Jonathan Blum

This season will be Jonathan's fourth year with the Wet Planet. He came to Wet Planet at the end of the 2005 season, just days after returning from a 7 month kayak trip in New Zealand. Since then, Jonathan has returned to Wet Planet each summer to the Wet Planet Team.

Born and raised in the whitewater mecca of Eugene, Oregon, Jonathan has been on the river since his early years. He had his first rowing experience at age 3 in his father's lap, and started guiding in Oregon and Washington at age 16. He has spent his summers since on some of the Northwest's classic rivers such as the McKenzie, Deschutes, Rogue, Skykomish, and Green River Gorge. He loves to be on rivers, wherever they are!

Growing up in a town full of pro boaters, Jonathan was inspired by and learned from some of the country's best whitewater kayakers. In the last 5 years he has traveled throughout the USA, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Peru in search of amazing and remote whitewater. He is an ACA Certified Whitewater Kayaking Instructor, and is a patient and dedicated teacher. He shares his love and passion for the river to all of his students.

Since graduating from the University of Puget Sound in 2006, Jonathan has been guiding rafts on the White Salmon, Klickitat and Tieton Rivers, instructing whitewater kayaking, and teaching Swiftwater Rescue Courses. He also makes a point of a yearly adventure to some new country or exotic location. A few of his interesting adventures include paddling the largest river in Chile, getting stranded for days hitchhiking in Argentine Patagonia, visiting the Southernmost city in the world, and heli-kayaking in New Zealand. You can check out all of his adventures on his Website at daysontheriver.com.

Jonathan's training includes:

* Wilderness First Responder
* Wilderness CPR
* Whitewater Rescue Technician Advanced
* Technical / High Angle Ropes Rescue
* ACA Raft Guide Instructor
* ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor
* Rescue 3 International Water Instructor (WRT and SRT)