Jerry & Carole

Jerry Hughes is a native Idahoan who made his first rafting trip in 1963. He has worked asa licensed guide since 1967. 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. Jerry and Carole worked together on river crews beginning in 1973 before launching Hughes River Expeditions in 1976. Carole holds degrees in History and Economics from the University of Idaho. Master heavy duty seamstress fabricating gear in the company’s Lolo boat shop.

Colin Hughes

Grew up on the rivers.  Started “officially” working with HRE at age 14, and through the years has taken on more responsibilities.  Colin is Vice President, Designated Agent and Operations Manager of HRE. A proud University of Idaho graduate in Conservation Social Sciences with an emphasis on 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. Lewis & Clark State College and Montana State University – Billings graduate in Dental Hygiene and Health Care Administration.  She gives back to the guiding community by volunteering on the board of directors of The Redside Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the health and strength of the guiding communities in Idaho and Montana. 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. On the Hughes Crew since 1978.

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.  You can find his incredible work on instagram @8.8.8_milling.custom.woodwork. 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 crafts. 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.  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. Ace on all craft. Much valued detail guy! Regular off-season repair and maintenance expert in the HRE shop.

Mike Anderson

Second baseman on two NAIA National Championship baseball teams, Lewis & Clark State College, Lewiston, ID. Expert fly fisherman, avid outdoorsman, and camp cook! Literary nut! You’ll love sharing book titles with Mike.  Works fall & winter a Middle Fork Lodge.

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!

Joey Filmanowicz

Working with HRE since 2017. Bachelor 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 all sections of the Salmon. Joey is an amazing resource for exciting new recipes and custom menus to accommodate dietary needs/requests.

Ryan McNamara

University of Montana, Bachelor Degree in Ecological Management and Restoration. Guide on all sections of the Salmon. Avid skier & outdoorsman. Regular off-season repair and maintenance expert in the HRE shop.

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. Grew up ski racing. Loves to play guitar.

Brad Marboe

I was born and raised in southeast Idaho. I learned how to swim when I was 6 in a calm natural spring river in Island Park, Idaho (just south of Yellowstone) at our family cabin my great-grandpa built. I also learned how to start reading river-currents, paddling a canoe on that same river from an early age.  Nowadays, I get the opportunity to share that joy with my fellow coworkers and people who come down the rivers with us at HRE.  I spend my offseason looking for fresh powder in the mountains, going to see live music and going on adventures with my dog, Runa.  Being a part of the HRE family is something that has changed my life for the better and I know the experiences we provide will do the same for our guests! See you OUT there!

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.

Jacob Smith

Experienced guide. Jacob has worked on the Salmon River for over a decade and grew up right on the shores of the headwaters in Stanley, ID.  Jacob lives in Boise, ID and is a Boise State University Grad.  We forgive him for that and love having him on the crew!

Seth Tuttle

Grew up In Forks Washington on the Solduc River. Kayaking, fly fishing, and skiing ace. Forest Resources degree from University of Idaho. Off season ski instructor and traveler. Veteran guide on the Middle Fork, Main Salmon and Salmon Canyons.

Jason “Bucky” Farr

Grew up in Utah. Great skill set including boating, welding, construction and more. Phenomenal guitar player with the voice of an angel. Avid snowboarder. Versatile member of the Hughes Crew. Loves river time!

Jacob Smith

Experienced Middle Fork and Main Salmon guide. Raised on the shores of the Salmon River headwaters in Stanley. Chemical Engineer with a Bachelor Degree from Boise State University. Talented musician. Always welcome on the rivers when he can find time around his engineering career.

Nate “Mad Dawg” Hutchison

Grew up in Kamiah, ID. Phenomenal baker/cook. Started his guiding career on the Lochsa. Veteran guide on the Middle Fork and Salmon River Canyons. Versatile member of the Hughes Crew.

Noah Carr

Grew up in Boise, ID. Grew up rafting all over the state of Idaho. Veteran Main Salmon and Salmon River Canyons guide. Loves a good IPA. Ace on the water and in the warehouse.

Chuck “Moose” McDonell

Veteran guide on all Idaho rivers in addition to Montana’s Flathead, and Eastern Oregon streams. Owners of C&T Car Sales, Moscow, ID. Has worked on the Hughes Crew since mid-80’s.

Fin Langston

Attending University of Colorado, Boulder. Grew up rafting all Idaho rivers with his family. Great addition to the Hughes Crew with expertise on all portions of the Salmon. Fun, high-energy member of the team.

Mira Warner

An Idaho native who spent her summers as a kid playing on the Clearwater river.  Mira’s love and appreciation for water has only grown over the years. Mira loves learning new things and excels in the kitchen.  She enjoys working on a team and HRE has become a secondary family to her.

Cooper Thomas

I’m Cooper Thomas and I live in Orofino,Idaho and I have been white water rafting since I was 5. Thanks to my father and Alan and Mary Hamilton for making me the boater I am today! I am truly grateful to work for Three Rivers Rafting and Hughes River Expeditions they are a great group of people to work with! 

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 Mental Health Counselor in McCall, ID. She also creates incredible self-care products (bath bombs, lotion bars, shower steamers and more) with her business Bertie Beauty (named after her beloved aunt Bertie). You can find her products on instagram @bertiebeauty. During summer, she splits time between HRE, Bertie Beauty and her counselor duties. Culinary resource for dietary requests.

Mark Macedo

Worked with HRE from age 15 to present. Experienced guide on all three sections of the Salmon. Graduate of University Idaho, Conservation Sciences with an emphasis on Hydrology. Mark finds time to fit in trips around his career as an electrician.

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.

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 30+ 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 started his own business, Dogsmile Adventures, a nonprofit in northern Idaho that focuses on therapeutic sailing. We are so excited for Jon’s new adventure and hope he 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 career, worked closely with emotionally disturbed and “at risk” students. Holds numerous educational degrees and credentials. Played college football. Split time between sailing and his home on the banks of the Rogue River in Oregon. 35+ years guiding with Hughes River Expeditions. Ace fishing guide.

 

Doug Rigby

Grew up in Challis, ID. BA in Philosophy at Boise State University. Veteran guide on all Idaho rivers since 1986. Married and living in Boise with wife Mary, a family physician and graduate of Cambridge High School.  Plumbing contractor.  Doug is always welcome when he is available.

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.

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.

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”

 

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

Bachelor Degree in Outdoor Recreation from University of Idaho. Played football for Idaho Vandals.  Masters Degree in Outdoor Recreation from Utah State University. Director of the Outdoor Recreation Program, Montana State University, Bozeman.  Ryan and Rebecca and their children live in Waitsfield, VT, where they own and operate Wilder Farm Inn.

Mark Tabor

Living in Cambridge, ID. Retired after managing the Selway Lodge for over a decade. Always welcome on the Hughes Crew. Veteran boatman on all sections of the Salmon river.

 

 

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”.

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. Died at his mountain home outside Council, ID. Amazing and well lived outdoor life.