Drew Parker

When it comes to positive attitude and optimism, Drew Parker is the man. Returning to Wet Planet for his fourth season, he is a river guide on every river trip offered by Wet Planet, including the Class V Wind River and Farmlands Section of the White Salmon River. Drew brings with him many years of expert guiding and managing experience, as well as his positive attitude that rubs off on everyone around.

Drew grew up in Northern California, eventually earning a division 1 soccer scholarship and B.A. in Graphic Design from Fresno State University. He began running rivers the spring of 1989 in the beautiful Central Sierras. Over the years, he developed an impressive river resume, moving from river guide to trip leader to river manager on the Merced and Tuolumne rivers.

While off the river, Drew instructed Art and Ceramics and coached Men's and Women's soccer at the High School and Community College levels. This experience earned him a single subject teaching credential in Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Education. Under Drew's leadership, the Clovis West High School soccer team was sectional champions three of six years in California, and was ranked as the top High School Soccer program in the nation!

Drew's recent travels have taken him across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the near East, South America, and beyond. Drew was a team member of the Wet Planet Peru Expedition in 2008, helping guide and lead successful raft descents of the Cotahuasi, Colca and Apurimac River Canyons. Many of the group members report that the expedition would still be at the bottom of one of the river canyons had it not been for Drew's expert oarsmanship and guiding abilities. According to Wet Planet's Todd Collins, another Peru team member, "When it really mattered, at the bottom of the deepest canyon in the world and days away from anything, Drew pulled off some of the most amazing rowing I have ever seen. His skills were invaluable to our success."

Drew has recently been calling the Pacific Northwest home for the majority of the year. In 2008-9, he was the Transportation Manager at Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon's largest ski destination. Combining work in the ski industry in the winter and the whitewater industry in the summer, Drew has managed to make living in the Columbia River Gorge year-round a fun reality. Lucky for Wet Planet, Drew is here to stay and keep our spirits high and our rafters happy and positive.

Drew currently resides in Hood River Oregon, boating, biking, learning to kiteboard, skiing and enjoying all that the beautiful Columbia River Gorge has to offer.

Interested in becoming part of the Wet Planet team? Check out our Employment Opportunities.