We are dedicated to
providing best-in-class river trips
Our commitment to safety, professionalism, and quality of wilderness experience is second to none. This starts with our vision of excellence and culminates with our team of professionals.
Our Ethos
Adventure
Conservation
Education
Vision
We flow with the river to help slow down time, inspire connections, and share in moments of gratitude.
Mission
Boundary Expeditions is an industry leader in river adventures focused on providing safe, exceptional river experiences while inspiring guests and staff through connections with nature.
Our Team
Our team is composed of backcountry professionals passionate about their careers, rivers and committed to ensuring your safety and an unforgettable experience as you journey through these wild and scenic spaces with us.
Every guide at Boundary Expeditions is medically trained as a Wilderness First Responder or EMT, and certified as a Swiftwater Rescue Technician.
We are excited for you to meet our team and experience the wealth of industry knowledge, eager hospitality, and quick smiles they have to share.
Owners/Trip Leads
Eric Ladd
Owner & Guide
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Eric is also the founder of Outlaw Partners, a media, marketing and events firm in Big Sky, Montana and founder of Outlaw Realty, a top real estate brokerage in Big Sky and Bozeman.
Eli Kretzmann
Operations Manager & Guide
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Where do you call home?
Idaho’s my home state, but these days I live in beautiful Bozeman, Montana.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
Thirteen years of guiding on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River – this place is definitely something special.
When not on the river…
You can find me helping match people with their dream home in Bozeman, guiding tours in the Himalaya, or generally spending time in the great outdoors.
Favorite River Meal?
Anything cooked in a dutch oven.
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
- Your favorite pillow. I always travel with my own pillow.
- River shoes and camp shoes. It’s important to protect and take care of your feet.
- A sense of wonder. There is so much to explore and discover on the river, especially in a wilderness setting like the MFS.
Guides
Jason Moore
Guide
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Where do you call home?
Grew up surfing and fishing in a small little beach town in southern New Jersey and then after traveling for a bit ended up in the high mountains of Colorado for over two decades.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
Start my guiding career on Colorado rivers and I’ve been blessed to have traveled and guided as far away as Tibet and China, Costa Rica, Australia, and, of course, the MFS.
When not on the river…
You can find me guiding for big saltwater fish off the East Coast of the United States, Nicaragua, and anywhere else big fish will chase fur and feathers…
Favorite River Meal?
Any noodle dish… spicier the better.
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
The best river gear you can get a hold of… And your most comfortable sleeping attire… Rest is critical after big days on the water.
Mel Pareti
Guide
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After that very first season spent in West Virginia, she knew that the river would always be a part of her life. With the incredible whitewater also came a family of friends and an amazing community of boaters. Mel guided in West Virginia for a few years, and then in 2006 she also began guiding rivers in Colorado.
Mel spends as much time as possible on the river and loves sharing all things great about river life. The Middle Fork of the Salmon has become a special place to Mel and she’s excited to share its beauty. When not on the Middle Fork, Mel can be found guiding trips on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, adventuring on private river trips somewhere in the west, or at home in the mountain town of Leadville, Colorado enjoying skiing, hiking, and nearby rivers.
Paul Paeth
Guide
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Where do you call home?
Missoula, MT
How many seasons have you been guiding?
I was rowing boats before I was riding bikes but I’ve been guiding professionally for 13 years. I started guiding in MT but it’s the beautiful rivers of Idaho that keep me coming back.
When not on the river…
When not on the MF, you can find me (unsuccessfully) chasing elk in the fall, getting out on the split board, or eating tacos in Mexico.
Favorite River Meal?
Steak Tacos
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
River hat, a wig, and a clean and pressed pearl snap shirt for every night at camp
Josh Dillahunty
Guide
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Where do you call home?
I grew up in rural central Wisconsin. I’ve spent most of my adult life traveling seasonally to guide.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
I’ve been river guiding since 2015. Starting in SE Alaska on glacially braided rivers I instantly fell in love with the freedom and unique access rivers provided. My passion then took me to Australia, Colorado, Costa Rica, Oregon, and Northern California before finding a place in Idaho.
When not on the river…
When not on the Middle Fork you can find me exploring the beaches, forests, and mountains of the west coast, traveling somewhere tropical looking for surf, or hunkered down playing music and sharing laughs with friends.
