Meet our Guides and Staff
Our professional whitewater raft guides at Adirondac Rafting Company strive to provide the best possible experience for you and your family.
We Hire the Best Guides on the Hudson River!
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation maintains a program for the licensing of outdoor guides. From rock climbing to fishing, this program serves to ensure that outfitters provide their guests with talented and professional guides equipped with the skills necessary to provide a fun and safe whitewater rafting experience. Adirondac Rafting Company guides are the best on the river with vast whitewater and wilderness experience.
Raft Guide Olympic Champions
The award-winning Adirondac Rafting Company guide team are the reigning champions of the Hudson River Raft Guide Olympics. We have won the event four times out of the five years it has been held.
It’s a great event for the guides to exhibit their rope work, paddling ability, and whitewater safety skills. You can be sure that there are equal parts camaraderie and competition. We welcome the opportunity to show off our skills and show our support for local businesses and the Hudson River whitewater community.
It’s all good family fun, but make no mistake: We come to win!
Brad
CEO, Guide
Brad is the son of Bob & Kerry, he was practically born in whitewater and when he is not busy guiding trips he is busy teaching Math, Physics, coaching, etc.
Laura
The real boss
They say that behind every great man is a great woman, and so it is the same for our great rafting company.
Bob
Guide / Founder
Bob started Adirondac Rafting Company back in 1997 and has been guiding trips through the Hudson Gorge since the mid 1980’s, yikes.
Kerry
Staff
Bob’s wife, is the nice gal you meet at the River base and most likely chatted with you on the phone. She has a fine collection of Adirondac Rafting items in the store.
Alissa
Guide
Alissa Rafferty, daughter of Bob & Kerry grew up with big brother Brad on the river, she is quite busy with The Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservacy.
Carrie
Guide
Carrie is a well-traveled Adirondack mountain woman with a very wide variety of interests and expertise. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with a wider breadth of knowledge regarding the Adirondack region. She knows every wave in the Hudson Gorge.
TJ
Guide
Guide TJ is the King of whitewater surfing. TJ spends his winters on Ski Patrol at Whiteface Mountain.
Dan
Guide
Dan is our go to family Specialist River Guide and once in a while one of his own lucky kids jumps in a raft with Dad. He also does some great work on the digital end of things here at ARC. Don’t let Dan know I edited his info in.
Willoughby
Guide
A true people person with a knack for creating memorable experiences, Willoughby is your go-to guide for an unforgettable river adventure. When he‘s not navigating rapids and ensuring everyone has a good time, you can find him traveling with his trusty dog, teaching first aid and CPR as an instructor. Willoughby’s ability to connect with others and his love for the river make every trip a guaranteed good time.
Sandy
Guide
Sandy is an Adirondack Renaissance woman! She works as an art teacher, coach, photographer, and raft guide. She‘s easily one of the most experienced guides on the river. When she’s not guiding in the back of a raft, you can usually find her floating alongside in a kayak providing safety and support for the trip.
Billy
Guide/ Exp outdoors owner
Big Wheels has achieved Celebrity Guide Emeritus status at ARC, returning periodically as a special guest star! After guiding with us for many years, Billy founded the Experience Outdoors zip lines and ropes course near Lake Placid. We encourage you to check it out!
Jeff
Guide
Jeff is the ultimate all-season back-country Adirondack guide. As comfortable behind the controls of his plane as he is with a paddle in his hand, Jeff runs the river with the best of them. Rafting the mighty Hudson with Guide Jeff is half party, half adventure, and 100% whitewater fun.
Drew
Guide
By day, Drew inspires young minds as a dedicated music teacher, but come summer, he trades his classroom for the thrill of the river. With a passion for the great outdoors, Drew spends his summers guiding whitewater rafting adventures and serving as a mountain steward in the high peaks of the Adirondacks. His dual love for music and nature makes every trip with him a harmonious blend of excitement and serenity.
Matt
Guide / O.G.
An original founder of Adirondac Rafting Co, Matt L now graces the river as a celebrity guide, making special appearances a couple of times each summer. While his main job is serving as a paramedic at the Olympic venues in Lake Placid, Matt’s heart remains tied to the river where his passion for adventure and safety shines through in every trip.
Mo
Guide
With the best personality on the river, Mo is the go-to guide for Adirondac Rafting, capable of handling families with ease or entertaining rowdy groups. Her infectious energy and warm demeanor create an atmosphere of fun and excitement on every trip, ensuring that every rafter, regardless of age or temperament, has a fantastic time on the water.
Len
Guide / O.G.
Len is one of the original guides from the beginning of recreational whitewater rafting on the Upper Hudson River. His experience literally traverses five decades. When Len was a rookie guide the glaciers were receding and there were still mammoths wandering about. He knows the botany of the Hudson River Gorge better than anybody due to his role as a Head Forester formerly managing the woods around the river.
Matt C
Guide
Matt C. brings his expertise as a tech teacher to the river, sharing his passion for paddling and the great outdoors with every adventurer he meets. When he’s not in the classroom, Matt can be found guiding whitewater rafting trips, where his enthusiasm and knowledge ensure an unforgettable experience for all.
Greg
Guide
Greg is a champion ski racer and works as a ski patroller nationally. His keen eye and attention for detail makes him a valued and integral member of the ARC family. His positive energy, tremendous river knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport of rafting is legendary. His guide spiel is a master class in whitewater paddling and river lore.
Matt S
Guide
Matt S. spends his winters ensuring safety on the slopes as a ski patrol and his summers guiding exhilarating rafting and canoe trips. His year-round dedication to outdoor adventure and safety makes him a knowledgeable and reliable guide, ready to provide unforgettable experiences on both water and snow.
Jackson
Guide
Known as Goldi Lox, Jackson is a freestyle ski coach who shares his expertise and passion for skiing both in the winter and summer. When he’s not coaching on the slopes, Jackson brings his adventurous spirit and skills to the river as a whitewater rafting guide, ensuring every trip is as dynamic and exciting as his freestyle moves.
Tyler
Guide
Tyler, a talented musician with his own bluegrass band, brings a unique blend of rhythm and adventure to his role as a whitewater rafting guide. Having worked in a variety of outdoor jobs, Tyler’s diverse experience and love for the great outdoors make each rafting trip a harmonious and memorable adventure.
Mack
Guide
Mack is an extraordinary outdoor educator and guide, renowned for his exceptional leadership in the realm of outdoor adventure sports. Armed with a bachelors in Expeditionary Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh, he has unleashed his insatiable thirst for excitement through a captivating odyssey of work, travel, and exploration. His daring escapades encompass invigorating sea kayaking escapades in the untamed Pacific Northwest, as well as the heart-pounding role of a masterful whitewater kayak and rafting guide on a multitude of the exhilarating rivers that crisscross our remarkable nation. Notably, his expertise also extends right to our own backyard, the awe-inspiring Adirondacks!
Will
Guide
Will is a young, strong, and energetic college student who brings his vibrant enthusiasm to the river as a whitewater rafting guide. His youthful energy and passion for adventure ensure that every trip is filled with excitement and fun, making him a favorite among rafters of all ages.
Emory
Guide
A true whitewater enthusiast, Emory‘s passion for adventure knows no bounds. Whether he’s kayaking the gnarly rivers around the country, rock climbing, ice climbing, snowboarding, or mountain biking, Emory is always seeking the next adrenaline rush. Currently out west, Emory plans to bring his love for adventure back east soon, where he’ll continue to share his passion as a whitewater rafting guide, inspiring others to embrace the thrill of the outdoors.
Dennis
Transportation Specialist
Adirondack Whitewater Rafting