M omentum River Expeditions was founded by guides who believe that a river trip is more than just rafting, and guiding is more than just getting people down the river. It is our goal to “re-invent” the way rafting trips are run. To set the standard for guest service, trip quality, safety, and the overall river experience.
This all starts with our guides and staff. Our guides are some of the finest anywhere, with a minimum of 8 years of experience leading trips around the world - nobody offers this kind of top to bottom experience. They are fun, warm hearted, and they all love showing and sharing with people the places that have captivated them for so long. Most importantly they are experts at creating an atmosphere where the benefits and joys of rivers can be lived to the fullest and where it is easy to relax and be your self.
Pete is originally from Vermont but has spent time living in Colorado, Wyoming, and on the West Coast. Pete has been a guide for over 20 years and has run rivers all over the United States - including the Upper Tuolumne (Cherry Creek) in California, considered the toughest regularly-run commercial trip in North America - as well as rivers in Nepal, India, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, and Chile. He has a degree and professional experience in landscape architecture and further education in engineering and ecology, but guiding, traveling, and his love of wild places lead him to start Momentum River Expeditions. He is a board member for the Oregon Guides and Outfitters Association, the Save the Wild Rogue Campaign, and works closely with the Southern Oregon University Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program as well as with environmental groups that work towards the protection of wild rivers.
A native Wisconsinite, Erik grew up and was comfortable with the water long before he became a river guide. He has spent the last 17 years exploring and guiding on rivers throughout the western United States, India, Nepal, Tibet, and New Zealand. He now lives here in Ashland with his wife and son. He is a full time instructor in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program at Southern Oregon University where he teaches mountaineering, rock climbing, whitewater Wilderness and Remote First Aid, as well as rescue course work. Erik loves sharing his knowledge of river environments and whether he is floating scenic canyons or running class V steeps he is always happy and at home.
After a career as a supermodel was tragically cut short by genetics, Anthony resigned himself to the simple life of a river guide. His addiction to guiding began in 1991, but his real love of rivers began when family friends invited him on his first trip when he was eleven. His life as a professional guide has taken him throughout the western United States as well as Nepal and Chile. Anthony grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It was there that his love of nature and knowledge of flora and fauna was encouraged by his father. He supports his whitewater habit by working as a carpenter. He, his wife Sasha , their dog Milhaus, and new puppy Phoebe currently reside in Northern California.
Yet another one of our native guides, Alan has been with us since the beginning. As a boy growing up in the Rogue Valley, Alan developed a love of nature due to outings with his father and grandfather Scuba diving, fishing, camping, hiking and inner tubing on the Rogue River. He eventually became interested in automobiles and drag racing and worked as an ATRA certified automatic transmission builder for 20+ years. His entire life changed when he attended his first river guide training in 1997. He trained and worked with a raft company for 9 years before coming to Momentum. He now works graveyard shift at Boise Cascade plywood plant to pay the mortgage and continues working as a river guide on the weekends. As evidence of Alan’s love of the river, his marriage to his wife Debbie took place on the Klamath River and the guest book was a wooden oar. Alan gets a ton off requests from guests, in fact some of Pete's favorite guests have decided that they would rather go with Alan.
Native Southern Oregonian, Robyn has been running rivers since she was 8 years old. She discovered her passion for guiding at the age of 18 and has been guiding in the Pacific Northwest ever since. Her love for the river has enabled her to work in such premier river destinations as the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho and the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Robyn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art (painting) and a minor in Geology, which she blames on her years on the river. During her spare time you can usually find her on the mountains, in the rivers or painting in her studio. Robyn is a Sagittarius, she enjoys a good IPA, her favorite food is Italian and she is will gladly challenge anyone to a friendly game of Butt Darts.
Chad’s various interests have taken him throughout the country in pursuit of both pleasure and education. Originally from Vermont, his interest in politics led to a political science degree, which it turns out wasn’t a real job magnet. With an interest in alternative energy developing, Chad moved to Colorado to learn more. His passion for whitewater rafting began in Colorado and this passion created a gateway for new friends and allowed for adventures and guiding opportunities throughout the country on some of the nation’s best runs. All of these interests culminated in a decision that a law degree specializing in environmental and natural resources was the best career path. While Chad ponders his future law degree he continues to explore rivers with us and work a WIDE range of other jobs (most of which are way more professional then guiding).
Arden was drawn to Southern Oregon in 1985 to raft the Wild and Scenic Rogue. Having been running rivers in Montana and working winters as a back-country ski guide in Yellowstone Park, she realized this little corner of the country was ideal for continuing her career as a recreational specialist (her term) and raising a family. She was one of the first female guides in the area and claims a first raft descent on the Main Chute of Pit River Falls. She loves frolicking on water in all its forms ~frozen, falling and flowing. When she is not laughing at her own jokes she can be found teaching alpine and telemark skiing as well as snowboarding.
Rebecca abandoned London and the UK years ago in search of wide open spaces and adventure. Her travels have taken her all over the Western US, Mexico and Central America. She makes her home with her honey, Jeff, in a dusty border town on the Texas-Mexico border where she guides river, hiking and mountain bike trips and works as an EMT. Rebecca thinks that she is the current butt darts champion of Texas.
Faye has traveled all over the world; some of her adventures include tenting in Mozambique and sailing the Malica Straights! She has earned a BA in Education and works as a dive instructor. She is a Jane of all trades (very handy and adaptive) and motorcycling is her passion, but she loves all kinds of outdoor activities, and believes in learning about tribes and the old ways of simplicity. She believes you should live life today and experience it fully, because you only get one chance! She is full of stories… If you’re in the van with her, be sure to ask her about traveling in Asia, becoming a mahout elephant care-taker, diving with whale sharks, or sharing sugar cubes with wild baboons!
Mike hails from the land of venison and cheese, Wisconsin. He grew up fishing, hunting, camping and canoeing through out the north woods. Mike was introduced to whitewater through the boy scouts in 1996 at the age of 13. He has since used his skills to travel the globe working in Georgia, Idaho, Alaska, Guatemala, and Chile. Mike’s favorite river is the one he’s on right now.