Sam grew up in Roanoke Virginia in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. He fell in love with the whitewater world after taking a job as a raft guide at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in western North Carolina. He graduated from Emory & Henry University in 2026 with a degree in Environmental Science and a concentration in Outdoor Leadership and Risk Management. The 2026 season will be his first year working at Cascade Raft & Kayak and he is stoked. Sam was drawn to Idaho by the mighty North Fork Payette River, famous for its continuous and chaotic nature. Sam’s favorite activity in the world is whitewater kayaking, and he is never happier than when he is on the river. Some of his favorite outdoor adventures include a thru-hike of the 2,197.4-mile Appalachian Trail in 2024 and a self-supported kayak trip down the Grand Canyon in 2026.