Guiding unforgettable adventures on the Middle Fork

Our Story & Passion

Meet Our Middle Fork Crew

Passionate Guides Committed to Your Adventure

Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters is a locally owned business, proud to offer experienced guides who are dedicated to sharing the wonders of wild places with our guests. Each member of our team is trained in CPR and First Aid and holds Swift Water Rescue certification, ensuring your safety is always our top priority.



Being a guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon requires more than just experience on the water—it’s about being versatile and skilled in many areas. Our guides are not only expert boatmen and women, but they also bring culinary expertise, a love for storytelling by the campfire, and an extensive knowledge of the area’s rich history. Every night, you’ll experience a new, well-set camp on the banks of one of Idaho’s most treasured rivers.


At Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters, we strive to provide every guest with an unforgettable experience. Our multi-day river trips offer the perfect opportunity to unplug and escape the fast-paced world, immersing yourself in true wilderness. Our guides are dedicated to tailoring your experience to ensure it’s everything you hope for and more.

A man in a green shirt is squatting down and smiling

GUIDE

Kyle Esbensen

A driving force at MFWO whose leadership comes not from words alone, but from the example he sets. Hardworking, dedicated, and always seeking to improve, Kyle’s devotion to his team and the river runs deep. We’re truly lucky to have him return year after year.


Kyle’s journey with MFWO has been years in the making. Fresh out of BSU, he took a leap of faith and began guiding on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon. That decision shaped his life in ways he never could have imagined. Though a unique career opportunity led him away from full-time guiding for a time, his love for the river never faded. He pursued a path that blended his passions—returning to school to become a teacher while still making time to guide each season.


Now, Kyle strikes a rare and inspiring balance, living his dream as both a full-time teacher and river guide. His dedication is evident in everything he does, and his journey is proof that when you commit to what you love, the rewards are limitless. Whether on the river or in the classroom, Kyle leads with heart, skill, and an unwavering passion for what he does.

GUIDE

Dylan Edwards

A river guide, angler, and true son of Idaho’s wild country. Growing up in Challis, Dylan knows these landscapes by heart, moving through them with the ease of someone who belongs. The Middle Fork isn’t just a place he guides—it’s a place he loves, a living, breathing wild that he respects deeply.


Fishing with Dylan is an experience in itself; he has an uncanny way of putting you right where you need to be, not just for the catch, but for the quiet moments that make the river unforgettable. When he’s not on the water, you’ll find him covering rugged ground, hunting for sheds, tracking game, and collecting stories as naturally as the land gives them.


For Dylan, the Middle Fork is more than a river—it’s home. And for those lucky enough to run it with him, he makes it feel like home for them too.

A man is sitting in a green raft on a river.
A man is rowing a yellow boat on a river

GUIDE

Corby Fuhriman

Hailing from Utah, Corby brings experience from the desert canyons of the Colorado, lush river canyons in Alaska and the PNW, and now his home river, the Middle Fork of the Salmon. When he’s not guiding, you’ll find him kayaking in the PNW, and chasing sunshine and jungle river canyons in South America. “Having spent time on rivers all over the world, I still keep finding myself coming back to the Middle Fork. It truly is the most magical river in the world. I’m excited to share my favorite place with y’all.” 

GUIDE

Zach Dalquist

A guide with a heart as strong as his work ethic and a mind as sharp as the river's bends. Tough as nails? No question. But what truly sets Zach apart is his ability to see the big picture, ask the right questions, and keep a steady hand when the river demands it most. When the stakes are high, Zach is unshakable—a guide who rises to the moment, time and time again.


Whether rowing a heavy boat through big water, setting the perfect camp, or cooking up something unforgettable, Zach does it all with skill and ease. He’s always pushing himself to learn more, refining his craft with each trip down the Middle Fork. And when river season comes to a close, you’ll often find him deep in the mountains, guiding elk hunts with the same level of commitment and respect for the land.


Zach isn’t just part of the crew—he’s part of what makes this experience so memorable. His passion for wild places runs deep, and we have no doubt you’ll feel it too.

A man is playing a guitar in front of a campfire.
A man with a beard is smiling in a black and white photo.

GUIDE

Paul Paeth

Paul’s river guiding journey began in Montana 15 years ago, where he started as a day guide. It wasn’t long before he discovered his passion for multiday trips on the Main Salmon River in Idaho, which led him to guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon for the past 7 years.


His guiding experience spans international waters, including expeditions in Chile, Mexico, and Peru, broadening his expertise across diverse rivers. When he’s off the river, Paul can be found chasing elk in the wilds of Montana or pursuing musky in Wisconsin.

