Meet Our Guides & Staff

Growing up in Montana, Lynn was always into rivers and rafting. She started her guide career in Montana and four years later came to Colorado to chase better whitewater. This is her 7th season on the river and she's been kayaking for five years. Her favorite thing about working with AVA is the culture at the Idaho Springs outpost because everyone around is so supportive.

When asked about himself, Chris responded with "I’m an average athlete that is overly dedicated." He believes the Saturday Night Live skit about Chris Farley living out of his van down by the river left too much of an impression on him, due the the fact that he's lived out of a vehicle for quite some time now. Chris is a professional whitewater enthusiast chasing his dream: big waterfalls, unexplored canyons, gorgeous landscapes, and a cold beer at the take out. These dreams have taken Chris to almost every state and across the globe. Chris blames the fact that his family moved a fair amount growing up to his traveling itch. His water bug came from time spent on Mackinac Island and Minnesota (Land of 10,000 Lakes). It wasn't till Chris moved out of the house and tried school and a career as a freestyle skier that he stumbled into his true passion. 2002 was a draught year in Colorado the mountains had 20% of the average annual snow, and Chris was giving commercial raft guiding a shot. The water levels that year were low, and rather uninspiring, until a dam-released river began to flow in the fall. Gore Canyon had a handful of exceedingly hard rapids and a 8 foot waterfall, and it was flying off that waterfall that sealed the deal.

Anything else? "The risk is worth the reward."

All Kevin has to say was request him as your guide and he'll be sure to give you a wild ride!

AVA has been honored have Zach Hubbard as a guide since 1998! A renowed Class V guide who has worked throughout the United States, Zach helped AVA pioneer its culture of professional, experienced advanced whitewater commercial guiding. AVA runs more advanced and advanced+ whitewater commercially than any outfitter in Colorado and Zach has been at the forefront of AVA's leadership role in commercial guiding.

Alex is a native Coloradoan who grew up exploring the rivers, forests, and cliffs of the Rocky Mountains. He knew his life’s passions would include whitewater among all the activities the mountains have to offer. He's stood atop many 14ers and floated down several majestic rivers.   After receiving his Associate’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership from Colorado Mountain College and Bachelor’s in Industrial design from the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver, he set out to take on the river for the summers each year. Aside from his black lab-mutt puppy, he loves food.

After working as a zipline guide in his home state, Matt made his way to Colorado. His favorite part about the job is getting to know really cool people and being outdoors.