Meet The Team

Helfrich River Outfitter Inc

MEET THE HELFRICH TEAM!

Ken Helfrich

OUTFITTER / OWNER

I was raised along the banks of the McKenzie River in Oregon. As a kid I spent a lot of time exploring and fishing small streams. My family had boys’ fly-fishing camps

Sherill Helfrich

RIVER MOM

Hi, I am Sherill Helfrich, often referred to as the river mom, the glue or the rock of the Helfrich clan and crew. Kenny and I have been married since 1980 and we are the

Kelsey Helfrich

OUTFITTER / OWNER

I feel so lucky to have been born into the Helfrich Family. As a fourth generation guide in Idaho and fifth generation in Oregon, the river is in my blood.

As the managing partner in the business, I love dedicating my time to furthering this amazing company that my family has dedicated their lives to since 1922. I get to spend my time working alongside my parents, my husband and some of my best friends as we all working together towards the common goal of providing the best experience we can for our guests. Running a boat and the opportunity to introduce people to the beautiful rivers of the Northwest is a true passion for me.
I grew up along the banks of the McKenzie River in Oregon and have been in a boat since before I could walk. As I grew, so did my love of the river and the outdoor lifestyle. When I was 2 years old I got to go on my first trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and at 5 I went on my first big commercial over-night trip on the Main Salmon. Growing up, I spent most of my time in the summer, tagging along on McKenzie trips with my dad as a swamper on the pontoon. At the age of 12 I graduated up to running my own raft down the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River followed soon after by the Main Salmon Canyon and the Middle Fork of the Salmon. I got my first Oregon guides license at the age of 16 and started guiding paddle rafting trips on the Upper McKenzie. Being an outfitters kid, I was raised learning the whole business, both on the river and working in the office. I guess you can say I have been training to be an outfitter my whole life.

Working on the river made for an awesome summer job throughout high school and college. Following in the footsteps of my Granddad Dave, I went to the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. I graduated from OSU in 2007 with degrees in Forestry Recreation Resource Management and a minor in Cultural and Geologic Studies of the Pacific Northwest. After graduation I had more time to expand my guiding career, both on the river and in the office. Being out of school also gave me lots of time to spend skiing in the winters and living in Park City.

In 2009 I met Kidd Youren and soon knew that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Kidd started working on the Middle Fork with our crew in 2011 and quickly proved himself as a great boatman, guide and leader on all of the rivers that we run. Kidd and I got married in September of 2013 at the Eagle Rock Lodge on the McKenzie. Kidd and I love guiding together and make a great team.

In January of 2017 Kidd and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. Little Miss Fallon Elery Helfrich-Youren changed out lives in ways we didn’t even know we wanted. Fallon shares her middle name, Elery, with her Great-Great-Granddad Prince Helfrich, giving her yet another connection to the river. Fallon took her first boat ride at three months old, on the day of my Granddad Dave Helfrich’s celebration of life on the McKenzie. In her first year of life she got to experience lots of adventures including multiple overnight river trips and at 8 months old Fallon went with her Great-Gran TerBear and I on a 4-day steelhead fishing drift boat trip on the Rogue River. It won’t be long and Fallon will be tagging along, working on river trips, just like I did.

In 2022 we were blessed with another wonderful little girl named Quinn Sterling Helfrich-Youren who has blessed our lives and completed our family. Quinn, like her sister has already logged many river miles and loves being on the water. Both of our girls are lucky to have not only an extensive family history with the Helfrich side, but with the Youren side as well.

Kidd, Fallon, Quinn and I live in Salmon Idaho and are so excited to continue building a life for ourselves. It is so nice living close to my parents and many of our guides/friends. We get to spend lots of time together on the river and love all of the fun outdoor activities that we can do together as a family. We feel so blessed to be carrying on Helfrich Family legacy as our girls spend time on these amazing rivers as the sixth generation of the Helfrich family floating rivers.

Learn more about Kelsey: https://www.helfrichoutfitter.com/usfs-frankly-speaking-newsletter-outfitter-corner-kelsey-helfrich/.

https://www.helfrichoutfitter.com/women-of-america-outdoors-kelsey-helfrich/

Kidd Youren

OUTFITTER / GUIDE

I started guiding for Helfrich River Outfitters about a year after I met Kelsey, the love of my life and the mother of my two beautiful daughters, Fallon and Quinn.

