In July 1980 I got on a Greyhound bus at midnight in Philadelphia and arrived in Idaho simultaneous with the inception of the “Frank.” 45 years, thousands of river miles, horse trails and guests later, I’ve raised a family, ran a successful family-owned outfitting business upon the Frank, and have become intensely aware of the values of the Frank on the individual and the nation. To say that the Frank has had a positive effect on my life and those of the multitude of guests and coworkers throughout my years, is as gross as an understatement gets. I have never seen the values of wilderness more at risk than they are today.

Vacant

Alison French Steen is the owner of Yellow Jacket River Guides, an Idaho rafting company that specializes in wilderness trips co-created by women, in service to women.  YJRG’s philosophy is one of inclusion and encouragement, striving to create an environment where adventurers feel supported and respected physically and emotionally. Donning boots and a backpack at age 14, Alison ventured solo into the Salmon River wilderness, launching a life defined by western rivers, alternating largely between Idaho and the Grand Canyon, eventually leading scientific expeditions for the National Park Service.  Alison graduated in 1998 from Fort Lewis College magna cum laude with a degree in Resource Policy and Management. Alison is a past president of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and spearheads the annual Outfitter Rendezvous, funding educational opportunities for rural youth.  As a life long wilderness advocate, Alison is committed to robust dialogue surrounding common sense and stakeholder based solutions to technological intrusion into wild spaces and experiences.

Growing up in the foothills of Virginia’s Blueridge Mountains gave me a deep appreciation for getting to be out in nature’s wild spaces early in life. I used to run around in the woods on my family’s horse farm until the sun went down each summer–and it was one of the best parts of my childhood. Later in life I experienced the overwhelm that comes from living modern life, between schooling, working multiple jobs and caring for family. It was at this time that the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a deeper way came back into my life. I distinctly remember how cleansing and restoring those early trips into the wilderness truly were… and how grateful I was for those moments of peace. Today I am blessed with the opportunity to share the wilderness with others and to help them get to have their own moments of quietude, freedom, awe and just simply to have the time to step away from our busy world for a few days. I believe that the world we live in needs these wild spaces now more than ever.