Jerry & Carole

Jerry Hughes is a native Idahoan who made his first rafting trip in 1963. 2020 is Jerry’s 55th year of working in this region as a professional guide. Jerry played football for the University of Idaho Vandals and also earned a Bachelor Degree in Business and a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Idaho. Past member of the Idaho State Bar.

Carole Finley was raised in northern Idaho. Carole is an experienced river guide, and has worked in the river outfitting business for 44 years. Carole holds degrees in History and Economics from the University of Idaho. Company Finance Officer and master at heavy duty commercial style sewing in the Hughes boat shop.

Guide Staff

Colin Hughes

Grew up on the rivers.  Started “officially” working with HRE at age 14, and has over the years taken on more responsibilities.  Colin is now Vice President, Designated Agent and Operations Manager of HRE. 2020 will mark his 16th year working on rivers in the west for the company.  A proud University of Idaho graduate in Conservation Social Sciences with an emphasis in Recreation, Resources and Tourism.

Hobbies include snowboarding, upland bird hunting, and fly fishing.  Colin would love to guide you fly fishing for wild cutthroat trout on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, or Selway River, or for smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and sturgeon on the Salmon River Canyons.

Megan Hughes

As the HRE Office Manager she Manages payroll, books, and more and on top of it all is a Dental Hygienist in Missoula, MT.  Lewis & Clark State College  and Montana State University – Billings graduate.  We are lucky that she is willing to put in so much time for HRE around her full-time hygienist job. Loves the river. Colin and Megan have a home in Lolo, MT, 5 minutes from the HRE warehouse.

Bob “Buzz” Brunzell

BS Physical Education and Masters in Sports Science. Coached an 8 man football State Championship team at Cambridge High in 1982. Also coached successful 5A Girls Basketball program at Eagle High. Bob was an Assistant Coach at the 2015 McDonalds All American Girl’s Basketball Game. 2020 is Buzz’s 42nd year guiding with HRE

Tony Herold

Broken hand in the batter’s box ended what should have been college baseball opportunity, turned him to river guiding. Bachelors Degree in Outdoor Recreation from University Idaho. Top notch fishing guide, gear boatman, plus rowing & paddling. “Glue guy” during the summer Middle Fork season.  Tony lives in Stanley, ID.  He is an EMT, Volunteer Fireman, and works in the local construction industry. Tony is world-class on a snowmobile.

Josh Edmunson

Accomplished at many occupations including carpentry, custom furniture building, big game guide, river guide, and personal trainer.  Josh also works with his father’s custom home building business, and they operate a custom sawmill in New Meadows, ID. Quarterback on Council High’s 2006 8 man football State Championship Team.  Expert on all craft. BBQ ace.

Hardy Bender

University of Alabama graduate in Computer Sciences.  Comes from family history of whitewater rafting in the West.   High energy, and always positive.  Expert gear boatman, oarsman, paddle raft captain.  2020 is Hardy’s 6th year guiding with Hughes. Adds a “Southern Flair” to many river menus.  Loves river time.

Ben Frey

Played club and regional lacrosse.  Graduated in History at the University of Idaho.  Avid and expert fisherman! World traveler with a winter base in McCall, ID, near great skiing at Brundage Mtn. 2020 is Ben’s 9th season guiding on the Middle Fork, and 5th season guiding with HRE. Middle Fork ace on all craft. Much valued detail guy.

Mike Anderson

Second baseman on two NAIA National Championship baseball teams, Lewis & Clark State College, Lewiston, ID. Expert fly fisherman, avid outdoorsman, and literary nut! 2020 is Mike’s 7th season guiding in Idaho and the 2nd with HRE.  Valuable and much appreciated addition to HRE Crew!

Hunt Paddison

Experienced boatman on Selway and Salmon Rivers.  Excellent, enthusiastic fly fishing guide. Another University of Idaho alumni to add to the HRE roster.  We are excited to have Hunt on the HRE crew for the Selway.

Gus Schubert

Loves big whitewater! Experienced on Selway, Salmon Canyons, and Middle Fork. Versatile. Excellent fishing guide, and just as good, running gear boats, rowing, or paddling. The only problem with Gus … he’s a University of Montana Griz!

Sara Sweeney

Experienced guide. Great to have Sara on the HRE crew. 2020 is her second year with HRE. Sara is good to go on Salmon River Canyons, Middle Fork of the Salmon, and Selway. High energy veteran. Ski Patrol, Schweitzer Basin in the winter.

Adam Hahn

Grew up fly fishing in SE Idaho on the upper Snake and Henrys Fork. Developed a love for the river at a young age. Graduated University of Idaho, Recreation 2018. Expert fly fishing guide, and on all HRE river craft. Frequent gear boatman. Ski racer in his youth, and works as a coach with the Missoula Valley ski team. Loves to play guitar.