I had never worked on a river crew, I had never rowed a boat and I really didn’t even know the difference between an oar and a paddle. But with great teachers and mentors like my father-in-law Ken Helfrich, his dad Dave and my wife Kelsey, I was able to learn the tricks of the trade.
I was born into and raised in the outfitting industry. My dad, Dusty Youren, was a hunting outfitter in Idaho, Nevada, Utah and British Columbia. He was also a 5th generation Idaho rancher and a true all-round cowboy. So I grew up being around a lot of hunting, the outdoors, horses and rodeos. I rode my first horse the day after I was born and went to my first cougar tree before I could walk. I had the opportunity to help my parents run a ranch on the Nevada Utah Border, 120 miles from the nearest town. As well as my dad’s hunting area in British Columbia. I guess you could say I had a childhood that prepped me to be an outfitter and outdoorsman.
I bought my first hunting area and became an outfitter when I was 19 years old. When all my friends were going off to college and getting 9 to 5 jobs, I had been saving my money from rodeos, training horses and guiding. I used that money and with a little help from my dad and brother Harry was able to buy a hunting area on the Middle Fork of the Boise River in Idaho. Harry and I still take bear and cougar hunters on that area when I am not on the river.
I always had a passion for rodeo, I would go to rodeos with my dad as a really young boy and as soon as I was old enough to swing a rope and sit a horse I entered up anywhere I could. I started out team roping and them moved onto calf roping, saddle bronc and bull riding as well. I ended up going to Nationals in team roping after winning the Alberta Finals, as well as placing in the Canadian Finals. I also made it to the Silver State Rodeo in Nevada for bull riding. After a few years of braking more bones than I can remember, I finally decided that I am not going to make a career out of rodeo like a lot of my family had before me. I still like to rope any chance I get but for the most part my rodeo career is over.
My reality tv career started in 2012 and has continued with two different reality tv shows. Our first show was called Way Our West and aired on TruTV as Lionsgate’s first reality TV show. After a few years of that show, we moved on to History Channel’s hit TV show Mountain Men and still continues today.

My family has been running cows and hunting in Idaho sense they moved here in 1864 and after 6 generations not much has changed. I guess people are intrigued by our way of life and our unique adventures. I never thought I would be a TV star but it has been a fun and interesting experience.
I live an amazing life that keeps me outdoors and with my family. I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even though I am just getting started and have a lot of years and experiences yet to live, I am filled with lots of memories and fun exciting stories to tell. If you ever want to hear any of them just ask.
Look forward to having you in my boat.

SADIE KING

OPERATIONS MANAGER / GUIDE

I was born and raised in Idaho and grew up with a passion for the state’s wild places. My education brought me to the Frank Church Wilderness in 2013 where I

Kris Belozer

TRIP LEADER / GUIDE

Many of our clients know and love Kris Belozer; a great guide and amazing boatman that will always keep you smiling with his exceptional sense of humor. Kris has been

a valuable part of the Helfrich River Outfitters Family since 2010. Known for more than just a few laughs, his dedication to the “Helfrich Way” and his great attitude are remarkable. Guests love fishing with Kris and guides love working with him. Kris is the type of leader who leads by example and doesn’t quit until the job is done. Kris has been in the business a long time. He started his legacy at age 6, helping his dad Jon, an outfitter on the Deschutes River in Oregon, on trips for Belozer’s Whitewater Fishing. After rowing a gear boat and learning the river, he moved up to a drift boat at age 10. (yes, you read that right, age 10).

By the time he tagged along with Helfrich River Outfitters on the Middle Fork at age 19, he was already an accomplished boatman, fisherman, and kayaker. Kris has guided on the Deschutes, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Main Salmon, Rogue, and Owyhee Rivers, in addition to exploring rivers by kayak in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana, California, and South America.

There is certainly more to come for Kris and we are so excited to have him as a key part of our team. Starting this season, Kris will be managing operations for our new set of Middle Fork launches and second crew. With the help and support of our rockstar guides, Kris will be in charge of the day to day activities on and off the water pertaining to his set of trips.

