Family-owned since 1979 – Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Meet the Guides
Lily Shipley
Lily joins Dave Hansen for her fifth season! With 4 years of guiding experience and certification in First Aid, Wildlife First Aid, and CPR, Lily is a pro. An east coast transplant, Lily grew up in Brunswick, Maine. In college she studied health science and public health at Northwestern University. She went on to get her masters of education in science from Western Governors. When Lily isn’t on the river, you can find her mountain biking, gardening, cooking, running, enjoying local music in town, eating at King Sushi, or spending time with her german shepherd, Ranger. Additionally she loves hiking to Table Mountain and Delta Lake. During the school year she teaches at Jackson Hole Middle School. If you want to see wildlife, you’re in luck. Lily is one of very few guides that have seen both mountain lions and bears on her tours. Lily encourages her rafters to ride the bull, trust their guides, and of course, WEAR SUNSCREEN!!
Eli Oakes
We’re so lucky to have Eli with us for a second season! She rocked the office last year but decided she really wanted to experience the river firsthand after working with our family at DH and getting a taste of river life! She’s from Spartanburg, SC and got her Environmental Arts and Humanities degree, and minor in Theatre Arts at University of the South: Sewanee. She developed a passion for outdoor education through experiences working with Moondance Adventures and NOLS. She has her Swiftwater, WFR, CPR, and AVY 1 certifications – along with her amazing ability to make friends with anyone, you’ll never have a dull moment when you’re on her raft!
Jessica Freeze
Jessica is joining Dave Hansen for her fourth season! She has three years of guiding experience and Wildlife First Aid certification under her belt. Jess is originally from Jackson, WY but spends her off season in Colorado Springs where she attends the University of Colorado (UCCS). While at UCCS, she studies Nursing and plays on the soccer team. If Jess isn’t on the river, you can find her on top of a mountain or on the soccer field. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, and eating at Local Restaurant and Bar. Jess’s number one rule for rafters is if everyone swims in the river, she will too. If you’re in her raft, get ready to swim!
Callie Lajza
Callie was born in Gainesville, FL! She attended University of Central Florida and College of William & Mary where she got her B.A. in Communications and Nonprofit Management, and her M.E.D. in Outdoor Education and Leadership! She’s a natural at anything she tries! She’s certified in Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Responder, FA/CPR, LNT Master Education, AND Yoga instructing! What can’t she do?! She’s always down for a dance party, she’s great at hula hooping and always has a set of rollerblades ready for an adventure. You’ll always have a blast with Callie!
Ryan Mucha
Though Ryan can pick up anything athletic in about two seconds, his specialties are snowboarding and rock climbing. Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, Ryan grew up hiking and snowboarding constantly, putting him in great shape for the track star he would soon become in high school. Ryan attended Penn State and earned degrees in both economics and accounting. After college, Ryan made his way to Houston to work in oil and gas finance. After figuring out finance wasn’t his thing, he left Houston to fulfill his calling to the outdoors in Jackson Hole. When Ryan’s not on the river, you can find him cheering on any Penn State sports team or dining out at Glorietta. We are so lucky to have Ryan on the river with us this year!
Jessie Castelo
Jessie is joining Dave Hansen for her first season. She is from Santa Fe, NM. She attended Evergreen State College in Washington where she studied Sociology and Global Health. Jessie likes riding bikes, climbing, reading, crafting, playing board games, and daydreaming of where she’ll travel next. If she’s not on the river, you can find her at Cowboy Coffee, in the mountains, at the library, traveling in her 16 foot trailer, or napping outside. Jessie is awesome with children and has a lot of experience working with them. She loves to see kids comfortable in natural, outdoor settings. If you raft with Jessie, she encourages you to never forget how to play, to ask questions so all can learn, and to crack cheesy jokes.
Hunter Verde
Hunter is one of our senior guides as he joins Dave Hansen for his sixth year! From Beaumont, Texas, Hunter attended Ole Miss where he studied Political Science. Hunter is a volunteer Firefighter and EMT with Jackson Hole Fire EMS. He has kayaked down the Grand Canyon and even took a 10 day trip down the Karnali River in Nepal. In his free time, Hunter likes to kayak, ski, have cheeseburger picnics, and listen to Widespread Panic or Grateful Dead. If he’s not on the river, you can find him at the StageCoach Bar and Grill, ‘kicking it with the sons’, or maintaining his handlebar mustache. Hunter encourages his rafters to relax and enjoy the ride!
