Staff & Guides

AJ DeRosa, owner/operator of Wooden Boat River Tours, has been a river guide and outfitter since 1973. During his 30+ years in the guiding business he has worked in Argentina, where he established the first ever float fishing operation, Chile, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. In 2005 he retired from a 27 year career as a ski patrolman at Snow King Mountain (5 years) and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (22 years). He began honing his outdoor skills as a camp counselor/canoe guide in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota at the age of 16. A lifetime in the outdoors has given him a great appreciation for the natural world and practical knowledge of the flora and fauna of the riparian habitat of Jackson Hole. In his other life, he plays jazz saxophone and is a life long Cubs fan.

The youngest member of the team, Adam spent his first four years working for us in my back pocket. He was eager to learn and was always there to help on any project. He learned quickly and became an asset to the team. A very skilled angler and boatman, he can do whatever it takes to help out. Since he was always right behind me I took to calling him “Shemp”. His Indian name is Walks with Moe. In real life he’s known as “Dutch”, is a lift supervisor at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a ski bum.

Other than the fact that Pete is a Packers fan ( I’m a Bears fan) he is still OK. A transplant from Wisconsin, Pete is a natural born fisherman. Whether it’s small mouths and muskies in the great north woods or trout of any variety in the intermountain west, Pete is our go-to fishing guide. He has the patience to bring along that youngster who is anxious to learn or the old hand who is brushing up on his game. A day on the river with Pete is always a fun experience. Pete lives at the fire house in Teton Village where he is Volunteer Fire Fighter.

Heidi Campbell and Scott Millward pose with Hadley and Ashley, a matched pair of Belgian Mares.  The girls share sleigh pulling duties with Spanky and Alfalfa, a pair if Shire Geldings.  Scott and Heidi have been driving teams in and around Jackson Hole for their entire lives.  They know these horses well and enjoy showing our guests around the ranch.

In summer, Holly is called the Queen of the Road as she makes life wonderful for all of us river folk. She runs the Shuttle Service that moves our trucks and trailers. In winter she takes a step down, royalty-wise, as my head cook for Wildlife Snowshoe Adventures and Snake River Sleigh Rides. Her winter title is Princess of Snow.

Our Camp Angels for 2016.  Past guests will remember Alethia Lewis (right) as our long time camp cook.  She is back for one more season but may be moving on to a nursing job soon.  Never one to leave me in a lurch, she brought along the camp cook of the future in Lexi Stader.

This summer’s guests will get to enjoy both of these lovely young ladies and the delicacies that will flow from the Tipi Camp Kitchen.