Lucky for us, Kris also comes as a package deal with his awesome wife and adorable kids Kolter and Perry Jo. In 2017 we were ecstatic to welcome his new wife Jordan into our HRO family and recently the couple had their first son, Kolter Finn, who has already been stacking his river resume. Like his father, we expect great things from this little fisherman. With a nod to the next generation, we want to congratulate Kris on his many accomplishments. His commitment to providing a great experience, his work ethic and unique, lovable character have set him apart over the years. We’ve watched Kris grow into a truly phenomenal person, father and guide. We are proud to announce his promotion to Middle Fork Manager and look forward to being a continued part of Kris’ river legacy, career and family for years to come. Learn More about Kris: https://www.helfrichoutfitter.com/guide_spotlight_kris_belozer/

KEVIN HAWKINS

TRIP LEADER / GUIDE

What started as a summer job in 2004 has turned into a great year-round profession. As a full time guide for HRO, I run trips on the Helfrich Crew

Tim Gunderson

TRIP LEADER / GUIDE

I often say that I have the perfect life. I retired in 2020 after 30 years of teaching mathematics and geology to high school and junior

college students. I began guiding the same year I began teaching and hope to continue guiding for many more years. Part of my retirement plans include a new pursuit—birding. (Read Tim’s Article about Birding on the Middle Fork: https://www.helfrichoutfitter.com/birding/

I grew up camping, boating, and fishing the lakes of Minnesota. My parents instilled a love of all things outdoors in me and my two brothers. Annual vacations out west only enhanced my love of mountains and rivers and in 1983 I followed that love of the west to my new hometown of Burley, Idaho. I wasn’t lucky enough to be born in Idaho, but I’m darned sure going to die in Idaho.

I moved to Idaho with a degree in drafting and a few years of experience in construction. After four more years of construction, I returned to school and earned a B.S. in Mathematics Education and later a Masters of Natural Science in Geology from Idaho State University in Pocatello. 1990 was an important year for me. That is the year that I began my teaching career at Burley High School and the year I kicked off my boating career. The two jobs go hand in hand together and I still love watching my students and guests learn and expand their knowledge, in the classroom or on the river.

My boating career started on the Main Salmon River, tagging along on a trip to help out and learn the routine. By the second day I was hooked, and I haven’t missed a season of guiding on the Main Salmon or Middle Fork since. I worked for Warren River Expeditions for 20 years before starting on the Helfrich River Outfitters crew in 2011. In 1994, while guiding on the Main Salmon I met my best friend, Marilyn on a Salmon River trip and we were married a year later on the river. We enjoy many outdoor adventures together both on and off the river. We raised two kids and have four granddaughters! When I’m not teaching or guiding, I can also be found chasing elk with my muzzleloader, target shooting, hiking, camping, and traveling.

I love working on the Helfrich Crew! I can’t imagine a better river trip than that offered by Helfrich River Outfitters. I feel fortunate to work with such a great group of people. As a geology teacher, I love talking about rocks and river canyons, especially on my favorite river, the Middle Fork of the Salmon! Learn more about Tim’s travels: https://www.helfrichoutfitter.com/tim-goes-to-everest/

Blake King

SWEEP DRIVER / MANAGER

The middle fork of the salmon river and the Franck church wilderness has been my place of passion, occupation, and recreation for most of my life.

ZOE GRUMBACH

GUIDE

I am originally from San Francisco, raised by two parents who love backpacking, camping, and all things mountains. We took a trip down the Middle Fork as a family in 2019,

Garrett Helfrich

GUIDE

My very first river trip on the Upper McKenzie I believe I was 6 weeks old, from then on out running rivers with my mother Jonnie Helfrich and father Aaron Helfrich was

Cole Henson

GUIDE

I was born and raised in Macon, GA, started my river guiding career on the Nolichucky River as a whitewater guide in 2007, and have been guiding all over the West ever

Logan Warren

GUIDE

I grew up in a river outfitting family in Salmon, ID, spending most of my summers floating the local rivers with my parents Dave and Thyra Warren along with my little sister

Catie Stukel

GUIDE

I grew up in Idaho fly fishing, camping, and boating with my family. Two summers ago I swamped my first Middle Fork trip, and immediately knew that I wanted to