Favorite River Meal?
Breakfast! Nothing like a cup of tea, some crispy bacon and some warm buttery avocado toast and eggs while taking in the serene beauty of the mist rising where the sun meets the river.
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
A headlamp, dry wool socks, your sense of adventure
Chris Metz
Guide
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Where do you call home?
Grew up in the corn/soybean fields of southeastern Indiana, located in the Ohio River Valley. Cut my whitewater teeth in the Appalachian Hills of West Virginia.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
My first commercial river trip was day one of guide school, that was in the year 2000…
When not on the river…
Depending on the season, I can be found trying to boat any river I can find, walking the woods and mountains in camouflage and hunter orange, or exploring the bike/hiking trails with my wife and two doggies.
Favorite River Meal?
Chicken and Waffles, not something expected on a river trip.
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
1. A good book
2. A hat that needs broken in
3. A great attitude
Ennion Williams
Guide
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As a fly fishing guide for the past 20 years, Ennion has a deep sense for the river and hunting down trout. Ennion first descended the Middle Fork in August of 2019 and immediately fell in love with the river and the mystique of the canyon. Ennion looks forward to guiding anglers on the Middle Fork and sharing this special place with clients.
Cameron Scott
Guide
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Where do you call home?
I grew up in Bend Oregon on the mighty and Beautiful Deschutes River.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
I have been guiding on and off for 28 years. I have been rafting for 25 years. When I discovered I could fly fish and float rivers at the same time, well…
When not on the river…
When I am not on the Middle Fork in the “real” world or the “dream” world, which is most of the time, I am out exploring or hiding in the remotest corners of the American West or fly fish guiding in International Waters.
Favorite River Meal?
My favorite river meal is Hobo Stew cooked in the coals of a warm and glowing bed of coals on the chilly spring floats of early high water runs. Diced vegetables, sausages, potatoes, seasonings garlic; lots and lots of garlic, a bit of butter all wrapped up in two layers of tinfoil and just tossed in the coals. The sounds and smells that emanate to the senses, while you are wrapped up in all the warm clothes you can find, waiting with saliva dripping from the corners of your mouth for the first bite of the best stew ever! Divine, truly divine!
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
“A book to read while sitting on a rock absorbing the sounds and smells of the natural world around you.
A book to write in, so you can express in words to yourself what you are truly experiencing. How your body is reacting to the natural world around you. Diving into your programmed, old ways of thinking or being in the world and comparing them to this new way of thinking and being in the world. What are you noticing? What can you leave on the banks of the river that is no longer serving you and what can you take away with you to incorporate into the life ahead of you.
A camera to take as many pictures as you possibly can so you can forever remember every moment possible! “
Miles Hoover
Guide
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Where do you call home?
Big Sky Montana
How many seasons have you been guiding?
Growing up in Montana allowed me to quickly gain knowledge about rowing a boat. I have always found myself on a raft in the summers. If I’m not in a raft you could probably catch me fishing on my time off. This will be my 5th season with Boundary Expeditions.
When not on the river…
You can find me fishing or camping around Big Sky or out and about with my friends.
Favorite River Meal?
Steak tacos
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
Sunglasses, smile, sunscreen.
Sydney Newell
Guide
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Where do you call home?
I grew up in Smithfield, Utah.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
My first river trip was an overnighter on the Snake River when two years old. Most of my river experience has been on the Salmon River. However, I also grew up running various sections of the Colorado, Green, Yampa, San Juan, and Snake Rivers with family and friends. I started training on the Middle Fork when I was fifteen and began guiding on the Middle Fork when I was seventeen. I spent the last two summers as a lead guide on the Main Salmon. This is my fourth season guiding and I am excited to be back on the Middle Fork!
When not on the river…
When not on the Middle Fork, I can be found in school at Southern Utah University studying Anthropology. On my days off I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, and oil painting!
Favorite River Meal?
My favorite river meal is Salmon with fettuccine alfredo!
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
Chapstick, lotion, and sunglasses are essential to have on the river. You should have at least two chapsticks in case you lose one to the river. It’s always good to rehydrate with lotion before crawling into your sleeping bag and the reflection of the morning sun can be blinding without sunglasses.
Bill Bonner
Guide
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Where do you call home?
Idaho has always been where I call home.
