Meet Our Team

Meet the Guides Who Make It Unforgettable

Ask any past guest what made their trip with us most memorable and they will enthusiastically answer, “the guides!” Our guides are your ideal river hosts, excelling at fishing, and culinary skills, not to mention, story telling. Employing seasonal guides is much like keeping track of Canadian geese or Monarch butterflies. We know where they are at and what they are up to when they are here, but once the migration begins all bets are off. Guides for Idaho Wilderness Company are: Licensed rescue and first aid trained. Your safety is a top priority; Gracious, helpful and ready to show you the river and wilderness they love; Most willing and able bodied to ensure guest comfort and fun during your wilderness vacation. In no particular order, hereʼs what we know of what our crew is up to.

Steve ZETTEL

Steve Zettel’s journey into the Idaho wilderness began in 1980 when he arrived from Philadelphia...

Jess zETTEL

Jessica, best known as Jess, arrived on the IWC scene years ago as a river guest...

Steven ZETTEL

Steven Zettel is Idaho Wilderness Company’s lead boatman. He grew up on the Middle Fork...

JOEL ZETTEL

Although a year younger, Joel has survived all the same outfitter lifestyle challenges as his brother Steven...

tanner tINSLEY

Tanner Tinsley is an Idaho Native who’s been guiding on the Middle Fork since he was 18 years old...

TY REDICK

Ty Redick grew up in Challis Idaho and has been guiding on the Middle Fork since he was 18...

tanner rEDICK

Tanner grew up in Challis, ID and started guiding on the Middle Fork when he was 18...

Rob BLAKEY

Rob is an Idaho native river and hunting guide. He graduated from Idaho State University in 2012...

abby HUDSON

Abby has been guiding on various rivers in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and California since 2015...

ted LEBLANC

Ted LeBlanc is originally from Rhode Island and came out west in 2023 to explore new job opportunities...

Adam REED

Adam joined us in the late ‘90s straight out of the U.S. Marines and then guide school. For well over two decades...

Natalie LYNN-REDICK

Natalie is a Maryland native who has been going on Middle Fork of the Salmon river trips since she was a kid...

Jake Hill

Everyone loves Jake! Jake is an Idaho-born true outdoorsman, and we count ourselves lucky to have him...

AndreW Greiner

A longtime Middle Fork boatman, Andrew joined the IWC crew as a packer in the backcountry...

RAINA D'ANGELO

Raina was born and raised in an outfitting family and finds herself truly at home on the back of a horse...

Honoring Our Guide Alumni

Ben Tillery

Ben joined the IWC team from 2014 to 2016 as a boatman on the Middle Fork. Ben always has a smile...

jason Butts

Jason was one of the Challis-born IWC employees way back when… He was our lead boatman for many years...

Craig Mccallum

Craig is a longtime Middle Fork river guide, backcountry hunting guide and family friend...

ty "bones" Bender

Ty “Bones” as he came to be known to the IWC family, was a longtime guide and family friend...

Nate Bender

Nate Bender, son of Uncle Joel and Nancy Bender, was a longtime river guide and still an occasional...

Andy "AJ" Amberlang

Andy “AJ” Ambelang was an IWC lead boatman for many years. We were blessed to have his knowledge...

Spencer

BIO PENDING



Erika

Erika is Steve’s niece, and always has a smile on her face! She completed her guide training and worked...

Tristan Stillwaugh

Tristan enjoyed several seasons as a Middle Fork Boatman with IWC. Born and raised in Challis, Idaho...

Lance Kronberger

Lance joined IWC in the late ‘90s, working for about a decade on both the Middle Fork and in hunting...

"Uncle JoeL"

Better known as “Uncle Joel,” Joel Bender is one of our longest running IWC adventurers...

Ty Cole

Ty is a second generation wilderness guide, raised in hunting camp with his father. Ty lives and breathes...

Lance LEAVITT

Lance is a life-long outdoorsman and horseman, passionate about all things hunting and fishing. In addition to being...

Leigh redick

Leigh and his wife Peggy are responsible for two of our favorite IWC Team members, sons Tanner and Ty. Leigh is a...

Behind the Oars: Moments with Our Team