Maine White Water Rafting Guide: Ryan Roderick
Name: Ryan Roderick
Hometown: Peabody, MA
Age of First Rafting Trip: 12
Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 2010
What type of guiding do you do? Whitewater Rafting, Leadership Programs
What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors?
The pride we all carry in whatever it is we do. I think everyone who works here really loves what they do and it spills over through every department and its part of what makes us all so close to each other.
What is your favorite river to guide, and your favorite rapid on that river?
I would say its a tie between Nesowadnehunk Falls on the Penobscot River and Mile Long Rapid on the Dead River. The Falls are an easy choice because there's so much action going on all at once. I enjoy the challenge of the Dead though because there's such a small window of opportunity in certain places like Satan's Hole that really force you to be on top of your game.
What’s your classic Northern Outdoors memory?
One day James Scott and I were working on the bar and it was a gorgeous July afternoon. Guests were all sitting outside and enjoying the newly renovated patio out back. We seized the opportunity to turn one of our most hated enemies, the Island Oasis frozen drink machine, into a snowball manufacturer. James and I proceeded to run out back and launch snowballs at out guests on a hot summer day and incite a July snowball fight… pretty awesome.
Where do you adventure when you are not working?
On uncle Vic's boat in the West cove at about 1 in the morning.
What do you do in the off-season when you’re not guiding for Northern Outdoors?
Make Sloppy Joe's and Navy Beans!
Tell us about any certifications, special talents, guide awards.
Well I am unofficially licensed to run a Sno-Cat within the confines of Sugarloaf Mountain, I can kick really high and I did not win Rookie guide of the year in 2010 because of Chad frickin model employee only gets drunk like 1 time his whole rookie year Robertson.
What rivers have you run outside of Maine?
The Black, the Hudson and the Colorado.
Which Kennebec River Brewery beer is your top choice after a day on the river?
IPA