GUIDE

Kai Anspacher

Kai started her river-guiding journey in Southern Oregon; learning the ways of the river on the Upper Klamath. With a deep love for the outdoors she finds ways to be outside year round; ski patrolling in the winters and guiding in the summers. She has a passion for helping others connect with the wilderness and showing them why it is so important we do all we can to protect these special places. When she’s not on the water, you’ll likely find her skiing, kayaking, or frolicking in the mountains. She is stoked to share her love of the river with each and every person she meets!

A woman is rowing a raft down a river.
A man is standing next to a raft in the water holding a dog.

GUIDE

Jake B

Jake has loved and lived for rivers for his entire life. He grew up on a tributary to the free flowing Missouri River in North Dakota and from a very young age, canoed, kayaked, and explored many of miles of the Missouri and its tributaries. In 2011, Jake learned a great deal of the power of rivers when the Missouri flooded and for 4 months him and his family had to boat over a half mile to their home, which was preserved by an 8 foot high sandbag wall. 


Jake got his first taste of whitewater working for Barker-Ewing Expeditions on the Snake River in Wyoming in 2016. After a few seasons there, Jake moved to NW Montana to work and play on the Flathead Rivers outside Glacier National Park. After many seasons running day trips and wilderness multi day trips, Jake is very excited to move up to the Middle Fork Salmon. 



When Jake isn’t on the river he is 100% thinking about the river and planning the next big trip. His goal for 2025 is to run 10 new stretches of river that he hasn’t run before.

GUIDE

Kevin McKeegan

Kevin was born and raised in the rain of the PNW, where he first fell in love with the outdoors hiking through the woods and clouds of Oregon. His first true love was (and always will be) the Pacific Ocean, whose majesty still holds sway in his dreams and most of his artwork, but as an adult his soul has been captured by rivers. Introduced to the joy of whitewater as a young lad alongside his family, he thought it a beautiful, yet unattainable dream to spend his days getting deeply acquainted with that mysterious beauty. Yet, unsure of his footing after grad school and questioning a continued pursuit of history and education, he moved to Montana on a whim to dive headlong into a guiding career. It’s the simple things that bring him joy (joy being the chief goal in most of his pursuits, for himself and others): laughter, sharing love with old friends and new acquaintances alike, and rowing boats—which might be one of his favorite things of all time. Kevin is beyond thrilled to bring his love and joy to the MFWO team and work with the stunning Middle Fork herself!

A young man with curly hair is standing in front of a lake holding a can of soda.
A man is standing next to a bicycle on a gravel road.

SWAMPER

Trey Kettering

Coming up from Flagstaff, Trey will be the new man of the crew this season. His love for everything outdoors largely began when he moved to Arizona from Utah as a teenager, beginning to race mountain bikes, backpack in desert canyons, and row the San Juan River. Largely shaped by the desert and mountain landscapes he spends so much time in, he loves gravity and human propelled movement, like rowing rafts, trail running, and bikepacking. Beyond the outdoors, Trey has a passion for throwing ceramics and building clay sculptures, enjoys bantering with friends, and devotes time seeking a degree in environmental sciences at Northern Arizona University. 



He couldn’t be more stoked, psyched, animated, etc. to be up on the Middle Fork this season, especially excited to work on his whitewater skills and live somewhere with water at all! With him comes a cheerful attitude, happy to help and work hard on the river. This season will be his 3rd on the San Juan and 1st on the Middle Fork.

OUTFITTER/GUIDE

Will Ferguson

Raised on a ranch, Will’s connection to the land runs deep, but it is the river that has become his true home. For the past ten years, he has lived in Salmon, Idaho, where he has cultivated a life centered around community, adventure, and the ever-changing rhythms of the Middle Fork.



With years of experience navigating wild rivers, Will approaches each stretch of water with humble grace and an earnest desire to learn. He understands that no two runs are the same, and he embraces the lessons each one has to offer. Whether maneuvering through technical rapids or sharing stories around a campfire, Will brings a sense of wonder, respect, and deep gratitude to every journey.

Beyond the river, Will finds joy in creating—whether it’s a well-crafted meal, a song carried on the wind, or a space where people feel truly connected to nature and each other. Above all, he is grateful for the opportunity to share the magic of the Middle Fork with those who seek adventure, solace, and the timeless wisdom of the water.

A man with a beard wearing a cowboy hat
A man is sitting on the back of a boat on a river

OUTFITTER/GUIDE

Thrice Shelton

Thrice’s passion for the outdoors has taken him on incredible journeys across the globe. From guiding in Alaska and Chile to navigating several rivers in Oregon, his love for rafting and adventure knows no bounds. But no matter where he’s been, he always returns to the Middle Fork of the Salmon each summer—a place that has captured his heart.



Thrice began his guiding career on the Middle Fork in 2016, and from the moment he stepped foot on a Sweep Boat, he knew he’d never leave. Since then, he’s guided countless trips, running everything from sweep boats to drift boats. No matter the craft, Thrice is always eager to share the wild beauty of the Middle Fork with guests, ensuring an unforgettable experience on the river he loves.