How many seasons have you been guiding?
I’ve been running rivers and river guiding for about 20 years.
When not on the river…
When not on the Middle Fork I can be found on the Clearwater drifting for Steelhead.
Favorite River Meal?
Ka-Bob’s over the coals with salted skirt steak and fresh peaches has been etched in my mind as the best meal I’ve ever had on the river (and off, come to think of it!)
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
Good footwear is a must out on the river, as is a headlamp and your favorite brimmed hat.
Casey Brown
Guide
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Where do you call home?
I grew up in Florida, although I call California my home!
How many seasons have you been guiding?
I have been guiding for 11 seasons. No sign of stopping! The river is my home. I spend all my time chasing rivers and sharing the joy of whitewater.
When not on the river…
When not on the Middle Fork, you can find me dancing my way up a mountain, running rivers around the world, or playing my harmonica on mountain tops with friends.
Favorite River Meal?
My favorite meal? Omg, it has to be river curry! Nothing better than a hot meal on a cool night.
Three things you recommend bringing on the river?
First things first….. sunscreen! The sun is strong! I would also recommend a sweatshirt and lotion after a long day of paddling.
Billy Wall
Guide
Ross Shirkey
Guide
Guest Guides
Seth Dahl
Guide
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After a time in the military, Seth decided to pack up his gear and move to Idaho, with intent to work the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, the “Emerald Queen” of multi-day river trips. Eleven years later, Seth is still deeply in love with the wilds of the river, the people that float it, and the fish that swim it.
He spends his free time on river trips taking photos and drawing. Off the water, his drive for adventure has taken him into many wild corners of this world, mostly in pursuit of whitewater and fish. Seth spends his off-season in Boise, Idaho working for his video production business called Big Cedar Media. He hopes to inspire, motivate, and encourage people through the art of visual storytelling.
Brian Ladd
Guide
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The Middle Fork holds a special place in Brian’s heart and over the years he has come to appreciate the power and sacredness of this very special canyon. His favorite memory of this river was an intimate trip with friends and brother in 2014 when he made the descent in my drift boat, which helped me refine my river reading and rowing techniques in a hard-hulled boat.
Rapids can be had anywhere. Brian feels fortunate to have the opportunity to share this special canyon and environment with new clients (new friends) and the fact that it just happens to have a dense and exciting collection of whitewater is the icing on the cake. When not on the river, Brian runs a real estate team in Bend, Oregon and spends as much time outdoors with his amazing wife and kids as possible.
Linda Wilton
Massage Therapist & Yoga Instructor
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Her passion for sliding downhill on skis led her to move to Big Sky, Montana after graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies.
While living in Montana during her early 20’s, Linda spent a few years ski patrolling and summers were spent rafting the Yellowstone River. It was during these years Linda gravitated towards yoga and bodywork while seeking a physical balance to an active lifestyle. She found herself traveling to Bali for her first yoga teacher training in 2010 and a few months after was led to attending massage school in Bozeman, Montana.
Now, having 10 years of established yoga classes and a massage therapy practice in Big Sky, Linda also enjoys spending several months living in Baja, Mexico during spring and fall. She has fallen in love with surfing the warm blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the community of Southern Baja.
Josh Timon
Guide
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What draws Josh back to the river is the adrenaline rush and respect of the power of the river as well as the experience of Mother Nature while enjoying some hard-to-reach areas only navigable by boat. The Middle Fork of the Salmon offers an environment made up of world class fishing, natural hot springs, breathtaking camping sites and a camaraderie that will last for years. Josh’s passion on the river will be exhibited when you sit down for meals as he enjoys the challenge of cooking in the elements.
Black “Betty”
River Scout
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Betty will join many Boundary guests on their journey through the Impassable Canyon and has logged countless river miles. She is a lab/pointer mix, born on a Montana farm with a strong passion for hunting, fishing and skiing.
She has a keen eye for rising fish and usually spends her afternoons sitting on the shoreline with guests pondering thoughts of the amazing landscape of the Middle Fork.
Interested in a Career with Boundary Expeditions?
Guide Requirements
- Professional guide with strong whitewater background
- Team centered approach to backcountry guiding
- Excellent customer service
- WFR or EMT and SRT certified
- Willing to work hard to execute exceptional trips