Guides Gossip

I am excited to be headed to Thailand for November, not excited that the rivers will soon be frozen, but excited that snow will soon be here. Married life is good, and NO, kids are not on the way.

Jacqueline Hutchison

I am currently enjoying mountain life with my family - discovering trails and rivers close to home as well as those on other countries. Working part-time with Canmore Fire/EMS and operating my dogwalking business. Looking forward to March and April for adventures down the Nile.

Alaina Robertson

I just finished another great winter and summer. I was able to travel to Nicaragua in March with some friends. Come July, I took 11 students to Peru with my school, Lakefield College School (LCS) for two weeks where we were able to hike Macchu Picchu and many other ruins around Cusco. In August, I was also able to run three trips down the Nahanni with a great group of guests and fellow guides. Currently I am working again at LCS as a residential assistant and was recently offered a teaching position for a grade 9 Geography and Outdoor Education class. Needless to say things have been working out in my favour! Now I'm looking forward to a long fall and snowy winter.

Bruce Kirby

Bruce moved to Nashville this spring, and has recorded a Country music album ("Cry Me A River" Arista, 2009). He will be opening for Canadian Niko Case on her North American tour... unless Neil calls, in which case Bruce may head back to the Alsek and continue his pursuit of perfect Kowboi Koffee.

Brad Kooy

After a long summer stuck in the office in 2008, I got the chance to head back up to the Mooseponds on the Nahanni for a trip this past season. Getting back up north made me realize how much I miss that environment and how much I used to take it for granted while I worked full seasons. It was a great trip with great people and was definitely a fantastic vacation. For now I am back in the office practicing Mechanical Engineering in Edmonton getting ready for the upcoming snowboarding season and dreaming of next year's paddling adventures.

Diane Gribbin & Sean Collins

We are living in our yurt while we build our recycled off the grid home in the Gatineaus. Our house is cordwood masonry built with cedar cord wood and glass bottles. Check out our journey on our website:http://www.web.net/~kcollins/House/player.html

Melanie Siebert

Melanie's first collection of poetry, Deepwater Vee, will be published by McClelland & Stewart this coming spring. Many of these poems are field notes from the rivers she's guided on and are subtitled with the GPS coordinates. Melanie is teaching creative writing at the University of Victoria this winter and is the Artist in Residence at UVic's Centre for the Study of Religion and Society.

Mark Kyte

I'm still living on the beach, teaching grade 4 and surfing down in New Zealand with my wife Katie. We plan on moving back to Canada in January 2010. We're looking forward to getting back to Canada after two years away. Can't wait to get back out paddling in the north again soon!

Les Parsons

Les Parsons has left his cross country ski coaching duties in "La Belle Province" of Quebec and has returned west to coach the Edmonton Nordic Ski Team and his Alma Mater at University of Alberta. You will see Les's celebrity athlete "Beckie Scott" as the cross country ski commentator for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics on CTV. Watch for one of Les's young up and coming champion athletes "Alex Harvey" from Quebec, as he leads Canada's cross country ski team at the Olympics! Between coaching and spending time with his family on the farm in Lacombe, Les continues to his political leadership with the Green Party of Canada!

To Les's past guests who have lost touch, contact Les at his new email address: lesparsonsgreen@yahoo.ca

Haley Elzen

[2008] I got to spend the past winter dog sledding for Uncommon Journeys in lovely Whitehorse, Yukon. I am happy to report that (if nothing else) I learned everything to do with dog poo and survived epic nights in -50˚C!

After a fantastic summer on the River, I am working with Neil and Christine in the office and warehouse over the winter and looking forward to another great summer season!

Tyler Dinsdale

2008 was an amazing summer for me, I was part of a team of seven who raced the, "Yukon River Quest" from Whitehorse to Dawson City in a voyageur canoe, and I also guided my first trip down the Firth River. It was great to see rivers I had not been down before, and to travel to different northern towns and cities. There were too many highlights this summer to list. My winter plans are quite a bit different from previous years, this will be the the first time in a long time that I will be spending a whole winter in Canada, that means six months or more out of a raft, I'm not sure how well that will treat me. I will be taking the Priamary Care Paramedic program and the Justice Institute of BC this winter and should emerge early next year as a licensed paramedic. A big part of me is missing overseas travel, and rafting, be it commercially or with friends, but I am looking forward to taking this winter off the water to learn some new skills, and also play in the snow.

