Eric Ortiz

Rick grew up in Maryland, where his love for the water started with windsurfing and sailing on the St. Mary’s River. After finishing school, he headed west for a ski season in Big Sky, Montana and ended up staying for six years. Between winters in the mountains and summers floating the Yellowstone River with friends, Rick found his way into a life centered around rivers and the outdoors.

Rick began guiding in 2020 on the Gallatin River, a tributary of the Missoula just outside Bozeman, where he learned to appreciate both the power of June runoff and the patience required during low-water days. He later spent a summer on the Deschutes River as a multi-day guide, soaking up the heat of central Oregon. In between river seasons, Rick has worked as a snorkel guide in Guam, led kayak tours in New Zealand, and managed campgrounds on Catalina Island.

Now joining Wet Planet, Rick is excited to bring his diverse guiding background to the White Salmon. Whether navigating rapids or connecting with guests on and off the river, he’s looking forward to contributing to the team and continuing to grow as a guide in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of rafting, Rick enjoys long romps through the woods, exploring slot canyons, and playing cribbage, and for the record, his favorite food is soup and his favorite shark is the hammerhead.