Our Travel Specialists

Peter Grubb & Betsy Bowen

Founders

Having discovered whitewater raft guiding on the East Coast while attending college, Peter moved to Idaho in 1979 and founded ROW as a company focused on wilderness rafting trips.  His exposure to the earth's communities through travel, coupled with attendance at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland where he studied the "Great Books," mythology, and western civilization, led he and Betsy to Turkey in 1984 where they launched ROW's first international trip.  ROW has since branched out to over 25 countries throughout the world and Peter usually does the initial research and new tour development.  Peter has a passion for nature, travel, reading and learning and believes strongly in the positive power of travel and the ways it can improve the lives of everyone touched.  He speaks French, basic Spanish, plays the guitar and is still very involved in the company, wearing a number of hats and guiding in the field as time allows.  He has served on a number of Boards, including the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association,  Idaho Rivers United, the Spokane Center for Justice, and the America Outdoors Association. 

Co-owner of ROW, Betsy Bowen was a professional ceramicist prior to her immersion in ROW, and has always been an anchor in the sometimes turbulent seas of business.  A favorite among guides, Betsy led many of ROW's early rafting trips as well as yachting tours to Greece, Croatia and Turkey.  Once her daughter Mariah and son Jonah were born in the early 1990's she transitioned to the challenging world of motherhood, imparting to her children her passions of skiing, art, creativity and giving to others. She has been sanctioned as the "Director of Other Stuff" because of her wide variety of talents including project management, plumbing, wiring and logistical expertise. Her artistic eye is evidenced throughout ROW as well.  Nowadays she is less involved in the day-to-day doings of ROW, but remains a vital part of our team.

Juggling the demands of the ROW Family of Companies (ROW Adventures, Adventure Unbound, Sea Kayak Adventures) keeps life vibrant and Betsy and Peter are both a wealth of knowledge, experience, and most importantly, care and support for the entire team.

Michelle Darnell

Director of Marketing

Michelle has found her home at ROW Adventures as our Director of Marketing.  Graduating from Whitworth University with a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education and Kinesiology, Michelle forewent her dreams of teaching in lieu of opportunities in the outdoor recreation industry.  For the past 16 years Michelle has focused her time and energy into roles that support outdoor recreation and travel.  As a proud mom of two, Michelle has a renewed passion for this work; hoping to inspire the next generation to love, nurture, enjoy, and beocme stewards of our natural resources and outdoor spaces. 

Michelle and her Family love new adventures, whether it’s exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest or discovering a new International destination, they’re happy when the scenery is new and unexpected. A few favorites are Acadia National Park, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Quebec City.   Michelle is a doting mom, an avid sports fan, loves to cycle, and doesn’t take herself too seriously! If you run into her, she’s likely to have a smile on her face, a coffee in her hand and a few good books ready to go on her kindle app. 

Candy Bening

Sales Manager

Raised in Santa Cruz, California. WW Rafting guide since 1989: CA, ID, MT. Moved to Idaho in 1993; and joined ROW in 1994.

After spending 10 yrs in the high-tech industry, Candy made a life-altering change and became both a rafting guide and ski patroller. In her over 25 years with ROW, she has worked in the field guiding, evaluating, managing, and traveling with ROW thus gaining first-hand knowledge of all the ID, MT & OR rivers and many of the Int’l vacation experiences including the Galapagos Islands. 

Her friendly, outgoing personality, as well as her expertise, has made her succeed in the office overseeing sales, and assisting guests by offering suggestions and solutions to ensure each person/family has the best time ever! Candy, along with her husband and two girls, are avid white water rafting enthusiasts. Together they have joined ROW on rivers all over the West.

