Maine White Water Rafting Guide: Kimberly Lyman
Name: Kimberly Lyman
Hometown: Caratunk
Age of First Rafting Trip: 17
Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 1998
What type of guiding do you do?
Whitewater Rafting
What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors?
I love the feeling of ‘family’. Every year when the new guides come, they are drawn into the fold with open arms, as are the returning guests. We are a group of a wide age range, which offers a lot of depth to the ‘family’.
What is your favorite river to guide, and your favorite rapid on that river?
I love the Dead River, from the very first time I saw it. It's so remote and wild feeling. My favorite rapid is Mile Long Rapid. It's features are exciting and there is a little of everything in that rapid, with the potential for a big bang ending at Satan's hole.
What’s your classic Northern Outdoors memory?
So many memories, like training, and fun runs with the guides, and amazing dance parties and full hot tub nights, but watching Wayne Hockmeyer, founding partner of Northern, play paddle tennis with Mike Pilsbury on the back deck court is a favorite. There were some grand displays of effort and temper during those games.
When you spend 20 years in a place, there are so many memories. It's fun to share those memories with the new guides, and guests, it helps them get a feel of the place you call home. Northern Outdoors’ lodge is like one big living room/gathering place to the people who love it.
Where do you adventure when you are not working?
Hikes up Mosquito and Pleasant Pond Mountains, walks along the Dead River, and into the Maine Huts. Drives on dirt roads over to Greenville/Moosehead, and fishing on the Kennebec River with my significant other, also a long time Northern Guide.
What do you do in the off-season when you’re not guiding for Northern Outdoors?
I'm a sales rep for logo'd products in the collegiate market. It tides me over until the summer comes.
Tell us about any certifications, special talents, guide awards.
I'm a people person, and sometimes that's just the talent you need to be a guide, the rest is just 'stuff' to me.
What rivers have you run outside of Maine?
The West River in VT, and the Colorado River in AZ. While many of my friend guides were traveling and hitting rivers, I was creating a new generation of river rats, 3 of them:-)
Which Kennebec River Brewery beer is your top choice after a day on the river?
Magic IPA
