Guides & Safety

Guides

All Skeena Valley Expeditions guides have undergone the rigorous training and certification formerly administered by the Province of BC, and now sanctioned by the BCROA. They are certified as raft guides, Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, and First Aid Providers. They are professional backcountry travelers who have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy sharing it. Above and beyond just highly skilled technical abilities our guides are masters in giving you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy a personalized, once in a lifetime experience. At the same time they are constantly keeping a watchful eye on the big picture maintaining as comfortable and safe a situation as possible. They are expert in the local natural history including flora, fauna, geology, and cultural history. Our guides come to us with backgrounds as diverse as one can imagine. Some are university professors or air traffic controllers, others are electrical engineers or managers of heli-ski companies, and some have just plain been river raft guiding since the beginning of time.

Jupiter MacDonald - Operations Manager and Lead Guide

Jupiter, named after the Roman God, grew up in the outdoor oriented city of Nelson BC.  A proud ski bum, he soon began pursuing a full time career in world traveling.  He has spent the better part of his winters for nearly the past decade in far off and exotic locations such as India, Thailand, Nepal, Costa-Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Australia, you name a place, chances are he's been there.

He also started guiding river rafts at the age of 19.  Since then he has guided day trips on the Toby, Elaho, Squamish, Chekamus, Kicking-horse and others as well as remote expeditions throughout BC on the Tatshenshini, Babine, Turnagain and Chilko Rivers.

His job on the water led naturally to a passion for river kayaking.  In addition to enjoying the pure simplicity of playing on a wave and just plain going out for a good time he paddles at a very high level and has accomplished some of the province's most challenging, technical and remote multi-day self supported river trips.

Jupiter is not only skilled at what he does but also quite possibly the most fun loving, and knowledgeable individual you have ever met.

I can't wait for you to experience spending a day in Jupiter's raft.  Whether it is on a scenic float discussing far flung worldly customs and local First Nations traditions or descending some of the most thrilling whitewater rapids; I am confident you will have one of the best days of your life.

 

Rob Mcevoy - Guide

Rob started guiding in southern BC, did the rounds, then moved back to his old stomping gounds in Onterrible.  He guided there in the whitewater haven on the Ottowa River.  BC was his calling though and he made the move west once and for all.  He stopped to guide on the Adams River in southern BC then moved up the Terrace where he currently lives with his kids.  He (unlike the rest of us) manages to hold down a respectable job but still finds time to satisfy his calling and get out on the river lots.

 

 

 

Warren Gavronski - Guide

Warren grew up here in Terrace and seems to be intimate with just about every "secret" spot we've shown him.  Like a true red neck he runs a small saw mill with his dad milling big rough lumber.  He has done extensive training in adventure guiding on Vancouver Island.  He is a canoe instructor, hiking guide, strong river kayaker...the list goes on and on.  We're happy to have him on our team.

 

 

 

 

Kerry Kyle - Guide

Photo coming soon.  Kerry has worked for years in the hospitality industry in a variety of capacities.  She manages to fit us into her busy schedule between maintaining gardens at the golf course and working as a first aid attendant at a mining camp.  Her very bubbly personality is greatly appreciated around the place and guests can not help but begin laughing in her presence.

 

Umbrella Associations

BCROA

Skeena Valley Expeditions is a member of the British Columbia River Outfitters Association(BCROA). The BCROA is a self-governing body that maintains guide training and certification as well as operational standards for river rafting activities in BC.

Transport Canada

Skeena Valley Expeditions meets all requirements set out by the former BC registrar of commercial river rafting which was the provincial government organization administering the legislation of commercial river rafting activities in BC. This organization has been dissolved and replaced by a sub-section of Transport Canada 's Marine Transport division.

Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts

In order to use crown land for commercial use, a Commercial Recreation Tenure is required by law. Skeena Valley Expeditions maintains its agreement with the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts (formerly Lands and Water British Columbia) ensuring continued access to the special places we go. This provides Skeena Valley Expeditions the right to operate commercially on Crown Land provided we maintain certain high standards regarding safety, environmental and cultural stewardship, operating procedures, etc.

Safety Program

Skeena Valley Expeditions places safety as its number one priority.  Having said that, there will always be inherent risks involved in any type of wilderness travel, river rafting is no exception. 

What We Do For You

• All our guides are certified and experienced
• The company fosters a conservative approach to river rafting
• All staff participate in a "guide's training" at the beginning of each operating season where company protocols and emergency response procedures are practiced
• All equipment is state of the art and checked after each trip as well as overhauled each season
• All standard first aid and rescue equipment is carried on the rafts and extra equipment is cached in the shuttle bus
• Effective communication is maintained between rafts, between rafts and shuttle vehicle, and between rafts and the base
• There is always a trained dispatch staff at the office or able to be contacted any time a trip is out
• Effective rescue plans are tested each season and all staff are versed in their use
• There is a comprehensive driver safety plan outlining safe operating guidelines so as to minimize risks in that aspect of your trip
• All guests must listen to a comprehensive safety briefing at the beginning of every white water trip so everyone understands the risks involved and how best to deal with them should they be encountered
• The company participates in annual information sharing amongst the industry to effect staying current with all industry standards, new technology, and changing protocols

What You Can Do For Us

• All guests must sign a liability release waiver in the witness of a Skeena Valley Expeditions employee prior to any rafting trip (please download a sample of our waiver here and thoroughly review it prior to arriving at the start of your trip)
• Take time to let us educate you in how best to prepare for a rafting trip.  We don't expect you to already know anything about this stuff but do expect you to let us give you all the information you need.
• Please recognize that there are risks inherent in river rafting and accept responsibility for those risks.