Destination Specialties: USA Rivers

Favorite Trip: "There is no better place than the river canyon you are in"

Tom Scarborough

Area Manager

Guide since 2003: WA, OR, ID. Joined ROW in 2007. Tom has a unique skill set. He is able to recite Dr. Seuss’ poem “The Lorax” from memory, brew a mean pint of beer, drive a bus, milk a cow, cook a tasty Dutch oven lasagna, and write a Microsoft Access database. On top of all that, Tom is a great guide and a wealth of information about the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains. He currently manages ROW’s Rogue River operation where he sings guests to sleep with the smooth sounds of the 70s and his signature number “Waltzing with Bears”. Originally from New York, Tom has a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cornell University and an extensive work history ranging from a YMCA summer camp director, to transportation director for a Washington ski area, and finally a river guide. Tom also has a passion for all things bacon, tinkering and pop music.

Guiding Destinations: Rogue River, Owyhee River, Grande Ronde River

Rian Garn

River Guide

Originally from Arizona, Rian says that she never set out to be a river guide but was “scouted” while working at a wilderness lodge on Oregon’s Rogue River. A group of guides suggested it was something she would be great at and she has been “happily rowing rivers ever since”. Rian is highly active in queer advocacy and representation in the outdoor community. She adores the rivers in the Pacific Northwest for their “unparalleled natural beauty and human history”, with the joy of successfully rowing the “Greenwall” rapid on the Illinois River among her highlights. When Rian’s not on the river, you’ll find her traveling the country, listening to podcasts about wilderness journeys, and finding creative ways to share her love of gardening, history, and environmentally friendly beauty products with others. 

Guiding Destinations: Rogue River

Erika Anderson

Adventure Consultant

Erika was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, spending most of her childhood in the beautiful San Juan Islands before moving to Coeur d'Alene at the age of 14. Her passion for travel began after high school, when she graduated and went straight to Europe for a 3-month backpacking trip with her best friend. This life-changing experience ignited her love for exploring the world and set the foundation for her career. While pursuing her degree in Business Management, she was offered a travel consultant position at a local agency and quickly found her true calling in the travel industry.

Over the next 10 years, Erika helped countless clients plan extraordinary trips, becoming an expert in adventure travel. In addition to crafting unforgettable itineraries, she immersed herself in many unique experiences—cliff jumping in Ireland, kayaking and swimming with manatees in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, scuba diving in Iceland's glacier waters, and hiking through England's beautiful Lake District. These adventures fueled her passion for adventure travel, and she now specializes in curating off-the-beaten-path experiences for fellow explorers.

Outside of work, Erika enjoys spending time with her son and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Whether hiking, spending the day on the lake, or winning a game of Texas Hold 'Em against her 4 uncles, she values time spent in nature and making memories with loved ones.

Zeb Williams

River Guide

Zeb first discovered his love for the river as a teenager and has been hooked from the start. He began guiding in 2005 and has since worked on rivers across Tennessee, West Virginia, Colorado, and Idaho. A self-described jack of all trades, Zeb brings a background in fabrication, welding, and problem-solving to life on the river, along with years of experience running his own businesses. After raising his daughters, he’s now fully embracing time on the water and the opportunity to meet new people along the way. Zeb has a deep appreciation for wild, untouched places, and while he’s guided many rivers, the Gauley River in West Virginia will always feel like home.

Chee Chin

Accountant

Chee Chin was born and raised in Malaysia. She was the Staff Accountant for a Timber Industry Company in Malaysia before she and her Family migrated to the Untied States in 2007, settling in Butte Montana. There Chee Chin joined Town Pump Inc. at their home office as a Property Management Accountant for 8 years. In 2016 Chee Chin moved with her family to Coeur d' Alene so she could stay close to her sister and other family members who live in the area. 

Chee Chin is excited to be part of ROW's Famliy as the Corporate Accountant. When Chee Chin is not working she enjoys cooking, gardening and traveling. 