Trevor McLaughlin
Trevor is joining Dave Hansen for his first season, however being behind the oars is not new to him. He has four years of guiding experience on the Animas River in Durango, CO and the Payette River in Banks, ID. From Natick, Massachusetts, Trevor grew up on a dog boarding kennel where he groomed and trained hunting dogs. Here he found a love for dogs and now owns a poodle.Trevor likes to ski, fish, mountain bike, and be outside. You can find him eating at Sweetwater Restaurant, making his own whitewater guide paddles, oars and drift boat, or on the skating rink throwing some axels and spins. With his guests, Trevor likes to talk about the ecology of the natural world. He has warned us that he has some games and jokes up his sleeve, so get ready!
Nolan Jaenicke
Nolan joins Dave Hansen for his first season. Nolan is a true Midwest transplant. From Traverse City, MI, he attended University of Colorado- Boulder to study International Affairs. He even had the chance to study abroad in Valparaiso, Chile. Following school, he spent a year guiding on the Roaring Fork River in Colorado and Arkansas rivers. In addition to his years of guiding experience, he is trained to perform CPR, First Aid, and Advanced Wilderness First Aid.When Nolan is not on the river, you can find him dreaming about ski lines, mountain biking, climbing, hiking, or completing the Ski tour in the Grand Tetons. Even a compound tib/fib fracture can’t stop him! This fall, he plans to travel to Southeast Asia or South America. Nolan encourages his rafters to enjoy the time they have on the water because you never know when you will be out there again.
Tyler Thirloway
Tyler is joining us for his third year at Dave Hansen. Although he calls Seattle, Washington home, he knows his way around the Snake. During college, Tyler attended University of Puget Sound to study religion. When Tyler isn’t on the river, he can be found running, biking, fly fishing, climbing, or eating at Brew Pub. One interesting hobby of Tyler’s is building bamboo- frame bikes. When Tyler wants to get away, he travels in his 16 Sunrise trailer and escapes into the mountains.Tyler loves to answer rafter’s ‘dumb questions’ so be sure to think of some good ones and ask them!
CT Marsh
CT joins Dave Hansen for his third year of guiding! From Baltimore, Maryland, CT attended Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania. While in school, he studied Business and Geosciences while starting on the college’s football team.CT is the fourth Clarence Talmage Marsh in his family. He enjoys biking, skiing, going to the movies and attending concerts. If he’s not on the river, he is probably at Chick- fil- A or Lucky’s Market. During the offseason, CT spends his time traveling and biking. CT encourages his rafters to do boat flips. If you need help, you’re in luck- CT is a pro!
Sandy Feuer
Sandy is joining Dave Hansen for his first year of guiding! From Hanover, NH, Sandy moved to Colorado Springs where he attended Colorado College and studied Environmental Policy. Sandy became passionate about rafting after he took two trips down the Grand Canyon and a trip down the Zambezi in Zambia. Before moving to Jackson, Sandy lived in Africa where he played soccer and worked for Grassroot Soccer. When he’s not on the river, you can find him playing soccer, hiking, snowboarding, and eating at Calico Restaurant. Sandy encourages his guests to study up on their sports because he’ll have some sports trivia coming their way!
Patrick Campbell
Patrick joins Dave Hansen for his first year of guiding. From Dallas, TX, Patrick attended Dartmouth where he studied Anthropology. Patrick enjoys hunting, golfing, hiking, playing and coaching lacrosse, and watching TV with his Corgi puppy. He likes to hang out with his friends on the water during the summer and on a mountain during the winter. Anywhere that Patrick does not get cell phone reception is where he likes to be! If Patrick is not on the river, you can find him at The Bird for half price wing night, at Jackson High coaching Lacrosse, or you won’t be able to find him because he doesn’t have reception! Patrick encourages his rafters to take a swim and try out rowing for a bit of the trip!
Blair Johnson
A lifelong lover of water, Blair was born on the bayou in New Orleans, LA, an alligator serving as her midwife. During her early infancy years, her wet nurse was a stripper from Bourbon Street and she was bottle fed hurricanes. Blair attended Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, TN where she studied English Literature and Women’s and Gender Studies. She also played volleyball her first two years before deciding life was better as a retired Division III collegiate athlete. Three weeks after graduating, Blair packed her bags and drove out west to move to Jackson Hole. Although last summer she worked in the office for Dave Hansen, she is stoked to be on the river this summer as a guide. If she isn’t talking your ear off about how amazing New Orleans is, she might be able to point out a few bald eagles or at least point you in the direction of the best burger in town (Local Restaurant and Bar). When not guiding on the river, you can find Blair on the tennis courts, on a hike in GTNP, or in her bed binge eating ice cream.