ABOUT ME
Steve joined the Wet Planet Team in 2022 as the Day Trip River Manager, bringing over 13 years of both domestic and international guiding experience, as well as previous experience managing high-level teams of international guides. Steve has been a professional raft guide, safety kayaker, trip leader, and manager on rivers around the world, from Alaska, to Iceland, to Chile and California. His private paddling experience is just as far-reaching; he has paddled the East, Middle Fork Kaweah and the Cherry Creek Section of the Tuolumne in California; the North Fork Payette, Lochsa, Selway, and Middle Fork Salmon in Idaho; and the Little White Salmon in Washington, to name a few.
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Steve began his career as a professional raft guide in Alaska in 2009. Moving to Alaska to begin a career guiding was a drastic change for Steve, who spent much of his life pursuing more traditional sports like soccer. Not knowing exactly what to expect, he quickly fell in love with the beauty of the river, and the energy of the people drawn to it. Seduced by the seemingly endless wilderness opportunities, one summer quickly turned into seven years in the North. The culmination of this experience was guiding multi-day expedition trips on the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers. These are the most accessible routes through the largest protected wilderness remaining on the planet – an environment where humans feel small, and bears and glaciers dominate the landscape.
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While Alaska often felt like the center of the universe, Steve wanted to use guiding as a vehicle to explore some of the best international rivers. He spent the next three years traveling back and forth between Northern Iceland and Rio Futaleufú in Chile. While guiding and safety boating on Class V rivers year round was a dream, the best part of this experience was the guide teams. Finishing each day with the knowledge that you went out and accomplished something challenging together is the best feeling the river can give you.
In 2019, Steve made the move to Southern California to guide a high-water season on the Class IV-V Kern River for Sierra South. After a remarkable season of guiding, Steve took on the role as Operations Manager for the following two years. His goal was to bring all the wisdom he accrued from mentors and experience alike, and push the next generation of guides to be more skilled, more prepared, and safer. He has carried this philosophy into his work at Wet Planet, where he is helping build an inclusive, experienced, and professional guide team.
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Steve’s Career Highlights
- 14 years professionally guiding & instructing whitewater
- Commercial river experience in the Western US, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Chile, and Nepal
- 8,000+ commercial river miles
- Class V raft guide, kayaker & safety boater
- Class V raft guide trainer
- Class IV International Rafting Federation Trip Leader
- Guides in both Spanish & English
- Wilderness First Responder certified
- River Rescue certified
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What guests say about Steve:
We had an amazing day white water rafting with Wet planet, the guides Nic and Steve were great and made first time rafter feel at ease. We manage to do all of the rapid even the final husum falls.
Overall would definitely recommend rafting on salmon river with wet planet. – Jay P.
“I have floated numerous rivers over the years. Deciding to hire Wet Planet to float the Owyhee was a decision none of us will regret. All four guides were incredibly helpful and personable. They bent over backwards to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Not only was the river absolutely beautiful, Dave, Sydney, Giani and Steve made this trip a special experience.” – Jerry D.
Join Steve on the river:
In addition to managing the river team, Steve also guides regularly! You can join Steve on both half day and full day trips on the White Salmon River, as well as on Class V rafting trips on the Hood River and Wind River in the spring.
