Momentum River Expeditions started with the idea of bringing the handcrafted quality, attention to detail, and the sense of adventure of expedition-style trips to all river trips. Whether it is on the big class V water of the Cal Salmon or the Forks of the Kern; the logistically difficult and off the beaten path Owyhee or Tatshenshini; a day trip down the Upper ‘K’; or a wilderness trip down the Rogue or Idaho Salmon with 3 generations of families and friends. It is our goal to set the standard for guest service, trip quality, attention to detail, safety, and the overall river experience.
This all starts with our guides and staff. Our guides are some of the finest anywhere and many have well over 15 years of experience leading trips around the world (nobody offers this kind of top to bottom experience). They are not only gifted technically, but they are also multi-talented, curious, fun, warm-hearted, and they truly enjoy showing people the wild places that have captivated them for so long. Most importantly they are experts at creating an atmosphere where the benefits and joys of rivers and wild places can be lived to the fullest and where it is easy to relax and be yourself.
(Interested in joining us? We have very little turnover and are like a big extended family – but as we add new adventures we are always looking for friendly and talented people – find out more >>)
About the People of Momentum
Pete Wallstrom
Guide / Owner
Pete is originally from Vermont but has spent time living in Colorado, Wyoming, South America, and on the West Coast. He has been a guide for over 30 years and has run rivers all over the United St... read more
Pete Wallstrom
Guide / Owner
Pete is originally from Vermont but has spent time living in Colorado, Wyoming, South America, and on the West Coast. He has been a guide for over 30 years and has run rivers all over the United States as well as rivers in Nepal, India, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, and Chile. He is a board member for the Oregon Guides and Outfitters Association, the Rogue River Keeper, the Rogue Outfitters Association, Travel Ashland, Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association, and works with the Southern Oregon University Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program, American Whitewater, and environmental groups that work towards the protection of and access to wild rivers. Besides boating he is an avid back-country skier, boarder, runner, and general outdoor adventurer. He believes in environmental stewardship through advocacy by experience. That getting a wide variety of people out into wild places and showing them the places in a way that they understand and appreciate creates advocates that love and will want to protect them.
Tyler Pohle
Guide / Operations Manager
Tyler is one of our Wisconsin natives. He has been a river guide for over 15 years and has guided rivers in Colorado, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, California, Idaho, Costa Rica, Colom... read more
Tyler Pohle
Guide / Operations Manager
Tyler is one of our Wisconsin natives. He has been a river guide for over 15 years and has guided rivers in Colorado, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, California, Idaho, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Guatemala. When not on the river, Tyler can be found guiding backcountry snowboarding trips, climbing, biking, surfing, sailing, and hiking. He was the manager of his last company in Colorado and now has the tricky job of managing a bunch of guides who have all been managers as well as juggling the Momentum’s complex logistics. Tyler has been known to freak people out with his quick changes from a guide/mountain man to Portland hipster and if we were to start a Momentum Calendar he would probably be voted for the cover.
Gretchen Wild
Office Manager
If you’ve ever called Momentum chances are high that you’ve chatted with Gretchen. From her contagious laughter to her skilled and patient way with words, the native Oregonian is a mast... read more
Gretchen Wild
Office Manager
If you’ve ever called Momentum chances are high that you’ve chatted with Gretchen. From her contagious laughter to her skilled and patient way with words, the native Oregonian is a master at making the complicated feel approachable and understandable. Maybe that’s due to her degree in Communications from Willamette University. Or maybe it’s because of her other “job” as mom to two daughters. Gretchen ran cross-country and track as a kid, and now focuses mostly on runnning, dancing, hiking, and volunteering at her childrens’ school. Together, the “Wild Girls” camp, ski, raft, and in general, live up to their name. Gretchen is also organizationally gifted and keeps us in line and on task:)
Glen Finch
Guide / Guide Manager
Guiding found Glen while he was pursuing a much different lifestyle. The California native grew up playing team sports and had his sights set on pro-football. While suiting up for the Southern Oreg... read more
Glen Finch
Guide / Guide Manager
Guiding found Glen while he was pursuing a much different lifestyle. The California native grew up playing team sports and had his sights set on pro-football. While suiting up for the Southern Oregon University Raiders, outdoor recreation classes provided something to do when he wasn’t on the field. Half-days spent on the water turned into multiple days and soon Glen was falling in love with running rivers. 15+ years later, guiding has taken him down the Smith, Cal Salmon, Rogue, Upper Klamath, Owyhee, Illinois and Grande Ronde, not to mention rivers in Nepal, New Zealand, and Australia where he also spent 2 years teaching outdoor education. Glen has a calm, steady, and competent presence that makes people feel at home and comfortable in wild places and challenging situations. He also teaches our advanced guiding skills. During the off-season you’ll find him guiding on rivers around the world or on snowmobile trips in Colorado. But he still keeps tabs on his former team, and is proud to say SOU won the national football championship in its division……the year after he graduated.
Andy Hinton
Guide
Andy began guiding over 20 years ago on the rivers of the Southeast, with a few summers spent in Colorado and Alaska. He is a gifted guide (one of the best in the world) and is one of the most ge... read more
Andy Hinton
Guide
Andy began guiding over 20 years ago on the rivers of the Southeast, with a few summers spent in Colorado and Alaska. He is a gifted guide (one of the best in the world) and is one of the most genuinely friendly people you will ever meet. Guests and other guides have said he is a mix between a Boy Scout and superman and many testimonials say something to the extent of ‘I have not had a guide any better than Andy’. He still considers his home to be the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River along the South Carolina and Georgia border where he served several years as a River Operations Manager. Andy’s favorite activities are on the water, but when feeling the need to dry out, he enjoys trail running and writing. During the winter, he goes back to the South to plant trees and work on stream mitigation projects. Andy is also known for wearing large boots and a heavy oilskin hat and jacket no matter what the weather is. And, of course, for his southern politeness and liberal use of ‘Mr’ and ‘Ms’.
