Our Crew

Our crew is outstanding. They come from varied backgrounds, have worked together for a number of years and enjoy sharing their knowledge of the Rogue River and canyon with guests. They'll show you their favorite sites along the way, hike with you to magnificent vistas, and make you feel comfortable visiting this remarkable river. You will enjoy spending your vacation with them.

Jim Ritter
In addition to overseeing Rogue River Journeys' office and operation, Jim finds time to get on the Rogue River a few times each summer. He lives in McKinleyville, CA.

Katherine Luscher
When not rafting rivers, Katherine spends her days conserving them. She is employed by River Network, a river conservation organization based in Portland, Oregon.

Phil Finkel
When he isn't tackling the whitewater challenges of the Rogue River, Phil can be found taking on the challenges of managing his 8th grade class in Susanville, CA.

Deb Meymarian
Although she wishes to someday reside full-time in Selma, OR, Deb, a physical fitness trainer, travels from Pasadena, CA, to float the Rogue each summer.

Charles "Chip" Carroll
We had to drag Chip all the way from Alabama to get him on the river with us but now he calls Portland, OR, home. As a new dad he still gets out for a couple trips each year.

Anya Ritter
Being on the river is in her blood and she knows the Rogue like the back of her hand. Anya is in her second year at U.C. Santa Cruz where she runs cross-country.

Saylor Flett
A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Saylor now teaches Outdoor Recreation Leadership at Feather River College. He grew up in Northern California, surrounded by rivers.

Beau Larken
Residing in Missoula, MT, Beau finds himself on the Rogue River a few times each summer. Both he and his wife Julie enjoy river trips, skiing, and hotsprings.

Beth Carlson
An avid ski instructor, Beth is a graduate of Stanford University and lives in Jackson Hole, WY. She can normally be found on a river, or on a ski slope shredding the steeps.

Mary DeRiemer
Mary and her husband Phil own DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking and join us each summer for two kayaking trips. They are well travelled and excellent instructors.

Phil DeRiemer
Phil and his wife Mary own DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking and join us each summer for two kayaking trips. They are well travelled and excellent instructors.

Mike Orloff
When not floating the Rogue, Mike finds himself surfing the amazing coastline of Northern California and Oregon. He is quite an artist and brings watercolors on every trip.

Ross Freeman
Off the river, Ross serves as sustainability manager at Stevens Pass ski area in WA, and brings a long history of work in ecology, conservation, and environmental education to RRJ.

Will Volpert
One of the few people to ever call Selma "home", Will now lives in Ashland, OR, and enjoys floating rivers, taking photos, and builds websites for outfitters (like RRJ).

Ryan Guy
A professor at Chico State, Ryan is able to escape from grading papers for a few months each year to float the Rogue River. He also guides on the Kern River in CA.

Ursula Melvin
Pictured here with her son and future river guide, Fischer, Ursula is a long-time guide on rivers throughout the west. She now lives in Portland, OR, with her husband, Chip.

Mike "Creatch" Merg
Hailing from the Kern River Valley in California, Creatch brings a wide-range of outdoor skills to Rogue River Journeys' trips. He recently relocated to Williams, Oregon.

Hawken Ritter
Like his father and sister, Hawken has spent most of his life on the river. He is currently a student at Arcata High School and is an avid athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and soccer.

Photo above courtesy of
Roger Dorband.