Specialty: Numbers and smiles

Favorite Trip: Coming soon

Kristen Petros

River Guide

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Kristen fell in love with the river around five years ago when a friend took her down the Payette. Since that time, she has worked as a river guide in Montana, taking inspiration from the incredible natural scenery she has encountered and the people she has met along the way. Kristen is a qualified physical therapist who is passionate about treating people with neurological injuries and the geriatric population. Ultimately, she wants to creatively assist people in achieving their highest level of independence so they can explore the world around them. When she’s not on the river or at work, you’ll find her snowboarding, mushroom foraging, and backpacking, with one of her most memorable experiences being climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.  

Rylee Muir

Content Coordinator

Growing up in Utah, Rylee was always drawn to the outdoors. After studying at the University of Utah, she headed west to Washington, where the rivers, rainforests, and coastline quickly made the Pacific Northwest feel like home. She took up whitewater kayaking and rafting as a year-round passion, finding just as much joy paddling in the rain as on the rare sunny days.

With a background in marketing and a deep connection to the river, Rylee found the perfect fit at ROW, where she brings adventures to life through storytelling. When she’s not behind the screen you’ll find her paddling Washington’s rivers, backpacking, traveling, or spending time with friends and family.

Ellie Shandro

River Guide

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Ellie grew up on the rivers of the Northwest, spending summers on the Salmon and Payette with friends and family. She started guiding at a young age and has been on the water ever since, now working across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Currently she’s studying Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

When she’s not guiding, you’ll likely find her searching for hot springs or relaxing in a hammock with a good book, but she’s always happiest on the water.

Monica Sanchez

Baja Naturalist and Sea Kayak Guide

Now in her fifth season with ROW Sea Kayak Adventures in Baja, Monica loves the water, and everything surrounding it. She is especially passionate about whales and dolphins. Monica always dreamt of being a wilderness explorer like the journalists in National Geographer magazine. Due to her love for both the ocean and marine mammals, she decided to work at an aquarium in the Caribbean where she worked as a dolphin and sea lion trainer for a couple of years.

While she loved being so close to the animals, she realized she would rather see them in the wild, in their natural habitat. Monica discovered Sea Kayak Adventures was looking to hire a naturalist for their Baja whale watching tours, and applied. The day she was hired was "one of the best days of my life; my dream came true. I will be in the wilderness, observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat."

Monica loves that every day as a guide is a new adventure, a new experience, and a surprise, where the unexpected is the norm. She loves sharing her excitement and passion for nature with guests, as well as hearing about their stories. She loves knowing that the time she shared with them in nature gave them something special that they will remember for the rest of their life.  When she's not guiding, Monica likes to hike, explore, and travel. She also loves reading about marine life and nature, and discovering new places where she can practice stand-up paddle boarding. In the off-season, Monica works as a reporter.

Molly Havriliak

Adventure Consultant

Molly was raised, and spent her formative working years, in a small town in the beautiful state of Rhode Island. In 2022, she traded the ocean for the river to come join the ROW Adventure team. Shortly after arriving, Molly dipped her paddle into the St. Joe River and has since fallen in love with the rapids and pines of Idaho! Molly is a self proclaimed "class 11 people person" and is happy to spend her days helping guests find and plan their dream vacations. 

When Molly's not helping others plan their next big adventure, you can find her outside with her beloved dog Sadie! Together they enjoy camping, playing tennis, fetching, biking or stretching out in the grass with a good book. The idea of not going inside until the street lights come on, or the stars come out, is her life motto. Molly is generally just happy to be wherever she is. 

Dani Banks

Adventure Consultant

Born and raised in Washington, Dani has always felt most at home under an open sky. Whether she’s floating whitewater or carving fresh powder, her love for the outdoors runs deep.

After earning her B.A. in Outdoor Recreation Leadership from Eastern Washington University, Dani found her perfect fit with ROW, where she now gets to blend her passion for wild places with her commitment to protecting them. Helping others discover the magic of the natural world isn’t just part of the job, it’s part of who she is.

