Guide Biographies

Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing was founded in 1992 by a father and son team of Melvin “Pete” Calhoun and Darren Calhoun. In the upcoming 2006 season, Pete and Darren will be celebrating their 15^th year in business. As enrolled members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian tribes respectively, the father and son team have prioritized utilizing the resource protection policies of the Shoshone & Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation as a guiding force in the operation of their business. Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing is 100% Indian owned and utilizes one of the most environmentally friendly approaches found anywhere to protect and preserve both the Wind River and its resident trout population.

Melvin “Pete” Calhoun: Pete is the President and co-owner of Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing. He is a lifelong resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation and an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Indian Tribe. Starting Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing was an idea that came to Pete while on a commercial rafting trip in the summer of 1989. While he continues to own and operate his successful cattle ranch (36 years and counting), he also is actively involved in the daily operations of WRCW&F.

Darren Calhoun: Darren is the Vice-President and CEO of Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing. Darren has been commercially guiding both whitewater and fly fishing trips on the Wind River for the last 14 years, and is responsible for the daily operations of WRCW&F. Having learned to cast a fly rod at the age of 8, Darren utilizes his experience to efficiently teach clients how to improve both their casting and fishing technique. Darren also holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and, when not fishing, is a behavioral health clinician and researcher specializing in type-2 diabetes in Native American Populations.

Dan Hruska: Dan is an 8 year veteran of Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing. Dan started out working as a whitewater guide and has become an integral part of WRCW&F. He’s an experienced instructor of whitewater rafting skills, as well as a fly fishing guide. Dan is a Wyoming native born and raised in Sheridan Wyoming, and has been on many of the famous rivers of the west including the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. He holds a BA in Environmental Engineering from the University of Wyoming and is currently a graduate student at Arizona State University in Engineering. He enjoys whitewater rafting, fly fishing, and riding his mountain bike.

Brock Boettcher: Brock is a fly fishing guide with over 12 years of experience. He also is a whitewater rafting guide and has been with Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing for more than 3 years. Brock is a 3^rd grade teacher and coach. He enjoys tying flies, running, and guiding.

Bill Paju: Bill has guided and run rivers throughout the United States and South America. He has been a professional fly fishing guide in Wyoming and Idaho and for more than 25 years. He is an avid fly fisherman, a talented fly tyer, and has advised and assisted Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing for more than 10 years.

Scott Carlson: Scott works as both fly fishing and whitewater guide for WRCW&F. He is a doctoral student in Biology at the University of Wyoming. Scott has extensive experience in fly tying, and has been fly fishing for more than 15 years on many of the streams in Wyoming.

Vanessa Lillie: Vanessa is a whitewater rafting guide and a very experienced river runner, having rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, as well as numerous rivers in California and throughout the western United States. She is also a certified massage therapist and has traveled extensively.

Misty Newby: Misty is a Wyoming native and a University of Wyoming graduate with an education degree, who teaches part-time in the local school district. Having spent time teaching in Alaska and Montana, she decided to head south, back to her home state. She is a whitewater rafting guide and office manager for WRCW&F.