Gearboats, Groovers and Office Computers

Going with the flow is often a lot easier said than done. Movement with gravity may seem intuitive, but add a little water, an obstacle or two and the route becomes more complicated. Owning a rafting company works the same way.

Many of you may know, and many may not; Paul and Penny Arentsen sold WWRE to Robin Pace in the spring of 2024. Paul's letter regarding  “Passing the Oars" is also posted to our blog. The summer of 2024—which also happened to be WWRE’s 20th season—was ran in conjunction, primarily with Robin at the helm but with several loose ends which needed tidying before everything was fully transitioned at the end of 2024 and prior to the 2025 season. And here we are, on the backend of 2025, two seasons under my belt and I’m finally getting around to putting all of this down on paper. 

For those of you who don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself. I began working for WWRE in the spring of 2013 after graduating from Boise State. Due to pathways available at the time I created my own degree in pre-Speech Pathology through the independent studies program, along with a minor in American Sign Language. My plan was to return to college for a masters degree, either continuing into Speech Pathology, or transitioning into interpreting or teaching. After my first trip I realized rafting would be part of my life forever. Even so I believed guiding would be an interlude. Becoming an outfitter wasn’t a future I saw for myself for many years. I spent that incredibly sweaty first summer swamping on the gearboat for Todd, schlepping dry bags, setting up camp, seeking out the most picturesque groover sites, and generally learning everything I could about how to be a river guide. The next handful of years I continued to spend summers learning from all the guides I was lucky enough to chase down the river. Soaking up stories, gleaning the precise placement of oar strokes until I was the one being chased down the river telling stories. One thing that hasn’t changed is learning from everyone I float with. Every guide and each of you, bring your own river magic. Over the 11 years I worked for Paul and Penny, owning a rafting company did become a dream I dreamt—but I didn’t tell any one. It was a dream planted around 2019 and like a little seed would be watered a little each trip. Droplet by droplet it became a wave, and when I reached that horizon line—well I couldn’t help but drop in.

Purchasing the company wasn’t what I expected to see beyond the horizon. Paul and I had been in conversation for several years regarding my moving into a position of managing the company. We had discussed the line, the steps and strokes required to get there. That’s where we were headed. I think it surprised us both when he realized he was ready for a bigger and different transition than the one we had planned. I had spent most of the 2023 summer lingering longer. Given that the plan had been for me to spend more time at the boathouse to manage things, I was anticipating spending a lot less time on the water. So I hugged a lot of rocks along the river and spent eons gazing at canyon walls sending “I love you” with my eyes. When the plan changed, a new horizon line lurking, I didn’t say yes for a long long time. Not until August after the last hot push of the summer. Not until “yes” dripped from every cell of my body even after the sweat stopped. Only after many conversations at many river camps with the guides did I acknowledge I wanted to see what was on the other side of this new unexpected horizon line. So I pulled out of the eddy and let the dream growing in my heart pour into the current. My heart loves this company and these canyons. Even more it loves all the people I get to share them with, be it one trip or years. Thank goodness it dropped in first. 

The thing about horizon lines is you can’t see what’s on the other side. Sure you can guess by the roar. Hop up onto a cooler or dry box to take a little peak. And yes scouting is certainly prudent if you can, but this wasn’t one of those horizon lines. Purchasing a business is the kind of horizon line you run blind. Asking folks who have done it before is definitely helpful, but you’re not running the same rapid or the same line. Turns out purchasing a business has required all the row and react skills I’ve curated over the years. Not to mention learning a whole slew of computer skills I had neglected in the nearly decade and a half I’ve spent living on rivers. There was a lot to catch up on. Running a business requires a bit more computer skills than watching whitewater videos on YouTube. All that to say, purchasing a business has been the steepest, deepest, longest river I’ve ever run. I’ve missed more than a couple oar strokes, and taken some hits sideways, but I’m getting better. 

In the past two years a lot has happened. On the technology front, last November WWRE launched a new website. The new site was spurred by the progress of our technological world and the need to keep up with cookie laws, privacy settings and the fact that most browsing is done by mobile device. If you were one of those whom subsequently encountered issues, I apologize and thank you for letting me know about it. A lot of work has been done by the web team and fingers crossed those issues shouldn’t arise any more—let me know if they do. On the river front, the guide crew stepped up universally. Swampers were licensed, multiple guides stepped into leadership roles, new gear boatmen were trained. Smiles and laughter continue to burble across the water and there have been more tears of joy rolling down cheeks than ever before. For that I am grateful. My heart is full.

Over the years I spent dreaming this dream, I knew I wanted to do it slightly different. I also knew as a baseline that would be the case. As a whole, the world of outfitting is rather small. The number of women-owned rafting companies even smaller, with the number of women in their 30s doing it solo—well let’s just say I know a couple mentors but have yet to meet a peer. I have dreamed of cultivating the world of guiding and outfitting to become better for both guides and guests for many years. My dreams are built of balance, compromise, fulfillment, conversation and community. None of them involve shifting our program excessively.  We will continue to offer a multitude of trip options and are always interested to hear what you want to see added to our offerings.  For example, by request we have hosted all-women's trips with an all female crew, for the last four year's running. We have also had a handful happen by accident.  You should expect to see some new speciality trips in the future, and several are already up on our website.  Maybe a new river will join our quiver. Most of all I want to push the guiding industry toward recognition in the greater sphere, with more reliability and stability for those whom choose to pursue it for the long term. 

With regard to oar strokes I’ve missed in this new venture, writing blog posts and sending out email updates have certainly been one of them. This is the first of what I aim to become at least bi-monthly installments written by me personally. You should also expect to see blog posts written by guides on a variety of topics. Our Instagram and Facebook have had a number of guide contributors over the last two years and that will continue. One of my favorite things is to get a glimpse into the river world through their eyes. Winding Waters will continue its tradition of being a family operated business. My brother Anders is the boathouse manager, and my dad is running guest shuttles. My mom drives as well but more often can be found helping me weed the garden beds or weed-eat around the boathouse. Familiar voices pick up the phone. Hilary is still creating and curating delicious river meals. Over the next couple of years the beef we serve on river trips will transition even more locally and will be raised just a mile from the boathouse on my Gram’s farm. Grass-fed in the shadow of the Wallowa mountains. The guide family continues to blossom with new and well loved faces.  As for me, well I’m going to continue running rivers with all of you as often as I can. There are a lot more river stories to come and I look forward to creating them with you. 

Like many transitions, this one has been filled with relief, trepidation, beauty, nostalgia, hope, some really big questions, even bigger dreams, laughter, tears and a whole lot of gratitude. This past summer I found myself back on the gearboat schlepping gear up sandbanks and seeking out ideal groover sites. It gave me a lot of time to witness this dream in action. It also allowed time for my heart to catch up to the pace my mind had been running these last two years. I want to thank all of you for your patience, and the time it has taken for me to get this out. To be completely honest it has taken me this long to find the words.

 The 2026 schedule is up on our website and trips are booking. If you have questions about anything, or just want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach me numerous ways: calling either of the office lines(local or international), or my business cell (541-263-1052), and via email at wwrerafting@gmail.com. I may be out of service at times enjoying the off season(skiing, hiking, biking etc), and sometimes my hands are covered in dough. Regardless—if I miss connecting with you, leave a message. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

All the love, gratitude, and appreciation a gearboat can carry, 

Robin