Patterson has led fly fishing, rafting and eco-tours throughout Central America, Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. since 1991. Patterson's degree in Recreation Management from Prescott College set the stage for a career in adventure guiding and a passion for keeping tight lines on his home waters. "It's not just about the fishing, it’s about the people," Patterson says. "Our activities are kind of a metaphor for life. They can teach patience, strategy, versatility and adapting to conditions."
A native of Colorado, Kelly has been working professionally in the outdoor industry for twenty-years. He has lived in Southwest Colorado for 16 years, and has been guiding with RIGS for the last several seasons. “Guiding year-round provides the opportunity to continuously hone the hard-skills that life in the mountains demands, while developing the soft skills that allows others the confidence to explore the mountains without the learning curve.” Certifications held: WFR, LNT, SWT, LGT, NRA Range officer, High Angle Rescue Certified, PADI, and Wilderness Survival Training Certified.
Ian grew up in Northern California where his love for the outdoors was first birthed. Ever since he bought his first board and wet-suit at age ten, Ian has loved playing in the water. His love for rivers ignited when his brother introduced him to white-water canoeing in 2001. Ian’s connection to Colorado and the San Juan Mountains began in 2003, where he is now a full-time student and a professional Snowboard and Ski instructor. Having led several humanitarian efforts to remote Himalayan mountain regions over the past seven years, Ian’s passion for people and the outdoors is a great addition to the RIGS team.
A fifth-generation native Coloradan, Paul grew up in the shadow of the Mt. Evans Wilderness, in Colorado’s Front Range. From an early age, he started exploring the back country and chasing trout. Paul has been fly fishing for over fifteen years, and a few years ago he embraced tenkara, traditional Japanese fly fishing. He has extensive experience in lightweight backpacking and back country angling on remote streams and high lakes.
In my 28 years of guiding, I have had the privilege to learn, a wide variety of skills in white water, from some amazing mentors. Gaining extensive knowledge in safety orientated family based recreation, wilderness first responder and swift-water rescue tech. I have explored rafting and kayaking in locations all over the US. It is an honor to bring my years of experience to a family business like RIGS!
I was first introduced to fly fishing by my dad in 1987 when I was thirteen. A friend of my father's, Al Bianco, a fly fishing guide and trapper in British Columbia taught me how to think like a fly fisherman, tie my own flies, and to love the great outdoors. College brought me to Colorado and introduced me to the Rockies. My major was civil engineering but fly fishing and adventure were my passions. Now the western slope is my home. Living on a working cattle ranch for the past 10 years has been a great experience. I have learned about the spirit of the American West and the rich cowboy culture that is slowly disappearing. Guiding fly fisherman in the summer and instructing skiers in the winter allows me to pursue my love of teaching while being surrounded by the beautiful Cimarron and San Juan Mountains.
Nathan was born in Montrose, CO from which upon his father's back he started exploring the San Juan's before he could walk. A life intimate with the wild has always been his passion. This love has lead him into both the outdoor industry and the world of art through a career as a dancer, choreographer and director of his own dance company. He started running rivers professionally in 2002 and since then has worked on a vast portion of the Colorado and Green River drainages specializing in multi-day expeditions. In addition to working for RIGS he is also rowing a handful of trips seasonally on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. His life on the river has helped shape his views on the wilderness as more then just a place we go for "recreation" and ultimately a place wild, mysterious and complete onto itself where we as humans are guests. He enjoys the rare opportunity guiding allows for sharing this experience with people from all walks of life.
Jack Moseley landed in the San Juan Mountains in 1975, where he began to cultivate an appreciation of wildness with an eye for beauty in the irregular and character in the imperfect. He has expertise in all genres of photography, but especially loves landscape, wildlife and macro photography. Jack is a published, award winning photographer that exhibits nationally. As a long-time member of the San Juan Photo Club and a founding member of the Alpine Photo Club, he is a highly respected Colorado guide who leads numerous photographic field trips throughout the Southwest and the San Juan Range for many new and advanced photographers.
Erin Eddy is a 5th generation Colorado native. He grew up fishing the lakes, creeks and rivers of Colorado with his father in the 1970’s. Erin has been fly-fishing, rafting, kayaking,skiing and mountaineering in Southwest Colorado since he moved to Durango in 1986. Erin is a past State of Colorado EMT-I and a current member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team.
A native to Colorado, Marisa Murphy, our SUP (Stand Up Paddle) Guide has a deep passion for the sport. She has been paddling on rivers, surfing ocean waves and enjoying flat water for over 6 years. When the ocean isn’t near by, Marisa and her husband surf the wake of their boat on the SUP boards. Marisa’s next adventure is to merge her love for fly fishing with standing on a paddle board…we shall see. For now her favorite SUP activities are paddling thru the riffles of the Lower Gunnison River and enjoying the scenic Ridgway Reservoir and being amidst all of the bird life.
I have fished all over the country for the last twenty five years, and I find that every time I am out on the water I learn something new. I enjoy teaching the art of fly fishing to people of all ages. During the winter months I teach fly tying classes and I am also a commercial fly tyer. I feel very fortunate to be doing what I love to do, every day.
