride home.

Coming from the ocean in the union, Ryan is simply stoked to live in a state that appreciates the beauty of water. Catch Ryan navigating  his personal mini raft named “Ghost” in the local rowdy rapids. Although he normally stays in the boat, Ryan is known to leave Ghost behind and swim Class V creeks for fun.

Greta is studying electrical engineering at Iowa State University and in her free time works for the school’s Adventure department. When she gets a free hour you can find her trying to roll a kayak in the pool or climbing lead at the gym.

Greta once carried a gear box down a steep gorge with just the power of her neck. Some say Greta is actually a robot because she does everything right and selflessly works very hard each day. You can always count on Greta to get the job done.

Meet Gunnar, your mom’s favorite whitewater rafting guide!  Gunnar first dipped his paddle into the world of whitewater in 2019, and he’s been keeping boats mostly upright ever since. When he’s not navigating rapids, he enjoys riding his bicycle or working out.  Whether he’s charging into juice or greasing up rapids, he will forever be in pursuit of his elusive white cap.  Request Gunnar today—change your life forever.