Guide Interview: Brad
Posted July 27, 2017 by Carly Turner
Brad learned about Rafting in the Smokies from his cousin and RITS guide, Birdman (Drew). He was trained in 2016 and is from Orlando, Florida. He’s now solidly hooked on rafting!
Read MorePosted July 27, 2017 by Carly Turner
Brad learned about Rafting in the Smokies from his cousin and RITS guide, Birdman (Drew). He was trained in 2016 and is from Orlando, Florida. He’s now solidly hooked on rafting!
Read MorePosted June 29, 2017 by Carly Turner
Sami is a raft guide who also did an internship for a degree in Parks & Forest Resources while working at Rafting in the Smokies.
Read MorePosted June 3, 2017 by Carly Turner
Hunter was invited in by Brad’s cousin, Birdman (Drew) and is from Orlando, Florida. 2016 was his rookie year. Hunter said going to a small town like Hartford is really life-changing.
Read MorePosted May 20, 2017 by Carly Turner
John Parkinson (JP) has been rafting for 10 years. He’s been at RITS for four years. His twin brother is also one of our guides. He’s a natural jokester, and you might catch him knocking a few on your bus ride.
Read MorePosted May 6, 2017 by Carly Turner
Nancy has been with Rafting at the Smokies for about ten years, off and on. She always comes back, because this is her home.
Read MorePosted April 6, 2017 by Carly Turner
Our river manager at Rafting in the Smokies (“RITS”) is KP. He’s been at RITS for four years, but he’s been a guide for 14 years. He manages 54 guides (and their shenanigans!). He gets to watch the joy on everyone’s faces day after day.
Read MorePosted March 24, 2017 by Carly Turner
Curt is tall and lanky with a long white beard (sometimes knotted). He’s also known as “Crazy Uncle Curt.” He works with special needs kids and has a girlfriend with a son who’s deaf. If you need someone who knows sign language for your group, he can take you down the river.
Read MorePosted March 6, 2017 by Carly Turner
Our Assistant River Manager, Birdman, got his nickname after his African Grey Congo parrot. He used to take her to car shows when he lived in South Florida and had her on a leash. He’s been with Rafting in the Smokies for four years and has a passion for the outdoors after leaving the corporate world.
Read MorePosted November 26, 2016 by Carly Turner
Ben is a 2016 rookie raft guide and about the only guide without a nickname. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ben isn’t a burly guide like some of the others at RITS. He does wear a killer man bun, though!
Read MoreDue to Hurricane Helene, Rafting in the Smokies is temporarily closed.