I’ve found that guiding isn’t necessarily conducive to a thriving garden – and that’s ok. Through the practice of gardening and guiding, I have learned that sometimes we need to accept what we can’t control, to have utmost grace and kindness not only for ourselves but for the living beings around us, be they plants or people. Gardening and guiding have shown me the importance of self-care, knowing that when you strive to take care of yourself, the yields of your bountiful relationships are that much sweeter. Gardening and guiding have shared with me the power of patience, for others, yes, but particularly for my own growth.

In close to 30 years of guiding the only all-women crews, I have been a part of were on all women-chartered trips. This particular roster of passengers was a near 50-50 split between genders. ‘Well good, it’s about time, should be interesting,’ are a few of the thoughts that went through my mind.

Once my composure was regained and everyone was situated back in their positions, our guide administered one more piece of wisdom. “The raft is a metaphor for our bodies, and you, the guests, are the reason and willpower; the guide is but a deeper conscious understanding; it is not one piece individually that will carry us through life, but the balanced application of all. That is what permits us the safest passage through the trials and tribulations of this adventure. When one aspect falls out of the boat, the most effective course of action is to maintain understanding and composure, return to the boat, and keep paddling downstream. Sure, we can take an eddy for a moment of rest and relaxation, but the river, or life, is always running and won’t stop just because you want a break. You can’t stay in that eddy forever.

There’s no medal for “Most Pain Endured.” The victory lies in helping yourself and those in your community. Remember that empathy without action is just another thought, but empathy-inspired action is compassion, and compassion is our only chance.

How do we find a fresh outlook in a familiar place? How can we keep that magic alive? To feel rejuvenated, to grow, to fall in love with her again...

An in-depth examination and resource for the outdoor guiding industry to identify, address, and prevent burnout in the workplace.

Written and compiled by Carly Knudson

Image of Evan Bogart manning the sweepboat.

Living in the wild I am able to embody my pre-ten-year-old self: no mirrors to see the chin hairs, no apps to count the calories, and only the drops to let me know… it is raining. When I am on the river, I train my adult Self on how to play, how to be free from arbitrary restrictions and expand my field of action. 

I was able to tell my guide stories like I would in the boat as a guide and draw connections between the “superpowers” you gain from those experiences (problem-solving, adaptability, ability to learn, confident decision making, and the customer service nature of the job) and any work environment you might encounter.

And so, I always tell myself that “self care is client care.” So, if I'm taking care of myself then I know that I'll be able to be happy and be giving all my energy to a fun, happy safe experience for my clients. So, all my co-guides make fun of me for going to bed at nine o'clock on the river every night, but I know that because I do that I'm going to be cheerful and chipper and happy and strong in the morning.

I’m incredibly proud of the accomplishments that the board, funders, partners, and I have achieved for the Redside Foundation over the past three years. I’m also deeply grateful for all the relationships I’ve built during my time as Executive Director. The Idaho guiding and outfitting community is one of a kind, and it’s been a joy to work alongside you and all the other supporting partners of our industry.

We were fishing on the East Fork of the Lost—and there is a population of Arctic grayling in the East Fork—and she was asking me what type of fish were in this stretch. I told her there were two types of cutthroat, brook trout, rainbows… and then there’s this unicorn. And she looked at me kind of weird and said, “What do you mean by unicorn?” I said, “Well, it’s an arctic grayling, but there’s not many of them.” She proceeded to tell me that she used to call her late sister ‘the unicorn’ as a nickname. Six casts later—and of course we didn’t know the fish was in the pool—she catches a unicorn. We both got pretty choked up—it was just one of those cool things where you’re like, that was bigger than both of us.

I also always suggest that you shouldn't move on from guiding until you're ready to or you need to (financially/physically/mentally) and there are certainly examples of people making it a life-long career. I see a lot of guides going on the path of teaching or doing an academically-adjacent career. These jobs are often a good fit because they also generally provide health insurance and of course, summers are often yours to guide.

As an outfitter, we are able to introduce young people coming into work for us to something they will be able to share with their kids decades down the road. We are able to be the starting point of a lifelong love for rivers, the outdoors, and adventure in general, which is an honor.  As an outfitter I love interacting with other people in the industry, outfitters are the best people around and to work with them to continue to build our industry is an honor.

Discomfort can be the seed of boundless growth; discomfort can serve as a lesson about myself and how I fit into the world.

The more knowledge you have about money, the more comfortable you will feel dealing with tough money decisions. Also, you will be able to enjoy what you earn more and reduce so much stress surrounding money. Spending money will be a more comfortable decision. When you get off your guiding season and have a savings plan and budget, you can enjoy spending for a month-long road trip. If you have things under control, you can make those decisions and not worry about what's to come.

Suggestions for restoring after a busy season of guiding. From whole foods to mindfulness to meaningful social interactions, her guide is anything but limiting.