Ashley Hughes

General Studies and Master’s Degrees from University of Idaho. Attended Culinary School, Seattle Art Institute. Won National Outdoor Recreation Award for FFA. Rowed Crew for Washington State University. Grew up on the rivers. Runs the best river kitchen in the business. Ashley is a Junior High Counselor in the Hamilton, MT, Schools. During summer, she splits time between HRE and her counselor duties. Culinary resource for dietary requests.

Mark Macedo

Worked with HRE from age 15 to present. Experienced guide on Middle Fork and Salmon Canyons. Graduate of University Idaho, Conservation Sciences with an emphasis on Hydrology. Mark works for an electrical contractor in Hamilton, MT. We hope Mark can find time for trips in 2020.

Joey Filmanowicz

Working with HRE since 2017. Bachelors Degree from University of Colorado, Environmental Science. Enjoys creating pottery and tie die, rock climbing, fly fishing, rafting, hiking and other outdoor activities. Guide on Salmon Canyons and Middle Fork. Joey is an amazing resource for exciting new recipes and custom menus to accommodate dietary needs/requests.

Ryan McNamara

College student working on a degree in Ecological Management and Restoration, University Montana. Ryan does everything – warehouse projects, drive jobs, swamping on the Middle Fork, and guiding on the Salmon River Canyons. Avid skier & outdoorsman. Much appreciated and versatile member of the HRE crew.

Elliot Natz

Grew up in South Dakota. Moved to PNW to attend University of Montana. Avid backcountry skier, climber, hiker, and boater. Cut his teeth on the Flathead River in Glacier National Park. High school special ed teacher.

Racheal Herskowitz

Middle Fork Salmon ace. She has guided on MFS for many years. You will enjoy her company on the river. Rachel works as a Traveling Nurse when she isn’t in the Frank Church Wilderness. We feel lucky to have her on trips when her nursing schedule allows.

Dagny Duetchman

Dagny Deutchman has been boating in the Frank Church Wilderness over a decade. Since the age of fifteen Dagny has spent every summer of her life out on the water. There is no other place she would rather be. Although Dagny has mainly guided on the Main Salmon river and the Middle Fork of the Salmon river, she has also boated in Montana, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. In the off season you can find Dagny pursing a PhD in Sleep and Mindfulness. She loves a good story, handwritten snail mail and cooking for friends and family on the weekends and dancing the night away. She looks forward to taking you and your loved ones on a magical Idaho river trip.

Steve Wassmuth 

Retired educator who has guided every summer for many years. Grangeville, Idaho native, and veteran guide on Idaho rivers. Steve is welcome when he can fit trips into his summer plans.

Mike Wassmuth

Grangeville, Idaho native who has guided for over 30 years. Great to have Mike on the Crew. He is welcome when he can fit in trips each summer.

Mike Woodman

Retired teacher, basketball & football coach in the states of Idaho & Montana.   Mike has worked with HRE for over 25 years.  He is an avid hiker, fisherman, and outdoorsman in general.  He is a graduate of Great Falls College Montana State University.  His basketball number is retired and hanging in the Great Falls Gym.  Mike has coached State Championship basketball teams – both boys and girls – in Montana and Idaho.

Martin Moore

Colorado State University alumni. Currently, Contracts Manager for Scientech, an engineering consulting business. Idaho resident since 1988. River guide since 1979. Started with Hatch River Expeditions guiding on the Green, Yampa, Colorado and Middle Fork of the Salmon Rivers. Guiding with Hughes River Expeditions for 29 years.

“The Hughes Cavalry”

Alumni who we call on to save the day.

Rob Duran

Bachelor Degree in Outdoor Recreation, University Idaho. Guitar man! Experienced Middle Fork Salmon and Salmon Canyons guide. Lives in McCall, ID. Rob is a licensed building contractor, and works with several other construction companies. He has guided snowmobile trips several winters at Brundage Mountain Ski Area.

Hugh Cooke

Bachelor and Master degrees in Business Management and Recreation Administration. Previously worked in national operations with the US Ski Team. Assoc. Director of alumni Relations U. Idaho, and adjunct faculty member in Parks and Rec. Served on NBC Sports staff past three Olympic Winter Games in ski racing broadcast booth. Third decade guiding in Idaho, nearly 20 years on the Hughes Crew.

Jon Totten

You will enjoy Jon. Jon has fun, works hard, and loves backcountry and rivers. Worked at North Idaho College teaching Outdoor Recreation. Guided with HRE for several summers, while he split time with an ownership role on a Caribbean Sailing business. Jon recently changed goals. Currently working on the family farm in Wisconsin. We hope Jon can pitch in on a trip or two annually.

