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Rogue Wilderness Adventures
P.O. Box 1110
325 Galice Road
Merlin, OR 97532
(800) 336-1647
(541) 479-9554
(541) 476-8051 fax
Contact Us
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ROGUE WILDERNESS ADVENTURES

Professional River Guides Since 1970.
There's a World of Incredible Adventure in Oregon -
Find it with Rogue Wilderness Adventures

Our Mission

To provide an exciting, fun and unique river adventure in the beautiful Wild and Scenic Rogue River Canyon. Our hiking, fishing and rafting trips are designed to give you a thrilling, relaxing and fun experience in the wilds of Oregon. After a trip with Rogue Wilderness Adventures- You will just want more...

Go Home Refreshed, Invigorated, Smiling and Relaxed - After a Rogue Wilderness Adventures vacation.

Meet the Rogue Wilderness Adventures Staff

Here's the people that make Rogue Wilderness Adventures the best outfitter on the Rogue. You can click on a picture to read their bio.

Guides
Greg Contreras
Albert
Greg Contreras - Lead Guide
Albert Amescua - Guide
   
Gina Rosina Porzio
Dave Forbuss
Gina Rosina Porzio - Guide
Dave Forbuss - Guide
   
Bob
Brandon Matthews
Bob Rafalovich - Guide
Brandon Matthews - Guide
   
Casie Hinkle
Casie Hinkle - Day Guide
Operations
Babs
Kathy DeChenne
Babs Niva - Prime Mover
Kathy DeChenne - Chef
   

Lisa Bless

Brad Niva
Lisa Bless - Office Assistant
Brad Niva - Owner
   
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
Ken Griffin - Driver
Jim Rhoades - Driver
   
Transportation
 
Marcy Baese - Driver
 
Warehouse
Travis Adams
Dean Davis
Travis Adams - Shop Cretin
Dean Davis - Shop Cretin II
   

Background

Brad NivaRogue Wilderness Adventures is owned and managed by Brad Niva. Brad's love for the outdoors and the Rogue River is what motivates him to reach out and share this wonderful wilderness experience with over 2000 people a year. His commitment to providing the best in outdoor recreation has made Rogue Wilderness Adventures world famous in the outfitter business landscape. Rogue Wilderness Adventures commitment to personalized menus, great staff and top notch equipment guarantees their customers a perfect trip.

Brad's involvement in Rogue Wilderness Adventures started in 1998 when he was actually a guest with Rogue Wilderness on a trip down the Rogue River. A number of years later Brad was leading his own private trip down the Rogue and had to catch an airplane to Dallas, Texas for a sales meeting with his former employer. He suffered some culture shock, hours earlier he was floating down one of the most beautiful rivers in the world and 4 hours later he found himself waiting for a connection in the Las Vegas Airport. The airport was packed and all the flights were to capacity. Oh how he craved to be back on the river. While in Dallas his company brought in a motivational speaker named Pat Croce. Pat's passion for life is contagious and he made an impact in Brad's life by saying you have one life, just one. Go live it, you won't get a second chance. This probably wasn't what Brad's employer had in mind. When Brad got home he told his wife about the speaker and what he experienced after he left the Rogue River. Knowing the owners of Rogue Wilderness Brad called them up and started the process of buying Rogue Wilderness.

Today, Brad is grateful for his life changing decision and has traded his power suit for shorts and sandals and truly loves his chosen profession. If you need some motivation in changing your life for the better, buy Brad a beer and he'll tell you how to do it.

Rogue Wilderness is open for business year round. However, the store and warehouse are only open from May 1st until November 1 each year.

Rogue Wilderness Adventures is one of the most diversified outfitting companies on the Rogue River offering Rafting and Kayaking trips on the both the "recreation" and "wild" section of the Rogue River. In addition, they offer Rogue River trail hiking trips as well as Salmon and Steelhead fishing trips.

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Staff Bios - Up Close and Personal

 
Greg Contreras - Lead Guide

GregLast book read: 101 Ways to Use a Dead Cat
When I grow up I want to be a: Kid
Earliest childhood memory: Tossing rocks.
Nickname: G-man
If I could do/be anything: Frodo
Farthest from home: Kentucky Derby
Little known fact: I arrange flowers.
When I want to impress someone: I tie cherry stems in a knot with my tongue.

Punk'd on the Rogue River: Quicktime | Windows Media

 
Albert Amescua - Guide

AlbertSign: Libra
When I grow up: Race car driver
Earliest childhood mem: Listening to rock music.
If I could do anything: Cure multiple sclerosis.
When I want to impress someone: Keep my mouth shut.