When she's off the clock, you'll likely find Dani with a book in one hand and a strong cup of espresso in the other. Or maybe she's off splitboarding with her dad, getting lost on a backpacking trail, or expertly avoiding that one house project that’s been on her to-do list for far too long. (But hey, if “going on adventures” isn’t a good excuse, we don’t know what is.)

Sebastian Jurado

Galapagos Adventure Guide

After growing up in a small town in a valley of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador near the city of Quito, Sebastian decided to travel to Santiago de Chile to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Administration. His eagerness for travel took him on a backpacking adventure through Canada and United States for 9 months. Having perfected his English, he started guiding in Ecuador in 1998. 

As a young nature-lover interested in natural history and ecology, nature filming, photography, alternative energy, ecotourism development, and outdoor sports his career took an interesting path on the exciting soft-adventure world. In order guarantee travelers’ safety, Sebastian has been Wilderness Advanced First Aid certified for more than a decade. 

Maia DeGaetano

Marketing Manager

Maia was raised in the Pacific Northwest which has left a lasting imprint on her identity. After graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Environmental Studies and Communications she quickly knew she wanted to dive deep into the outdoor industry.

Maia found her role at ROW to be the perfect melting pot of her educational background and personal experience. She loves sifting through photos of rivers and sharing blogs about the outdoors as her job. As a remote employee, she doesn’t stay in one place for too long as she loves to travel and explore new places. Maia will always say yes to new expereinces and crazy adventures.

When she’s not working, you can find her in different corners of the world rock climbing, or closer to the ground on her little green raft.

Mia Perez

Operations Manager

Originally from Fresno, CA, Mia fell in love with the outdoors during a nine-day backpacking trip in high school—her first time ever sleeping under the stars. That experience set her on a path of outdoor leadership, eventually returning to lead a 13-day women’s youth backpacking trip for the same organization. In 2018, she learned to guide rivers privately with her cousin, a long-time guide, and soon after began leading trips for her university’s outdoor program. She later guided commercially on the South Fork of the American River before joining the ROW team.

Mia holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Sacramento State and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Outdoor Recreation Economy at the University of Colorado Boulder, along with certificates in Public Land Management and Inclusivity & Belonging in the Outdoors. Now part of ROW’s operations team, she brings a love of puzzles, planning, and people to the behind-the-scenes magic. When she’s not on the river or at her desk, you’ll likely find her baking, puzzling, or on the hunt for the best new coffee shop in town. 

Alejandra Mosquera

Galapagos Adventure Guide

Alejandra was born and raised in Quito. She believes that there is nothing better than opening her eyes and seeing the beauty of the marvelous Andes, their colors, wildlife, and scenery. Even though she never thought about becoming a guide, she realized this activity would be her future during her first trip in the university. She has been sharing her passion and love for Ecuador since 2006, and obtained her Wilderness Advanced First Aid certificate four years ago. In her free time, she likes to explore Ecuador with her four-year-old daughter, Manuela, who shares the same passion for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands as her mother. She also enjoys outdoor sports including kayaking and stand-up paddling.

Cole Gustavson

River Guide

After studying accounting at Adams State University Cole knew he wanted to be on the river. Born and raised in Durango, Colorado, Cole spent plenty of time on the river and in the San Juan Mountains as a kid. He was a competitive wrestler for most of his life including through college. He recently moved to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho for a slower pace of life and to continue river guiding in a new environment. In the off-season, you can find Cole on the mountain skiing or snowboarding. If you catch him on the river, you can call him by his nickname, “cole-slaw!”

Peter Jacobson

River Guide

Originally from Redondo Beach, California, Peter grew up immersed in ocean life—racing outrigger canoes, paddle boarding, and soaking up long beach days with family and friends. He first discovered whitewater during his time at Southern Oregon University through the Outdoor Program, where he helped lead camping trips and got his first taste of river guiding. After graduating with a degree in Computer Science, Peter took a leap and guided his first overnight trip on the Lower Klamath in 2022 and he’s been hooked ever since.

