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 Bernice JohnstonOwner If you've ever booked a trip with us chances are you've talked with Bernice, the friendly one. B grew up in Hawaii surfing the south shore of Oahu never knowing one day she would end up owning a rafting company and surfing river waves in Montana. Bernice manages the MRG office and reservations during the season where her bbq's and homemade brownies are legendary. Bernice volunteered for 10 years at the Missoula YWCA as a facilitator for women's programs and recently earned a Masters in Counseling at the University of Montana.  Mike JohnstonOwner A former backcountry ranger in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Mike is a longtime river guide who created Montana River Guides in 1994. An EMT and the only fully certified river rescue instructor in Montana, Mike has served on the local search and rescue team, the convention and visitors bureau, the local whitewater association board, local bike path and historic park steering committees, the convention and visitors bureau, and currently chairs the local school board. Mike is our lead instructor and manages all of our river operations.  Cody HarrisOperations Manager Cody is a renaissance river pro who supervises all of us and our trips at the Montana River Guides Alberton Gorge headquarters. A former whitewater slalom racer, amazing kayaker, wilderness EMT, raft and kayak instructor, lead guide, and writer, Cody hails from Durango, Colorado where he graduated from Ft Lewis College. The easy-going heart of our operation, Cody leads by example and improves conditions greatly just by being around. Cody is a certified Swiftwater Rescue Instructor for Rescue 3 International and a pro patroller at Snowbowl in the winter when he's not teaching classes for Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Cody has spent so much time in a kayak that his feet are deformed. "Big water, big fun and a great guide with a great haircut. Cody's terrific guide for a beautiful river trip. We'll be back next year to do another trip with Cody. Thanks! -"Bones" Nyquist & Family  Imogen O'ReillyOur most-requested guide ever. An amazing woman and a local legend, Imo's passionate about guiding great raft trips. Started guiding for Montana River Guides back in the 90's. She's an artist and a Montana Folf Champion. Imogen has done a fantastic job of taking care of our guests over the years. One of the things that makes her a special guide is how much she cares about giving guests the greatest possible trip every day.  Justus McLartyThe Grandson of Texas rafting legend Marvin McLarty, Justus has been running rivers all over the world for all of his 20 some years. And you appreciate it if you're on a river trip with him because Justus is flat out one of the most capable river people we've ever known. Rafting, canoeing, C-1,Kayaking, creekboating, squirt boating-- he's done it all and done it very well. He has a reputation for having his boat in the right place at the right time. Justus is currently working for Saturday Night Live in New York City where they have probably no idea what a river guru he is. Justus somehow figures out how to run the Grand Canyon every year and is nice enough to invite us along --usually about a 3 days before the launch date. "Justus was the best. We had a wonderful trip on the Alberton Gorge withplenty of stories and fun. The kids loved the games they played along the way. Thanks for taking care of our family and giving us an awesome trip." -Curtis Aarmand, Old Friend  Don EricksonA seasoned river guide with a masters in counseling, Don guides people through life as well as on the river. With over twenty years of clinical and organization development experience, Don leads corporate teambuilding seminars. "Thanks for the great trip. We had a wonderful time. You made a special trip possible for our family reunion. We can't thank you enough for making it the best day of the vacation." -Jeannete Hunt & Family, Chicago  Dave GlaserCaptain Dave, guidus maximus, also known as "the Silverback". A long time kayaker and creekboater, kayak and raft instructor, and lead guide with a masters in environmental studies, Dave brings years of river experience, outdoor leadership, knowledge, and tenacious wit to MRG. He's a great friend, a great guide and we all have more laughs and more fun when Dave's around. Captain Dave has migrated into the Corporate world as a VP for Rithron, a Missoula environmental consulting firm. An natural financier, a rarity for river guides, Dave supplements his income in our weekly $5 buy in no-limit hold-em sessions attended by former and current MRG guides such as Trent Sugar Baker, the Spaniard and Joe "Shorty" Jensen. (www.ecology project.org) "Great Trip! Dave handled the boat fabulously. We were all very impressed! Enjoyed floating down the river outside the boat too! Keep up the good work!" -Paula Mrazek  Jeremy MoranA Biologist, expert kayaker and creekboater, wilderness EMT Instructor, raft and kayak instructor and lead guide, Jeremy supervises almost every aspect of the river operation. He's our problem solver, Alberton Gorge ranch manager, and does most of the work while around here while we watch. Jeremy proves that it is possible to be both a workaholic and a raft guide. "Thank you Jeremy.You did a great job guiding our raft through the rapids. We were impressed with your ability to always have the raft in the right place at the right time.You were the best guide we could've hoped for and we don't care what Dave says, we think you're better looking than Keannu Reeves." -D Charles, San Francisco, CA  Gena MooreA veteran guide from Virginia where she has rafted and guided on the Cheat and many other classic eastern whitewater runs, Gena (G-Money) Moore guides with a quiet capable confidence. Gena is completing her degree in Rec Management at the University of Montana and works as a lead guide at here MRG. With 8 years of guide experience, G can be found in the lead raft, running the rapids on the money, and keeping an eye on everyone for us. She sets the standard.  