Blog
River inspiration, reviews, stories, advice, camping tips, and about anything else we can think of from the Zoo Town Surfers staff.
River Etiquette
Rivers are a privilege. We are lucky enough to share these wild and beautiful places with one another, and treating the river and our fellow boaters with respect is necessary in order to keep these places wild and beautiful. Be knowledgeable about the Leave No Trace...
Packing Right for Taking Kids Rafting
If you are taking your kiddos on their first river trip, packing everything you might need out there can present a major challenge. As someone who is NOT a parent yet, these What-To-Bring lists are very introductory, and come from overhearing LOTS of parents say “Oh,...
Questions you Should/Shouldn’t Ask Every River Guide
River guides love telling stories. We love stories that make us laugh, stories that make us learn, and stories that make us look inward. Exaggerated details, extensive hand gestures, the Dramatic Pause, and a sharp punchline. We love telling good stories and bad ones,...
Guiding as a River Couple
In any workplace, dating your coworker is a bad idea. In guiding, it is also a bad idea. You’ve heard the story, I’m sure. Maybe you’ve lived it. You met them on the river last season, and the magic of summer and nature whisked you away into a sun-drunk love affair....
ZTS Guide Profile – Brit Englund
Name/nickname, where are you from, how long have you been guiding for Zoo Town and what do you do during the offseason? I do not have any nicknames, my name (Brit Englund) is funny enough. I was born and raised in Missoula. This summer will be my third year guiding...
15 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GO RAFTING WHEN YOU VISIT MISSOULA!
It wasn’t until very recently that Missoula, Montana became a true destination town for visitors from across the globe. As river rafting guides, we seemed to always ask the question “where are you going to next?” A large percentage of our guests are now choosing to...
Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday gift giving can be a very stressful thing, especially if you have an outdoor enthusiast on your list. So here’s some ideas on how to wow your beloved river rat with amazing gift giving skills. The Wish List Patagonia Micro Puff Jacket These jackets are the...
FLOATING THE BLACKFOOT RIVER WITH KIDS
This past summer, we found ourselves floating the Blackfoot River more than previous summers. There are so many things I love about the Blackfoot River. I consider the upper stretches to be the “bread and butter” of this river. I think Russell Gates down is the most...
2019 End of Season Wrap-Up
The season is pretty much over for most of us river guides here in Western Montana. Winter is knocking on our door and most us have already transitioned into our off-season. It was a great summer and I always feel so thankful to work around awesome people and call the...