Peter has guided in both Oregon and Idaho, drawn to the incredible natural beauty, rich history, and sense of community the rivers offer. A licensed pilot and lifelong learner, he brings curiosity, creativity, and a knack for storytelling to every trip (ask him about his elevator lecture at guide school). Off the river, he’s either snowboarding, mountain biking, or helping build the Ashland Fringe Festival into a nonprofit supporting underrepresented artists. And at the end of the day, you can find him sharing laughs with friends or hanging with his cat, Snips.

Jonah Grubb

VP/General Manager

Guide since 2011 MT, ID, WA, OR, China, joined ROW 2010. Jonah's first rafting trip was on the Salmon River at 9 months of age and it's fair to say he has grown up rafting. Since becoming a guide, he has become an avid kayaker and all around outdoorsman spending his free time climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking and hiking. He also loves projects and can be found helping friends upgrade their houses or building out their camper vans. After graduating from Pomona College with a Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Jonah found himself travelling the world, including spending a year in China raft guiding on the Salween and Daqu (upper Mekong) river and kayaking on days off, including a solo kayak first descent on the Kanas river in the far northern region of Xinjiang. Now back in Idaho, Jonah has taken on the role of ROW's Operations Manager with a hand in the logistics of all our trips across four states. 

DJ Means

Ride Our World Bike Guide

Coming soon...

Jonas Jacobs

River Guide

Jonas got into guiding during his freshman year at Utah State University—when he and his best friend decided working the river all summer was the perfect plan. Turns out, it was. Since then he’s guided in Moab and Colorado’s Royal Gorge, and now he’s stoked to bring his energy and experience to the rivers of Idaho and Montana. Both places he's dreamed of guiding.

He once built out his car in two days and lived in it for five months, so he’s no stranger to dirtbag efficiency. Jonas loves sushi, exploring new places, and fears golf courses (he’s allergic to grass). Jonas is currently studying Outdoor Product Design. He’s known for his creativity, people skills, and love for connecting with guests—especially when he can mix in a little art or storytelling. One of his most unforgettable moments? Watching a solar eclipse from the desert while climbing Utah’s Castleton Tower. When he’s not on the river, you’ll probably find him rock climbing, tackling craft projects, or listening to his favorite book, Dune.

Johnny Nelson

Operations Manager

From the Silver Valley city of Kellogg, Johnny Nelson has been kayaking since he was a teenager and spent his summer vacations on family camping trips exploring the great outdoors. He says that one of his most treasured childhood memories is sitting on the docks in Harrison and watching the sky ignite with fireworks above. Johnny is currently completing his Associate of Arts in Outdoor Recreation while guiding clients through the wilds of Idaho and Washington. He says it was adventuring on Hawaii’s Molokini Island that sealed his fate to work in the outdoors and pursue a guiding career. When he’s not on the river, Johnny is out hiking with his wife and dogs, playing djembe drums, and cooking up a storm alfresco.

Maria Rosa

Caribbean Program Manager

María Rosa was born and raised in Havana, Cuba and for many she is as Cuban as it gets. She started guiding as a part time job during her last year of college. After graduating, she worked as a teacher in the university of Havana and continued guiding part-time until eventually she decided to do it full time. She loves teaching and she found guiding equally rewarding. She met her husband while guiding on a kayak trip and from that moment on she joined our adventure family. She has worked for Row since 2016 from Cuba and now from Portland, Oregon where she has lived for the past 2 years with her husband and her 4 Cuban fur babies.

Khushi Shah

River Guide

Khushi was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah! It was during college, where she is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, that she discovered how fun it is to frolic outside! She fell down the rabbit hole pretty quick, and spent the last two summers river guiding in Tennessee and Colorado. She now runs a club at the University of Utah that leads rafting, climbing, canyoneering, and backpacking trips to help women and non-binary folk find a silly and sparkly community in outdoor spaces. Her efforts to avoid her computer science homework aren't limited to the great outdoors. She loves to make art and sew! Ask her about her qwoot (quilt sweatsuit), her fleece fairy dress, or ask her to do henna on ya!