Rogue River Day Trip: Quicktime | Windows Media

 
Gina Rosina Porzio - Guide

GinaSign: Taurean/Aries cusp
Favorite book: Kama Sutra
Last book: Kushiels Dart
When I grow up: I will never grow up.
Little known fact: I love cheesy 80s movies.
Hobbies: Fishing, hiking, rafting, camping, anything outdoors.
Embarrassing moment: Jetboat full of people passing while I was on the groover. Yes, I waved.
If I could be anything: Riverguide
Chaco shoe size: 8 mens : I have wide cavewoman feet.
When I want to impress someone: I will get breast implants and flash them.

 
Dave Forbuss - Guide

DaveSign: Aquarius
Favorite book/movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Last book read: Guns, Germs, Steel
When I grow up: College basketball coach
Little known fact: I sang in the 9th grade choir.
Nickname: Deacon: I led the team prayer once in college.
Farthest from home: Kona, Hawaii
When I want to impress someone: Catch a bigger fish.

 
Brandon Matthews - Guide

BrandonWhat's your sign? SLOW CHILDREN
Favorite book: Lord of the Rings Movie: Life Aquatic
Last book read: The Bible
When I grow up I want to be a: Pastor
Earliest childhood memory: Playing in the mud.
Little known fact: I want to be a Solid Gold dancer.
If I could be anything/one: Gandalf
When I want to impress someone: I lift things.

Punk'd on the Rogue River: Quicktime | Windows Media

Casie Hinkle - Day Guide

Favorite movies: Goonies and Labyrinth with David Bowie (hot!)
Last book read: Turning Angel
When I grow up: Teacher, river guide, professional traveler
Little known fact: Can't sleep with socks on.
Hobbies: Softball, surfing, snowboarding, rafting, mimicking people.
If I could be anything: Mermaid - I've always wanted to breathe under water.
When I want to impress someone: I unwrap a Starburst in my mouth or stand in the corner & smile.

 
Babs Niva - Prime Mover

Favorite movies: Raising Arizona, Man on Fire, Out of Africa
When I grow up: I want to have short hair that I can change colors every week.
Little known fact: I drive a snowcat in the winter and groom ski runs.
Hobbies: Knitting and felting
If I could do/be anything: I'd operate a community-supported agriculture organic garden.
Home has been: Pilahuin Ecuador, Glencoe Minnesota, Dayton Washington, Bend Oregon
When I want to impress someone: I back up a trailer.

 
Kathy DeChenne - Chef

What's your sign? Leo
Last book read: The Five People You Meet in Heaven
When I grow up I want to be: The person my children look up to as a good example.
Little known fact about me is: I cook a lot!!
My hobbies include: Rearranging furniture and interior decorating.
Most embarrassing moment: My picture for the website.

Lisa Bless - Office Assistant

What's your sign? Cancer
Favorite book: The Notebook Movie: Departed
Last book read: The River Why?
When I grow up I want to be: A person just like me.
Most embarrassing moment: Tripping and being pitched off the end of a treadmill.
If I could do or be anything it would be: F-18 pilot

 
Brad Niva - Owner

Favorite book: Monkey Wrench Gang
Last book: Innocent Man
A funny thing happened on the way to the river the other day: I hit a turkey vulture driving the bus to the river.
Hobbies: Skiing and woodworking
Most embarrassing moment: Walked into the (women's) restroom and wondered why I couldn't find the urinal.
If I could be anything: Gastroenterologist (really)
Farthest from home: Sidney Australia
Best thing about working at Rogue Wilderness: It's always fun.
When I want to impress someone: I keep my clothes on.

 
Travis Adams - Shop Cretin

Nickname: Bitz (as in Kibbles and....)
Home has been these places: Georgia, Hawaii, Java, Baja, Merlin, Baton Rouge
The best thing about working at Rogue Wilderness is: Fitting lifejackets on girls.
When I want to impress someone: I knit them a nice warm sweater.

Adventures of Kibbles & Bitz: Quicktime | Windows Media

 
Dean Davis - Shop Cretin II

What's your sign: School Zone Ahead
Last book read: How to Read for Dummies
When I grow up I want to be: Greg Contreras
Hobbies: Sipping Ovaltine by the fire with my homies.
Nickname: Kibbles
Most embarrassing moment: I laugh at embarrassment.
If I could do/be anything: Con artist
Farthest from home I've been: Foster Bar

Adventures of Kibbles & Bitz: Quicktime | Windows Media

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