Julia Codding

I’ve been coming on river trips with OTT since I was 4 years old. The river has always been, and likely always will be, my favorite place to be. I believe the Wild and Scenic River sections are some of the last places on earth where you can take a vacation that really allows you to be fully present with the people you care about. My favorite part of the job is watching kids come on trips and seeing their faces light up like mine did when I was their age.

• Hometown: Portland, Oregon
• Favorite rapid or stretch: Amazon Queen on the North Umpqua
• Favorite part of a trip: Meeting all the awesome people who choose an adventure as their vacation!
• Certifications: CPR and AED, Trip Leader Certification

I used to be a kindergarten teacher in another life! I found the pipeline to guiding in that it still feels like I’m herding cats sometimes, just in the most beautiful outdoor classroom. After leaving teaching and the Midwest, I guided for several years in Montana on the Alberton Gorge of the Clark Fork and Gallatin rivers. I found my way to the Main Salmon eventually and fell in love with multi-day river trips. You can’t beat sleeping under the stars, sharing meals on the beach with your crew, and the beautiful bond you form with the boat you get to tirelessly rig and de-rig day after day. I really liked getting to know customers more personally over 6-day trips and watching them connect with nature. I found a home with Orange Torpedo and now work my dream job with my best friends guiding the Salmon River every week. Life is but a dream!

• Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Favorite rapid or stretch: Lochsa River
• Favorite part of a trip: Waking up mid-trip and realizing I’ve forgotten what day it is and that I’ve fully succumbed to river time.
• Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, CPR and AED, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Trip Leader Certification

I got thrown into guiding randomly after landing a summer job at an outdoor adventure organization, and now it is one of my favorite parts of being alive! I adore getting to guide for OTT, to spend my weekends on the beautiful Rogue River, and to see the fear on people's faces turn to pure joy as they go through their first rapid!

• Hometown: Coulee City, Washington
• Favorite rapid or stretch: Upper Galice
• Favorite part of a trip: Saving people who flip
• Certifications: CPR and AED