Its difficult to get in touch with Hardy Bender.
Its not uncommon for weeks to go by without hearing from him.
Just got some signal.
Bender has been a guide on the Salmon River in Idaho for four years. His boss is a friend of his father, who was a river guide in Utah for 10 years. Photo courtesy of Hardy Bender
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help… Like most relationships forged on the river, a lifelong friendship was born.
I tend to hire people who I know, and they tend be kids of the people…
I used to boat with, says Hughes.
What Does It Take to Run Rivers?
You need more than a desire for adventure and a worn-in pair of Chacos to work this gig.
They either dont get paid or they get paid a lower wage.
And what does the swamper do, you ask?
A lot of the grunt work.
They also set things up, including tents, the kitchen area, tables and the camp toilet.
When swampers transition into guides, thestate of Idaho requiresthem to be officially licensed.
Guides must also take certain safety courses, likeWilderness Advanced First Aid,Wilderness First ResponderandSwiftwater Rescue.
Safety certifications are extremely important in this occupation.
Its easy to forget about the dangers when youre picturing the thrill of the whitewater surrounded by untamed wilderness.
Bender recalls a trip from when he was 14 that emphasized just that.
My dad, my uncle and his friends took care of her all night long, says Bender.
The job is seasonal, usually running from June to September in Idaho.
Hiring for river guides really amps up as the season approaches.
At the beginning of the season, the water is much higher and moving more quickly.
With the water moving so swiftly, guests spend less time rafting and more hiking or sightseeing.
We were really boogieing.
Because of this extra step, the guides lose their day off.
This is one the hardest things about working as a guide.
During an extended trip out in the wilderness, guides are pretty much always on duty.
He also says that he keeps in touch with a lot of people throughout the offseason.
Another thing that probably keeps the guests coming back?
Talk about always being on.
Basically, he likes jobs that let him snowboard as much as possible.
So, what kind of compensation do river guides get for all of their hard work?
Bender is paid a daily rate for trips, and hourly for warehouse work.
Although Bender doesnt expect to get rich in this profession, its more than enough for his lifestyle.
Some people just fall in love with the Salmon River and stay for a lifetime.
Does Bender foresee himself joining their ranks and guiding trips decades from now?
Ya know, I dont know, he says with a laugh.
Kaitlyn Blount is a junior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Alex Mahadevan contributed to this post.
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