Travis Finlayson

[2008] First and foremost, I am pleased to announce the new member of our family – a new baby boy aptly named, River Tra Finlayson, weighing 8 lbs, 10 oz. As well, my wife and I finally finished building our new home the end of last summer (yes built). And I spent the year at Lakeland College teaching Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Education. Can’t wait for another excellent season!

Alana Martinson

This fall I am starting a 2 year University of Alberta BSc after-degree program to become a Registered Nurse, with hopes of working up north, internationally, or on other adventures as a medic. This winter I am going to work towards becoming a better backcountry skiier and I hope to be back in the north guiding again next summer!

Chris Ford

[2008] Chris is off on his honeymoon with Alison in the Grand Canyon! Congratulations to both of them!

Kaj Johnson

Kaj is back home in Camrose for the fall getting in as much paddling as possible before the ice arrives. He is also eagerly awaiting the official invite from the RCMP to begin training at Depot in Regina, SK.

Kevin Brigadyr

[2008] I just moved to Vermillion, Alberta this past year and have had the pleasure of teaching at the same college as Travis (yes, we get to spend everyday together!). I spend my free time cross country skiing on the trails of Vermillion Park, with my son Jackson in tow. My daughter, Zoe, is already getting ready to go to Kindergarten in the fall. My kids are growing up fast!

Alan Christie

[2008] I graduated from college in Thunder Bay where I completed the Paramedic Program. I was lucky enough to get a full-time position in Hamilton in August. I had a nice trip back home to Scotland in January/February to catch up with family and friends. I made a second attempt at Ben Nevis and failed due to seasonal horizontal rain! I am taking a sea kayaking trip to the Queen Charlottes in May. Unfortunately I won’t make it up North to guide this year.

Lara Fenton

I am flying home in September to visit my brand new niece! (this brings the total to three nieces and one nephew on the way!). After my visit I am bucking down to study for my candidacy exams coming up in November - this marks the half way point in my PhD and official status as a 'Phd candidate'. Woo hoo!!

Mike Neville

I had two great trips on that TAT last year, possibly the most eventful yet! I am now touring South America looking for new rivers for the off'season. I am looking forward to next year already and continue to tell people the beauty of northern rivers. I wish to explore as many as possible and can't wait to guide a new river this coming season!

Liz Demers

[2008] I am teaching Outdoor Education at Augustana. Lucky me - I get to hike, paddle, climb, and ski for the rest of the year!

Maya March

[2008] Maya is currently working at McMaster University, co-coordinating the Outdoor Recreation Program. This fall she will backpack in the Adirondacks, canoe Algonquin, Killarney and the Madawaska River and explore the California Redwoods. Most of all, she is looking forward to another summer up north in 2009.

Doug Reese

[2008] I have been teaching at the Fire Fighter Academy for the last year. My son, David, married a lovely woman named Becca Hamilton at New Years. My wife and I backpacked in Central Mexico with Sophie Borceman and Doug Kirk in March. And, on top of all that, I was able to enjoy a great season of back country skiing!

Selena Cordeau

Another summer under the midnight sun, blessed with a colorful trip on the Nahanni river from Moosepond to Lindberg landing with a French filmcrew and amazing times on the stellar Tatshenshini river. Now back in Victoria, living in a little floathouse in Victoria Harbour for the year, I am studying Environmental sciences and teaching yoga and climbing. Like many of you, my heart is still up north and looking forward for a spring ski trip in the St-Elias mountains, Yukon. Enjoy this year, be healthy and do something crazy

Chloe Steepe

After a spectacular summer of guiding on the Nahanni and Coppermine Rivers, I am back in Toronto working full-time on continuing to build 'Connected in Motion' - a not-for-profit organization that uses outdoor adventure and physical activity to engage people living with diabetes - providing experiential diabetes education.

I started running this year, as a result of Connected in Motion, and have completed 2 half marathons since May. This winter I'm looking forward to spending some time on the XC ski trails north of the City.

Trish Duncan, Royce Casford and Cohen Casford.