Michael (Mike) Mourar

River Guide

Philadelphia-born Mike Mourar has been hooked on rafting since he first flipped on the Lower Youghiogheny River at the age of 12. He’s since completed a BS in Outdoor Adventure Education and an AA in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and has guided trips throughout Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Costa Rica. He says that it’s the beauty of floating through remote wilderness areas that inspires him to be a guide, with a highlight of his career being NOT flipped on the Grand Canyon’s Crystal Rapid while running the river at 40,000 CFS. One of his most amazing life experiences? Climbing an active volcano in Chile during a full moon. In his free time, Mike likes to play his four-note harmonica or explore scenic backroads on his motorcycle. 

Diego Vega Romero

Baja & British Columbia Kayak Naturalist Guide

A native of La Paz, Baja Sur, Diego spent a school year in the US while in high school and thus has a great understanding of both English and American culture. In addition to being a talented sea kayaker, Diego loves to play basketball and is on a team when back home in La Paz. Other hobbies include drawing, travel and eating. He attended the University of Guadalajara to study Biology with an emphasis in Entomology and then the University of LaPaz where he went on to earn a Masters Degree in arid land ecology, most fitting for the Baja peninsula. Diego joined the Sea Kayak Adventures team in 2017 and is passionate about sharing the natural history of Baja, both in the water and on land, with our guests. In addition to guiding sea kayaking tours, Diego works in Cabo Pulmo National Park as a snorkeling guide, a skill he also enjoys sharing on our trips. As of 2023 Diego started guiding in British Columbia applying his sea kayaking skills and ecology knowledge to a new area up north. With a great sense of humor, friendly personality, and unmeasurable depth of knowledge in marine life and the natural world, Diego is a favorite among our guests.

Tom Canada

River Guide

Originally from California’s Central Coast, Tom has been guiding since 2002 after a fateful commercial lap on the South Fork of the American River. Since then, he’s led trips across California, Oregon, Idaho, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras—spending over a decade absorbing river knowledge. With a degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley, Tom brings a deep respect for the ecosystems he moves through and the stories they hold.

Before guiding, Tom was a Division I athlete and even played in the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup! Today, his talents stretch far beyond the boat—he’s a CrossFit Olympic lifting coach, wildflower bouquet enthusiast, musician, surfer, and part-time heavy equipment operator. He’s just as comfortable performing on stage as he is navigating river canyons.

For Tom, guiding is about the space between the put-in and take-out—the conversations, connections, and quiet beauty along the way. He’s drawn to Idaho’s abundant drainages, its seasonal diversity, and the deep-rooted river culture that makes every trip feel like a return home.

Ryan Baier

River Guide

A blacksmith by trade, Ryan recently returned to the river to pursue his passion for guiding, which was first ignited in 2008 on the Colorado River. He’s always had a love for the outdoors, with his most vivid childhood memories involving cliff jumping at Westwater Canyon and chasing goats through Lodore Canyon. Ryan loves discovering new landscapes and new rivers, whether it’s in the United States or in one of the 30+ countries he’s visited. Highlights of his global wanderings include standing on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in a snowstorm, walking the legendary Inca Trail, and watching a stampede of wildebeest on the Serengeti plains. He loves good food, good friends, and good stories, and tries to squeeze as much out of life as possible. Ryan's recent endeavors include finishing an Immersive Software Engineering Course and working as a Software Developer, along with Blacksmithing and running his home farm! When he’s not rafting, or working, Ryan’s busy shoeing horses, hiking with his dog “Rooster”, and pursuing his search for the world’s best ramen. (If you see Ryan on the river, please give him a cup of coffee!) :)