ABOUT ME
Hailing from the breathtaking town of Highland, UT, Kess discovered her passion for rafting and kayaking as a teenager during her first rafting trip to Dinosaur National Monument. After her adventure, she told her mom she wanted to be a river guide, a feeling that only grew each time she found herself on the water. The transition into whitewater kayaking came naturally when she started guiding on the majestic Yellowstone River. Since then, Kess has commercially guided on the Yellowstone River, pre and post-flood, and the Gallatin River. She has also explored the iconic Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, the Green River in Cataract Canyon, the Pacuare River in Costa Rica, and the Snake River in Hells Canyon. 2023 will be Kess’s first season at Wet Planet!
Some of Kess’s fondest travel memories stem from twenty magical days rafting on the Grand Canyon, swimming amidst bioluminescence, surfing alongside a whale in Oregon, and the awe-inspiring encounters with bison while skiing in Yellowstone National Park. When she’s off the water, Kess finds solace and joy in a myriad of outdoor activities. From climbing towering rock faces, mountain biking through rugged trails, backpacking across stunning landscapes, to skiing steep slopes, Kess feels most at home in nature. Yet, she also appreciates the mellower side of life while she practices yoga, reads a new book, creates art, and plays the guitar. Kess has dreams of learning all the ways to roll a kayak and becoming a river ranger, and she has completed her goal of publishing a coloring book! You can find Animals, Mushrooms, Mandalas, Moons, and More on Amazon.
Kess finds inspiration when recounting her discovery and nourishment for her love of the outdoors and how it transformed her into a happier and better person. This drives her to further immerse herself in the outdoor industry and share nature’s joy with others in the hopes that she can instill a sense of stewardship and nurture for the natural world. Kess also finds immense joy when she sees people’s nerves turn into excitement during their first rapid and witnessing numerous memories created for friends and family while in such beautiful places.
What Guests Say About Kess
“BOOK IT NOW! Best experience of my life!! We went with a group of 7 girls during a girls trip. We had never been rafting before and the guides made us feel so safe and prepared for everything. Our guide was Kess and she was amazing! I told her I have never trusted someone I just met so much in my life! They definitely know what they’re doing. We had a group of 6 rafts and the guides operated like a well oiled machine. Expect to get wet, make sure you’re able to walk and balance on uneven surfaces and listen to your guide! Excellent in every way!” – Alex S. (Tripadvisor, 7/27/23)
“Still buzzing from an amazing afternoon on the White Salmon yesterday. Doing a trip like this with a top notch operation like Wet Planet is such a great way to get family or friends together. Kess was a super fun guide and kept our paddle team focused, even though we were easily distracted by bird life along this beautiful stretch of cold blue water. This stretch of the White Salmon is fairly technical, so your paddle team really needs to be up for it–which for me is half the point of exploring white water. Thanks for the great lines you chose through the rapids, Kess!” – Gerard L. (Google, 8/7/23)
“Thank you Kess & the Wet Planet Team for incredible half day on the White Salmon River. Very organized, efficient & we all had a blast as first timers. From jumping off the cliff to the level 5 “plunge”. Bit chilly temps but wet suits were a plus. Kess rocks!” – Jeff P. (Google, 9/25/23)
Interested in becoming part of the Wet Planet Team? Check out our Employment Opportunities.
