The IRJ crew is gearing up for another incredible season on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. If you’re interested in joining them, there is still space available — check out our 2026 Middle Fork Schedule. Here’s a look at how they’ve been spending the offseason.
Patrick’s winter has been a blend of big mountain ski objectives, steady work in Bozeman, and studying for nursing school. A well-renowned ski mountaineer, he’s spent the season chasing ambitious lines, including a trip to Mexico to ski and climb Pico de Orizaba, and is now preparing for an expedition to the Caucasus Mountains in the country of Georgia.
Katie spent the fall working toward her pilot’s license and recently completed her first solo flight. She works with Beartooth Powder Guides, teaching avalanche courses and guiding ski tours out of Cooke City, Montana. Taking a brief break from winter, she kayaked around Ecuador before diving back into teaching wilderness first aid and avalanche classes. We’re looking forward to having her back for a full season on the Middle Fork.
Ry has had a true wanderlust offseason, splitting his time between work and travel. He spent the fall living in Taiwan and surfing with his brother, returned to Big Bend National Park to work over winter break, and then capped it off with a month-long kayaking trip in Ecuador. Ry is looking forward to being back for a full season on the Middle Fork — and rumor has it he’s even working on a few new songs to follow up his one-hit wonder, Elephant Seal.
Galen, pictured here with her avalanche dog Maisy, is having a strong winter working as a ski patroller at Schweitzer Mountain. After tearing her ACL last year and missing a season on the river, she’s fully recovered and back doing what she loves. We’re excited to have her steady presence returning to the Middle Fork this summer.
Wilson was able to guide for seven months last season, starting with spring trips in the Owyhees and on the Middle Fork, and finishing with fall runs on the Lower Salmon. When river season wraps up, he trades oars for skis and joins the ski patrol at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. He’s continuing to build his avalanche expertise and is currently working toward his Pro 2 certification in avalanche risk management.
Esa’s “offseason” is spent teaching 6th- and 7th-grade science, math, and PE in Quincy, CA. Whether she’s leading trips into Yosemite, diving into river ecology lessons, or cultivating a school garden, she’s constantly finding ways to spark curiosity and connection in her students. Thankfully, her schedule still allows her to guide during the summer, and we’re excited to welcome her back for her 12th season on the Middle Fork.
Sam’s spent his fall chasing fish, traveling, and rooting on his college team, Texas A&M. He’s now stepping into a new chapter as a mechanical engineer in Boise, Idaho. While we’ll certainly miss having him out on every trip, we’re excited for what’s ahead — and thankfully, he still plans to join us for a few trips each year.
After finishing his guiding season, Nate headed to New Zealand for the winter. He’s been spending his time on big backpacking trips and soaking up a southern hemisphere summer, exploring new landscapes and trails along the way. We’re excited to have Nate back for a full season with us this year.
Sunny works at one of the busiest trauma centers in the country as a physician assistant in a Level One trauma center in Salt Lake City. When she’s not working, she’s skiing at Alta, traveling for more skiing, climbing, or running big ultras. She thrives on staying busy. Even with her schedule, she manages to guide a trip a month during the summer.
Libby is in her second year of law school at the University of Montana. It’s exciting to hear her channel the same drive and thoughtfulness she brings to the river into her legal work. She’ll be interning this summer at the Western Environmental Law Center and will only be able to join us for a few trips, but we’re grateful to have her on the roster whenever her schedule allows.
Hannah has spent the winter months raising her twin kids, creating her woodblock art, and enjoying the winter days along the Salmon River near her home. We’re lucky to have her work a few fishing trips each season — her creativity, patience, and fishing knowledge always make those days special.
Ryan is working in the ICU at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, balancing the intensity of hospital life with his usual passion for adventure. In between shifts, he’s been exploring and traveling — kayaking in Ecuador, paragliding, and even joining Patrick on a ski trip to Georgia.
Out of the entire crew, Chris has logged the most ski days this winter. Alongside his wife, Morgan, and their avalanche dog, Skadi, he works full time at Lost Trail Powder Mountain. After nearly a decade of van life, Chris made a big upgrade this year — moving into a tiny home at the resort. Feeling a bit like royalty, he’s spending his days patrolling, caretaking, and fully immersed in mountain life.
Lauren has been studying at Montana State University, where she’s enrolled in the nursing program. When she’s not hitting the books, she’s ski patrolling at Lost Trail or chasing turns with friends in the Canadian Rockies and at Bridger Bowl.
Maddie took this past season off, but anyone who’s shared a trip with her knows how much her enthusiasm and kindness are enjoyed on the water. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, Kyle, and works as an operations manager coordinating events for large companies around the globe. This winter, she’s been skiing, spending time with family, and looking forward to getting back on the river.
Jo’s winter keeps her busy managing Gem Air’s flight operations out of Salmon, Idaho. Running a front and backcountry flying service comes with no shortage of variables, and she handles them with ease. When she’s not working, she enjoys visiting friends around the country, playing guitar, and embracing everything the winter months in Salmon have to offer.
Haley worked with us throughout September, and we’re excited to have her join the crew full time this season! This fall, she traveled to Patagonia to continue boating, then spent a month backpacking in New Zealand. She’s now back in the US and working on her EMT certification.
Drew is in his third year of medical school at Oregon Health & Science University. He has one more year of school before he starts his residency, with a goal to practice in rural family medicine. While med school doesn’t come with long summer breaks, he makes the most of his time off and will be performing with the Potato Mountain String Band at the Sawtooth Valley Gathering festival.
Adam spends his winter guiding fishing trips out of Terlingua, Texas, on the Devils River. Fishing for carp on a fly and a lot of other fish we don’t see in Idaho, he leads these trips by canoe. We’re looking forward to having his expertise on our late-season fly fishing trips this season.
Joe is a contractor based in Hamilton, Montana, specializing in custom finishes and remodels—ideally indoors during the winter months. When he’s not working, there’s a good chance he’s out chasing elk or exploring the Bitterroot Mountains. Joe will be working our June 3rd trip, his favorite time to be on the Middle Fork of the Salmon.
A mountain host and hiking guide at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort, Michael recently published a book – “Attitude at Altitude: The People’s Guide to Park City and Summit County.” It’s a fun read, available on Amazon.
Skip manages the IRJ office and gear repair during the winter months. Outside of work, he and his brother Will got to take the IRJ sweep boat down the Illinois River for an exciting first descent. He also has been exploring the Beaverheads more and has been ski touring as much as he can.
Julia splits her winter work schedule between ski patrolling at Lost Trail Powder Mountain and nursing at Steele Memorial, the Salmon Valley’s local hospital. When not working, which is rare, she loves watching football, taking her dog for walks, and working on puzzles.
These days, Bob spends much of his time with his grandkids and exploring the lesser-known trails around Point Reyes National Seashore. He continues to collect and write short stories for his book series, Halfway to Halway Publishing.
While she’s retired, Mary seems to be as busy as ever. She serves on the board of To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that supports people facing breast cancer by funding direct and emergency services. Her days are filled with hikes alongside friends, cheering on the SF Giants, visiting her grandchildren, and soaking up the sunshine in Kauai and exploring Costa Rica. She also continues to help with a few IRJ projects—most notably, the Holiday cards, which allow her to stay connected with guests, her favorite part of outfitting.