MelISSA Frogh

GUIDE

When I went on my first multi-day river trip at age 13, I was immediately addicted to the river way of life. There’s just nothing better than spending days floating down a river

Andrew Greiner

GUIDE

My name is Andrew Greiner. I was born and raised in Oregon and went to school at the University of Montana. After college I moved into my career of guiding and

ERIC RICHINS

GUIDE

I’m lucky to say I’ve loved and respected Idaho’s great outdoors my whole life and there’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing people smile out there. I was introduced

LANIE GALLAND

GUIDE

Howdy! I was born and raised in north Georgia where my family encouraged (and joined) barefoot exploration of the outdoors, complete with as much dirt, water, and

DUNCAN SWERSEY

GUIDE / SWEEP DRIVER

I was raised in Salmon, Idaho to a family of outfitters on the Salmon River Corridor. After growing up from four years of age on river trips, swamping a trip and helping

Drew Hasbrook

GUIDE

My name is Andrew Hasbrook and I have been a fly fishing guide for over a decade. I began my career guiding remote stretches of river in Alaska and Oregon. Through the love

Charlie Steele

GUIDE

Hi, my name is Charlie. Just like many of the others, I fell in love with the river at a young age. The first time I rafted The Salmon River was at the age of 4. From then on

Austin Boswell

GUIDE

Austin, originally from Central Oregon, found a love for fly fishing and river running at an early age. Bend was the perfect place to find easy access to a plethora of famous trout

DALLY RATCLIFF

GUIDE

I grew up in Cottonwood Idaho. Spending as much time as I could hunting, fishing, camping, and snowboarding. I got the opportunity to work for Helfrich River Outfitters in 2017

Avery Hiron

GUIDE

I grew up in Salmon Idaho, and spent my childhood exploring the surrounding mountains and rivers. My first time down the Middle Fork I was 12, but it wasn’t till I

Peter tooly

GUIDE

Born and raised on the rivers of the Pacific Northwest and ever since my freshman year of high school, river guiding is the only job I have ever known. Although the majority

Dylan McGregor

GUIDE

Howdy, I am a peace loving, earth loving, fish addict, who has chosen a lifestyle to provide an experience for anglers, while also filling my own fix. Been fishing my whole life.

CONOR DAVIS

GUIDE

Conor was born and raised in the Wood River Valley. He grew up ski racing in both Alpine and Nordic disciplines. After High school he got into backcountry skiing and competed

Hogan Hernandez

GUIDE

Born and raised in small-town Sisters, I found my passion for the outdoors in the mountains and on the rivers of Central Oregon. I was first introduced to river trips and guiding

AARON LIEBERMAN

GUIDE

I hail from rural Southwest Oregon, where the Rogue and Applegate Rivers meet, and grew up rafting and kayaking the Rogue, Deschutes, Klamath, and many other rivers

GARY WILLIAMS

GUIDE

Ever since I caught my first trout at the age of 5, I have loved fishing. I was born and raised in Oregon and I have lived in Eugene all but 6 months of my life. I bought my first

John Morton

GUIDE

I grew up fly fishing and boating the high desert rivers of Central Oregon. From my hometown of Sisters, I spent my early years honing my skills on the Metolius,

Taylor Wilcox

GUIDE

Taylor is a second generation river guide, who grew up next to the Potomac River in Maryland. He first rafted the Salmon when he was 5 and has been hooked

Emerald Lafortune

GUIDE

I grew up in Northern Idaho with two parents who loved taking us on the river and getting us outside. I graduated from the University of Montana before Idaho called me

Ryan Helfrich

GUIDE

I am a 4th generation Helfrich. I’m lucky enough to have grown up into a family with a rich history of boating and fishing. It is safe to say fishing runs in my blood.

