Ellis grew up in Waco, Texas, and fell in love with rafting in 2019 when he got picked up by a van full of river guides while hitchhiking across Arizona. This is his first year working for Cascade on the Payette, but he has spent 7 years working and playing on rivers all over the U.S. When he's not in a packraft, kayak, raft, or accidentally swimming rapids, he enjoys traveling, backpacking, hiking, bicycle touring, skiing, drawing, taking photos of birds and insects, and staring at maps to get ideas for new adventures! He's stoked to join a new river community and to finally get to know the Payette river after thinking about it for 6 years!