Another fantastic Middle Fork season is in the books! It’s been a few years since we’ve had a season mostly free of curveballs from Mother Nature — and while there were a few minor surprises, this one went about as smoothly as we could have hoped for. We don’t want to call this season “uneventful,” but it was a welcome change to have no wildfires, blowouts, or unplanned flights. Of course, as any outfitter knows, there are always a few “fires” to put out behind the scenes — but with such outstanding guests and a hardworking crew, everything ran beautifully.
Once again, we were lucky to have phenomenal guides and incredible guests. Many of our familiar faces returned — and we can’t overstate how special it is to share the river with guests who come back year after year. You’ve become part of the family, watching our kids grow, our guides move through college, and even transition into new careers beyond the river. We love getting to do the same with you and your families too! Some of you may have been lucky enough to share a trip with Jeff and Mary, Alex and Nancy (we missed you this year, Nanc!), the Andersons, Jeremy and Laura, and so many others we’ve come to know and love over the years.
As much as we treasure our returning guests, we also take so much joy in introducing new folks to the Middle Fork for the first time — and there were plenty of magical firsts this summer.
We had an incredible crew on the Middle Fork this season. While there are too many to name here, a few deserve special mention!
Zoe had her first season guiding in a drift boat — how many of you got to ride or fish with her this summer? She was a rock star. We also had a great lineup of sweep boat drivers — Charlie Steele, Peter Tooley, Jack Grim, Duncan Swersey, and Reed Stokes — who worked hard to set up our deluxe wilderness camps trip after trip, we so appreciate the work they put in to make our trips the comfortable and unforgettable Helfrich experience.
Some new faces really impressed us and brought great energy to every trip: Kent Kohler, Peter Hunter, Jaid Brickson, Maddy Erickson, Luke Fadling, and Jacob Checketts. Amelia Howard, our new warehouse manager and office help, knocked it out of the park this year – making sure all of the food (one of the most important parts of a trip!) made it out to the river and was packed appropriately. And finally, a huge thank-you to our trip leaders — Cole, Trafford, Dylan, Hogan, Zoe, and Kidd — each brought their own strengths and leadership styles that made this season one to remember. (Stay tuned for a special guide spotlight on Jacob later in this newsletter!)
The Helfrich family continues to grow! With Fallon, Quinn, Moxie, and Sadie’s new baby Auger all spending time around the operation, there was no shortage of giggles, naps in the shop, and tiny helping hands. It’s a joy watching the next generation learn the ropes — literally — as this truly becomes a multigenerational business.
We wrapped up the season with a fantastic September, running an upper river trip, a lower canyon trip, and two charter cast-and-blast adventures.Our Upper River trip is always a favorite — a four-day, one-angler-per-boat fishing adventure on stretches that haven’t been fished commercially in months. With fewer guests and pristine water, it’s an intimate and unforgettable experience.The Lower Canyon trip reminded us why we love fall on the Middle Fork. The crisp days, peaceful camps we rarely use, and that golden evening light in the Impassable Canyon — it’s hard to describe the beauty, but it always feels like something worth pausing for. And finally, our charter cast-and-blast trips closed the season perfectly — great friends from across the country reconnecting in the backcountry, swapping stories around the fire, catching trout and bird hunting. We were lucky enough to host two incredible groups this year.
As we close out another season, we’re filled with gratitude — for our guests who continue to trust us with their adventures, for our hardworking guides and staff, and for the river itself, which keeps showing us something new each year.We’re already dreaming of next summer — new faces, returning friends, and another chance to share the magic of the Middle Fork. Until then, we hope you’re finding your own wild places this fall and winter.
See you on the river,
Kelsey, Sadie and The Helfrich Team