EARL WAGNER

GUIDE

Hello there, I’m Earl. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. Growing up I enjoyed the popular pastime of cheese. I found my true love when my father would take me on hunting

GALEN JARVIS

GUIDE

I am proud to have been born and raised here in Idaho! Born in Salmon, I’ve been fly fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon since the age of 10. My favorite part of any Helfrich

Mike Boyd

GUIDE

I knew I wanted to be a guide at an early age. I was fortunate to get a start when Rough Country Outfitters in Wyoming took a chance on a very eager, very green

George Butts

GUIDE / SWEEP DRIVER

I was born and raised in Challis Idaho and was fortunate to grow up in a family that enjoys the outdoors. My parents started taking all of us rugrats floating on rivers at an early

John Payne

GUIDE

Hey, I’m Jon Payne, or better known as ‘JP’. I grew up in Olympia, Washington, and currently reside in Eugene, Oregon. I learned to fish as soon as I was able to hold a pole.

Jim Juza

GUIDE

The first time I made money in my drift boat I was 13 years old. That was August of 1965. I don’t remember what I was paid, but day wages for guides was in the $35-45

range at the time. I think I got about half of that. I got my first Oregon guides license on my 18th birthday Sept. 16, 1969. A fellow from ODFW came to our house and gave me an oral exam. The only thing I remember about that test was trying to name the fins on a fish. Knowing how to row a boat did not seem to be important. I first worked for Dave Helfrich in the boys camps in 1967. I worked for Dick on his river camp in 1968 and did the Rogue, running the camp boat for Dick in August of that year. I ran a drift boat on the Owyhee in May of 1969 with Prince, Dave and Leroy Pruitt. That was the first trip that Dave ran his pontoon. Prince baked his first loaf of dutch oven bread on the river that trip. He had done a practice loaf at home so knew it could be done. I guided the McKenzie until 1993 and the Rogue from 1979 to 1994. I started guiding the MF in 1980 and am still guiding there today. I have guided the Owyhee, John Day, Main Salmon and a few other great rivers as well. Out of all of them, the Middle Fork of the Salmon is my favorite. I believe there is no other river that offers as much. We have the scenery, wildlife, fishing, Indian cultural sites and occidental sites. The Middle Fork is also in the middle of the largest Wilderness in the Lower 48. I see something new every time I float the MF. My other occupations over the years include driving semi-trucks and building logging roads. I raise cattle on our ranch in Salmon and worked for the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game capturing and collaring deer and elk. I have captured a couple thousand deer and a couple hundred elk, a few bighorn sheep and some antelope. I kept track of about 325 collared animals each winter. I grew up on the McKenzie River. I moved to Salmon in 1983 and married Lois Blackadar March 22, 1986. We have 2 sons and a daughter and 5 grandchildren. I feel fortunate to be a fishing guide. We get to be with people when they are at their best. On vacation! I believe that we provide the best vacation experience possible. Ken has taken Outfitting to a new level and Kelsey is continuing to improve on that tradition. We have a crew that is dedicated to providing the best experience possible.

Ty Holloway

GUIDE

I grew up boating and fishing the McKenzie River with my family, and quickly developed a passion for rivers and fish. I went off to Montana for college and began

Saydee Brass

ADVERTISING INTERN

My name is Saydee. I started out helping around the office and shop before becoming the marketing intern for HRO, working on the company’s visuals. I grew up

Hanna Curran

GUIDE

Hanna grew up fly fishing with her father, a long time fly fishing guide. She loves to travel slow through the canyon, catching fish and deeply enjoying every moment

Jack Grim

GUIDE

Born and raised in Hood River Oregon, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend my formative years on the rivers of the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia,

Melissa Nolan

GUIDE

I was born and raised in Buffalo, Minnesota. I spent my days haunting every lake, pond, and creek I could find. I learned from an early age the kind of peaceful sanctuary

Bob Morton

GUIDE

Bob is our trusty bus driver that transports guests from the take out at the confluence of the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon, back to Salmon at the end of the trip.

Blaine Bednarik

GUIDE

If you’re reading this folks, it’s too late! Blaine-o is out on the Middle Fork!
I began life in the big-suburbs, got my degree, and wore a tie for a while…

Trafford Turkiewicz

GUIDE

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I was never far from the outdoors. Whether I was fishing the Sandy River for Steelhead or snowboarding on Mt. Hood, I couldn’t wait to get into some kind of adventure.

Casey Burley

GUIDE

As a native of Salmon, I grew up exploring the mountains and rivers with my father and twin brother. From a young age, I discovered my passion for the outdoors,