There's sure no doubt who Dad is! Trish and Royce are rather shocked going from living out of the tent to finding room for all these toys!! The happy family are busy chasing Cohen (who was walking at nine months and is now running) in Brackendale B.C. and would love to catch up with anyone traveling in the area. Royce is doing his Carpentry apprentice and Trish is at school part time, hoping eventually to go in to nursing. We hope to make a reappearance on the waterways soon.

Jeff Siddle

(Spring 08) I spent a short stint in Camrose working with the lovely Alana Martinson, followed by a glorious trip down the Colorado River. I returned home to enjoy Christmas with family – who are all well! I rounded off the season working at an amazing little sporting goods shop in Edmonton where I awaited this upcoming season with baited breath.

(Fall 08) This season was one for the books and I want to thank all the amazing people that made it so special, you know who you are! It seems I have returned back down south to a land where everyone is getting married or having babies!!! AHHHH! What is the world coming to! I can assure you all I will do my best to not get caught in the trend. This winter is somewhat of a mystery to me thus far, but what I can promise is that there are lots of turns to be made and so keep an eye open for me at your local mountain! Here's to the snow gods, may they smile upon us this winter!

Rob Vance

After an amazing summer on the Nahanni and Coppermine Rivers, I am searching for the next adventure! Back home in Ontario, I am currently helping Chloe with Connected in Motion, her not-for-profit organization that brings active Type 1 Diabetics together in the outdoors. In the coming year I hope to continue working with WAVE Rescue and Wilderness Medical Assoicates Canada teaching certification courses. I am not sure where my feet will land this winter, but I am already dreaming of my next northern river trip!

Rob Warburton

This winter finds me still living in Yellowknife, NT and starting a new job in the Corrections field. I am working in the local correctional centre running inmate recreation programming. A challenging and dynamic environment to work in but rewarding in that I get to encourage a positive lifestyle change. I'm sure that working inside all winter will be warm but come spring I think the waters of the north will once again be calling, hope to see you all out there next season :)

Tyler Garnham

Meg and I moved to our new house about a week after I returned from 2 Firth trips. We managed to move on the hottest day ever recorded in Delta(36C°). My Boy Keaton, has just turned 1 year old at the end of September and we are still settling down in the new Keaton

digs. My summer on the Firth was one of the best ever. I hope these kinds of places are still around when Keaton is old enough to enjoy them. I am now back in the swing of things shooting photos full-time. Check out this winter issue of British Columbia Magazine, there are a few assignment that I shot in that one.

Morten Asfeldt and Krystal Shirley

Morten Asfeldt and Krystal Shirley are back in Camrose after a sabbatical year in Norway where their son Jasper attended full-on Norwegian grade one and Kaisa, their daughter, attended Norwegian kindergarten. It was a great year with TONS OF SKIIING and memories that they will never forget. Believe it or not, after many years of guiding and never acquiring a taste for coffee, the Norwegians did Morten in and he now feels like a bondafide adult. Morten's first book, Pike's Portage: Stories of Distinguished Place will be off the presses in January 2010 (It will make a great birthday, anniversary or valentine's day gift :-)

Nahanni River Adventures, Nahanni offers exceptional expeditions by raft and canoe on the great rivers from Alaska to Nunavut including: South Nahanni River, Tatshenshini River, Alsek River, Firth River, Snake River, Wind River, Stikine River, Burnside River, Coppermine River, Horton River, Mountain River, Yukon River, Taku River, Gataga River and Sea Kayaking and whale watching at Point Adolphus, Alaska, over-looking Glacier Bay National Park.

Our expeditions encompass Nahanni National Park (South Nahanni River), Kluane National Park (Alsek River), Ivvavik National Park (Firth River), Glacier Bay National Park (Alsek River), Herschel Island Territorial Park (Firth River).

Nahanni River Adventures operates in Alaska (United States of America), Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and British Columbia (Canada).

Nahanni.com is the online presence of the company, Nahanni River Adventures Ltd.

Nahanni River Adventures works with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to ensure the environmental integrity of our wild places.

Neil Hartling, founder of Nahanni River Adventures, is also the author of: Nahanni, River of Gold...River of Dreams. Alaska to Nunavut - The Great Rivers. Nahanni River Guide. These books may all be purchased through Nahanni.com.

Common misspellings of the name are Nahani, Nahannie, Nahanie, Nahoni, Nahonni.
Nahanni River Adventures.

Adam Binder