Dan BergerA writer, traveler, and master flyfisherman with a Masters in Environmental Studies, Dan is a legend at MRG where he has never raised his voice except in exhuberance. Dan's responsible for educating the MRG staff on local geology wince his Master's thesis focused on the story of Glacial Lake Missoula. "The whitewater was fun. The scenery was amazing. Dan knew everything there was to know about the river. Thanks for sharing the story of Glacial Lake Missoula with us. The canyon was a wonderful place to teach the kids geology. We'll take those memories home with us and look forward to coming back soon." -M. Nixon, Washington D.C  Jess TuchscererA veteran who has probably guided the Alberton Gorge more than any other human in the last five years, Jess has been the backbone of the guide operation at MRG. As lead riverboard and raft guide, Jess is guiding trips on the Gorge every day. He also knows every eddy of the Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers. A quintessential Montana outdoorsman, Jess spends just about every free minute on the river flyfishing when not guiding whitewater trips. He's forgotten more about insects than the rest of us will ever know. An avid hunter, snowboarder, and riverboarder, Jess has a master's in education and is a teacher. "Jess, That was awesome! We had a blast. Tumbleweed, Fang and the Boateater were incredible. Thanks for the Montana History and the fishing tips. That's the most fun I've had since Michigan Tech. Rip City! P.S. Great Brownies Bernice!" -Jim Vernon, Green Blay WI  Alan BurgmullerAlan Burgmuller – With over twenty years of river experience, lead canoe instructor Alan Burgmuller competes every year at the Open Canoe Whitewater Championships. He knows the Missoula area rivers better than anyone and practically lives on the Bitterroot River. We're lucky to have someone with so much experience, skill and river knowledge at MRG.  Katie CowanPursuing a degree at the University of Florida, Katie introduced herself to MRG as a guest on a raft and riverboard trip. She said, "Hey I'm going to work for you guys next year." And she did. Little did we know she was so capable, warm hearted, and fearless, as well as an experienced boat captain in the Caribbean.  Andy McNaughtA river technician. Andy recently completed his degree in Rec Management at the University of Montana and can be found kayaking Missoula's rivers twelve months a year. A former glassblower Andy brings an artisans approach to guiding raft trips--he's always looking to create the perfect trip for his guests. On full days, his lunch spreads are also works of art. The guy knows the local rivers and know how to guide them. When he's not guiding he's kayaking. Greg Dupont This is no ordinary guide. A rare combination of river athlete, philosopher and whitewater braheem. Greg always downplays his skill and experience (unusual for a river guide) but we have come to know and appreciate what a great guide he is. A former stunt double for Actor Matt Dillon, Greg shares his passion for our local rivers with a suave combination of intellect and humor. He loves to paddle and is kayaking somewhere in South America right now.  Brett MollenhauerA lead riverboard and raft guide at Montana River Guides, Bret is a master of river games and having a great time on the river. Bret's and EMT and leads many of our riverboard trips when not guiding rafts. One of the original New Jersey boys, Brett is quite possibly one of the friendliest people on the planet. You might be surprised to learn that Mollenhauer means "gentle muscles" in the Dutch language. We are lucky to have a guide like Brett who runs the river with style and makes working here more fun.  Brian BonnerAll purpose river athlete. Great guy. 2006 Lightning Champion at MRG. We love and know him as the "Rock Doctor" or perhaps as the "red feathered assassin". B Squared is one of the Jersey Boys that, to our knowledge, has never been arrested. Brian returned to medical school back east but will one day return to guide again for MRG.  Martin BeldenThe new boy wonder. Martin graduated from Sentinal High School in Missoula and parlayed his top-notch swimming and river skills and Montana charm into a job with us as a river guide. Martin has all the makings of a workaholic who keeps it fun. He's an EMT and pro patrols at Discovery Basin. The young man is destined for greatness --in the mean time we're going to try to keep him busy running great raft trips in the summer.  Brittany BrindleyPhotographer, kayaker, teacher, and longtime guide and friend, Brittany now runs PHOTO RAPIDO, the whitewater photography operation at the Alberton Gorge. She does a little bit of everything at MRG, helping us out in more ways than we can list here. Brittany is the nicest, sweetest person we have ever known. It also turns out she is one of the hardest working and toughest--and, when craving chocolate, can even get ornry with Cody. |
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1-800-381-RAFT • 406-273-4718 • E-mail: rivers@montana.com
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