Upper Yough Whitewater Staff

What makes WV different? No one else has such a fantastic staff!

More Staff: Bike Tour Guides, Fly Fishing Guides

If you are thinking about heading to the Upper Yough,  this is the staff that will be taking care of you.  They are really fun and professional group of guides, and they all have interesting stories to share.  They are focused on providing you with as safe of a class 5 rafting trip as possible.

Check out their backgrounds, you will find no other group of guides on the Upper Yough can come close to this squad.....

Prior to becoming an Upper Yough guide, our staff must have at minimum 3 seasons of professional guiding and be a "Trip Leader" to be considered for a try out for the class 5 team.

Eric Martin (Owner)

Runs the show! He's a former US team kayaker and still loves being on the water. He took the company over from his father about 20 years ago. Having been raised in the whitewater world, running the company is his natural instinct. Backed by a degree in International Recreation Marketing from The University of Maryland, he's always ready to add something new to WV's offerings. If he's not at the store, you'll find him kayaking, fishing, skiing or hanging out in Penny Hot Springs.

Ben Scoville (Operations Manager & Trip Leader)

Veteran guide Ben has worked at Wilderness Voyageurs since 1998 off and on. He accepted the Operations Manager position in 2003 and has been with us full time ever since. Ben has worked on every river we offer; the Lower Yough, Upper Yough, Cheat, Big Sandy, and Savage Rivers. Ben is an expert kayaker who has taken his skills are around the US. Ben graduated from Frostburg University with a Bachelor Degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. His Spanish skills have helped aid him in his love for travel. Ben has traveled to Nicaragua, Ecuador, the Caribbean, Australia, and all over the United States. When Ben is not working or traveling he enjoys kayaking, yoga, teleskiing, and cross country skiing. He is very fluent in current affairs and reads and watches the Daily Show when he gets a chance. Since Ben is the head honcho it is rare to see him on the river. That does not mean he has forgotten how to run one of the most personable trips around.

                                  First Commercial Upper Yough trip,  June 2002

Scott Downs (Trip Leader)

Our most "senior" guide. For over two decades, he has been guiding people like you safely down all the rivers in the area. Scott is also the head of our guide training program, and has been producing quality whitewater professionals for years. Known for his voice projection and professionalism, Scott Downs is, without a doubt, "The Man". During the season, you're most likely to find him on the Upper Yough. Off the river, he loves his dogs, garden, wife & collecting winter firewood.  He is a high school teacher in the "off" season.

Bill Hall

Bill started his career in the out of doors with Wilderness Voyageurs in 1989 when he joined us a river guide during college. Since then he has guided thousands of people down rivers, up mountains, along trails throughout the US, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

His wit will keep a smile on your face, and he will have your tire changed before you know what happened. In his down time you can find him gardening at his off the grid home.

Ask him about his Venison stir fry recipe. He is still trying to convince his parents and wife that this job really is a grand use of his communications degree, while he awaits the publishing contract for his kids book.  

Bill manages the Bike tour division and sneaks out as much as possible to catch an Upper Yough release

Max (Trip Leader)

Long time Wilderness Voyageurs employee, Max (or "Mizzle") has been with us for 6 seasons. He guides on the Lower Yough, Upper Yough, and Cheat Rivers. He is a long time kayaker who has taken his guiding and kayaking skills as far a Costa Rica. Max hails from Kearny, NJ and graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelors Degree in History. He enjoys keeping up to date with college and national football and basketball. Other activities are .... well .... really just sports. If you are on a trip that Max leads you can expect the ride back to the outfitter to be filled with country music as his favorite song is “Country Fry”.  Currently working on a Masters degree at WVU

First Commercial Upper Yough trip,  2008 

Jared Callahan (Trip Leader)

Long time raft guide, Jared or J-rod, has been guiding with Wilderness Voyageurs for three years. He put in guiding time elsewhere for two years making 2011 his 7th year working with whitewater. Jared works on the Lower Yough, Upper Yough, and Cheat rivers as a raft guide or kayaker. Jared grew up 20 minutes away in Connellsville, PA. He enjoys kayaking, skiing, yoga, mountain biking, and any sport that is challenging and exhilarating. You will know he is on your trip when you hear his unique and infectious laughter.

Josh Lawrey (Trip Leader)

Josh is a valuable guide here at Wilderness Voyageurs. He has been guiding the Lower Yough, Upper Yough, and Cheat Rivers for 5 years and is one of our expert kayakers. He has also put in guiding time on the Rio Grande in Texas, various rivers in Maine, and two seasons in Costa Rica on the Pacuare River. Do not make the mistake of thinking he is only at home on the river. He will impress you on a mountain bike and can name ANY bird you see or hear. Josh received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Parks and Recreational Resource Management and Environmental Education at Slippery Rock University. He served as Assistant Director for SRU Outdoor Adventures for two years. Josh loves to help you enjoy the outdoors and will always be there with an encouraging compliment to make your day more enjoyable.

Rich (Trip Leader)

Rich is one of our most senior guides. This year will be his 9th season working for Wilderness Voyageurs. Rich works on the Lower Yough, Upper Yough, Cheat , Casselman, and the Savage Rivers. Rich is an avid low water boater and has also dipped his paddle into the Gauley, Arkansas and Tygart rivers in the US and the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. During the school year you can find Rich teaching the youth of America in Pittsburgh. He received his BS in Education and is certified in Secondary Biology, Earth/Space Science, and General Science. He has taught grades 6-9 for the past 13 years. In his spare time time Rich enjoys mountain biking, road biking, yoga, kayaking, and walking his dogs. He has also taught snowboarding from 1995-2005.

Ben Taylor (Trip Leader)

Known as "BT" around Ohiopyle, Ben has been guiding for Wilderness Voyageurs since 2005. He is an avid paddler and if there is water, you'll find him kayaking. He might be your guide on the Lower Yough, Cheat River or Upper Yough. This winter he's taken on a home building project and is fine tuning his carpentry skills. Go Ben!

Brian T. (Trip Leader)

Coming up on Brian's third season with Wilderness Voyageurs, and his 15th season as professional raft guide.  Brian has worked on more than 20 different whitewater rivers throughout North America.  Hailing from central West Virginia,  he is a rabid whitewater fanatic,  paddling more than 150 whitewater rivers to date. 

John Greer 

First Commercial Upper Yough trip,  1987

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