Off Beat Interview Series with Olivia

February 25, 2026 2:46 am

Tell us a little about yourself! Where did you grow up?

OThis is always such a hard question for me. I lived in Reno, NV until I was six years old and after that my family moved every year. I can’t even pick a region as we lived in the east, the middle and the west of the U.S. My family was pretty uprooted and We found home in each other.

How did you find your way to the river?

I moved to McCall when I was 19 years old and made friends who took me rafting on the day stretch in Riggins. My first time rafting was also my first experience in a hardshell kayak. It was exhilarating; when I flipped upside down, I struggled to find my pull tab, panicked, and ended up kicking myself out of the kayak. When I resurfaced and was pulled into the nearby raft, I felt a deep love for the river and this overwhelming feeling of belonging.

A few months later, I was called back home—at the time, Berkeley, CA—because my mom had been diagnosed with colon cancer. I wanted to be with her as she navigated the early stages of her illness. I quickly realized I needed an outlet for my physical and emotional energy, so on weekends, I drove three hours from Berkeley to Coloma to volunteer with a non-profit rafting company offering adaptive whitewater adventures. To volunteer, I needed to attend guide school, so the South Fork of the American River became the place where I learned to paddle, guide and read water.

Several months later, I moved back to Idaho and fell deeply in love with the Salmon River, where I learned to kayak, row boats, and connect with water. It was also on a sandy beach of the Salmon where I married my now-husband. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to spend time in, on, and with the magnificent Salmon River.

If you could be a river super hero, what would you be?

If I could be a river super hero, I would be ‘Fierce Forager’. She has kevlar skin and knows information about every mushroom she comes across.

What is your favorite dress up theme?

I LOVE to dress up! It is so hard to pick a theme and honestly I am at my best when I just layer my entire costume box onto myself but for the sake of the question I’ll say Drag Disco Inferno!

What is your ‘go to’ crazy hat night creation?

I have never had a crazy hat night but it sounds fun! If this is a river tradition then I can see myself weaving natural items into a beer box so that they stick out at the top, then I would stake one or two beer cans onto a couple sticks that I fastened to the box, I would secure this to my head using webbing or some bandanas.

What brought you to Canyons?

I told my husband last year that if Canyons didn’t hire me I would stop guiding. He might have enjoyed a bit of the latter but here I am! Canyons attracted me because of its loving, inclusive culture where people are celebrated for who they are! Canyons is also a company that stewards the places we work and play by moving and acting intentionally. So far I have guided one trip with Canyons and all I can say is it feels like home.

How many years have you worked here?

I guided one trip in 2025 so 2026 will be my first full season working for Canyons!

What is your favorite thing about Canyons?

My favorite thing about Canyons is the feeling I get when I am in the shop looking at the wall of pictures in the office.

If you could describe Canyons in 3 words?

Rainbow ducky adventure

When you hear the word Idaho, what comes to mind?

Wilderness, solitude, water

What are your top three favorite camps?

Indian Creek on the Main salmon, Marble Creek Right on the Middle, Cradle on the Middle

Your favorite hike?

I love hiking to the yew grove from Indian creek.

Top three favorite rapids?

Devil’s tooth at low water, Cramer, Rubber. I am just listing rapids that are vivid in my memory. I think this might change as I spend more time on these rivers.

Currently what is your nemesis rapid?

Powerhouse if you can believe it! I swam there in october and ripped my gasket so I had to wrap my wrist in duct tape every morning for 6 days.

What river do you want to run that you haven’t yet?

The list is huge but I’ll say The Grand Canyon for starters

What do you consider a ‘real’ job?

A ‘real’ job is one that you get paid to do. I like to keep it real at my jobs by forming connections with the people and places around me.

If you could only have one kayak in your quiver, what would it be and why?

It would be my jackson all star. Simply because I already own it and out of all of my boats it challenges me the most. Plus I love to surf peace wave and it is a very fun boat on that wave.

What is your favorite thing to cook on the river?

Any dutch oven dessert

If you could take a musician or band down the river today, who would it be?

Regina Spektor or Fred Armisen because he would find a way to bring his drums and it would be hilarious.

What is your most memorable swim in a river?

I swam twice a few years ago when I was kayaking the outlet of upper payette lake. It is a moving creek with rocks and logs everywhere and I wasn’t ready for the continuous nature of it but boy did I think I had it. I swam once and it was b-u-m-p-y, I was feeling a little banged up on my bum but I felt ready to get back in my boat. I got back in my boat and got pushed on this rock that was sticking out of the water. I could tell I was going over so I stupidly threw my paddle and tried to push off of the rock so it would let me go. I went upside down, swam, hit a ton of rocks and then made it to shore with my boat. My buddy and my husband tag teamed the rescue and my boat was pulled to shore but the nose was totally punched in. Boiling water fixed it but I hold that swim vividly in my memory because I really thought I was going to get hung up in a strainer and drown and I was incredibly humbled.

What is one of your river rituals or superstitions?

Remember to look up!

What is your most valued non river related item that you bring with you on every trip?

Cotton socks

What is your favorite groover spot?

Anywhere, say good morning to down river traffic. I do really like the groover spot at California though and you can’t wave to the river from there…