Chris Guarino

Chris has landed the high tech job of his dreams.  He is a graduate of the University of Idaho.  Chris is a fabulous basketball player and enjoys rafting, hiking and traveling internationally.  We hope to have him work the occasional trip when it works out for him.

Bob Madrazo

Retired teacher/ special education director/ alternative schools principal. Bob, throughout his educational career, worked closely with emotionally disturbed and “at risk” students. Holds numerous educational degrees and credentials. Played college football. Races in sailboat regatta’s throughout the Caribbean in the off season. 32 years guiding with Hughes River Expeditions. Ace fishing guide.

John “JC” Cole

World Traveler and received a BS from U. Vermont. High school biology, chemistry, ecology, and geology teacher for 27 years. Coached high school football, girls basketball, swimming & track. Developed Sun Valley Community School outdoor program, and was academic director for Sun Valley Ski Education Association. Idaho river guide for 40 years.

Doug Rigby

Grew up in Challis, ID. BA in Philosophy at Boise State University. Guide since 1986. Veteran river guide on all Idaho rivers. Married and living in Boise with wife Mary, a family physician and graduate of Cambridge High School.  Working full-time in the building trade.  We hope he can make it out for a couple of trips each season!

Bob Sevy

Veteran Idaho river guide/outfitter, and lifetime friend. River historian and fantastic fly fishing guide.

Eric Nichols

Computer Systems Degree Idaho State University. Computer technician St. Lukes Hospital in Boise.

Justin Erickson

NAIA All American Wrestler. Currently working for U.S. Food & Drug Agency from his home office in Idaho.

Kevin Trainor

Bachelors degree Dartmouth, and Juris Doctorate U. Idaho. College rugby. US Marine Corp Viet Nam photo recon pilot. Commercial pilot, married to Linda (RN) 40+ years, two grown daughters who love to raft. Guide since 1985, with HRE since 1999.

Ben Warren

Bachelors in Education Boise State University. Played football for the Broncos. Owns and operates a tax preparation service. Ace fishing guide and member of Hughes Crew since he was a teenager.

Julien Patrick

Council, ID. Julien Works part time on the Hughes Crew when he isn’t busy with his family’s drywall contracting business. Biggest smile on the crew! Julien likes “river time”

Matt Cox (& dog Shadow)

Independent general construction contractor.  Also works on a crew that does trail, bridge, and campground construction and repair in the backcountry.  Matt and Liz have three beautiful daughters.

Norm Klug

College and semi-pro football, fought three years with Black Belt Karate Studios, Chicago. High school PE, Chemistry, general science teacher. School administrator Clarkston High, WA. Football, basketball and track coach. Masters Degree PE LaCrosse State University, and School Administration degree Washington State. Co-owner Personal Perspectives Northwest. 20 plus years on the Hughes Crew.

Gary Klug

Played Division III college football and baseball in WI. Forty three-year career in education with PhD in physiology from WA State U. Held teaching and research appointments at University’s of Colorado, Konstanz (Germany) and Oregon. Retired from U of Oregon as Head of the Human Physiology Department. HRE guide for almost two decades.

Captain Tom “Wolfie” Wolf

Met Jerry in 1978 on the Middle Fork. Started working with Hughes River in 1985. Currently guiding June to October at a fly out lodge in Alaska and spending winters in Puget Sound area saltwater and freshwater guiding.

Ryan Honsinger

Mechanical Enginnering U. Idaho. Hughes Crew MacGyver for 8 years, we all wondered if anything would work after he left. Using his degree in SLC. We miss you Ryan, come back for a trip here and there.

Ryan Diehl

Bachelors Degree in Outdoor Recreation from University of Idaho. Played football for Idaho Vandals.  Masters Degree in Outdoor Recreation from Utah State University. was the Director of the Outdoor Recreation Program, Montana State University.  Now owns and operates his own small business, Wilder Farm Inn, in Vermont!

Scott Wolter

University of Colorado – Bachelor of Arts – Geography. Lives in Olympia, WA, and works with Environmental Systems Research Institute. Wife Helen, son Jackson, and daughter Kat.

Mark Tabor

Living in Cambridge, ID and managing and care-taking the Selway Lodge with his wife Marge from April to October of every year.

Frank V. “Skipper” Jones

Contractor extraordinare.

 

Hughes Crew Remembrance

Traves Olson

Offensive lineman for Idaho State Bengals. Finance Degree, Idaho State University, and MBA, Boise State. 18 years on Hughes Crew. Married to Julie Robertson, and Dad to wonderful twin daughters – Brooke and Sarah. Worked winters in Chile as a fly fishing guide for 5 years. Travis was a terrific river guide, and a much loved friend of the Hughes Family.  He passed due to brain cancer.  Traves will always be part of the Hughes Crew Hughes Family and fondly remembered by countless river guests and friends.  We miss the “Big Guy”.