Carly Mentink
Guide - Salt River Manager
A native of Wisconsin, Carly fell in love with winter sports at a young age. Snowboarding became skiing and eventually rock and ice climbing, all of which Carly put to great use guiding and teachin... read more
Carly Mentink
Guide - Salt River Manager
A native of Wisconsin, Carly fell in love with winter sports at a young age. Snowboarding became skiing and eventually rock and ice climbing, all of which Carly put to great use guiding and teaching in Utah and Colorado. You’ll still find her backcountry guiding and teaching avalanche safety and outdoor education in the winter. During the warmer months, she’s at the oars on rivers across the West and has been a guide for over 15 years. Carly has an extremely unique combination of childlike joy when seeing new things and being in new situations while also being steady, rock solid, always on, and with a ‘lets get this done’ attitude. This combo along with her kind spirit make her a guest and guide favorite as well as one of the county’s best and most approachable outdoor leaders.
Shana Sims
Guide
A Connecticut native Shana’s current address now changes with the seasons. Whether it’s learning to surf on the coast of Mexico, kayaking or paddling the Blue Nile in Ethiopia, Shana is most at... read more
Shana Sims
Guide
A Connecticut native Shana’s current address now changes with the seasons. Whether it’s learning to surf on the coast of Mexico, kayaking or paddling the Blue Nile in Ethiopia, Shana is most at home away from home. She has guided in Oregon, California, and Idaho and has a confident and easy way on the water – “The river means so much to me, but the first word that comes to mind is home. It’s a beautiful, powerful place that invites you to be in the moment. It’s always a good day on the river, and guiding is just my chance to share that magic with people.” Shana’s logistical efficiency, vision for the details, and energy makes her one our best charter trip guides. However, Shana doesn’t like Reese’s Pieces… which puts her at odds with basically the entire world.
Emilia Abromaitis
Food Manager
Emilia is a Southern Oregon native who’s always game to hop a plane to somewhere else. With a degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oregon, sheR... read more
Emilia Abromaitis
Food Manager
Emilia is a Southern Oregon native who’s always game to hop a plane to somewhere else. With a degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oregon, she’s applied her studies working in places like the Dominican Republic and Peru. As Momentum’s Food Manager, she relishes the opportunity to travel with guides to help set up operations in remote locations. When it comes to downtime, Emilia doesn’t have much; At any given time she’s holding down at least 2 jobs while also hand-picking and overseeing a big team of kitchen staff, locations, and assembling menus for thousands of guests. Emilia is also a former volleyball player, which may be why she’s perfected keeping so many balls in the air!
Jonathan McKenzie
Guide - Idaho Operations Manager
Jonathan grew up in the south where he spent his younger years playing baseball and soccer in Georgia and the Carolinas. He then did an about-face and joined the Marines. As a guide he brings both ... read more
Jonathan McKenzie
Guide - Idaho Operations Manager
Jonathan grew up in the south where he spent his younger years playing baseball and soccer in Georgia and the Carolinas. He then did an about-face and joined the Marines. As a guide he brings both aspects of his personality to his trips; Guests notice both his Southern hospitality and his work ethic. His 12+ years of guiding include the Chattooga, Nenana, Tatshenshini, Main Salmon, Cal Salmon, Illinois, Owyhee, Rogue, and Klamath as well as certifications as as Wilderness First Responder and Swift Water Rescue Pro. When he’s not guiding river trips you’ll most likely find him with tickets a live music event – his other love.
Jorge Esquivel
Guide
Jorge was born and raised in Costa Rica and was the Costa Rican freestyle whitewater kayaking champion. He has been guiding for well over 20 years, and is considered one of the best kayakers and ra... read more
Jorge Esquivel
Guide
Jorge was born and raised in Costa Rica and was the Costa Rican freestyle whitewater kayaking champion. He has been guiding for well over 20 years, and is considered one of the best kayakers and rafting guides in world (he was once Outside Magazine’s “Guide of the Year”). He met Pete over 20 years ago while guiding in Colorado and has guided on over 130 rivers around the world. A ‘renaissance person’, Jorge’s skills go way beyond boating – he is also a great salsa dancer, a talented chef, a natural equestrian, he speaks 3 languages, and… he is one of those people who can make you laugh even when he is not trying.
Tirsh White
Guide – Kern Operations
Trish is a natural athlete and has been involved in sports all her life. She is an extremely talented boater and has guided around the world – including on some of the world’s most diff... read more
Tirsh White
Guide – Kern Operations
Trish is a natural athlete and has been involved in sports all her life. She is an extremely talented boater and has guided around the world – including on some of the world’s most difficult whitewater. A systems builder brain and ruthlessly efficient perfectionist streak also makes Trish a natural at logistics and operations.
Shannon Young
Reservations and Logistics
Shannon is a former University of Oregon Duck and Southern Oregon Raider who was born in Virginia and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated high school in the Rogue Valley, though, so... read more
Shannon Young
Reservations and Logistics
Shannon is a former University of Oregon Duck and Southern Oregon Raider who was born in Virginia and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated high school in the Rogue Valley, though, so considers herself a native Oregonian. After nearly 25 years in broadcasting, mostly as a TV news anchor/producer on both coasts, she’s now putting her interview skills to work helping Momentum guests find the perfect trip. In her spare time you’ll find her teaching broadcast journalism at SOU, kayaking with her camera, camping with her husband and pups, and dabbling on the banjo.
Mike LoPatriello
Guide
Mike has Google to thank for his career as a raft guide. In search of excitement and more time in nature, the former middle school counselor typed “fun jobs outside” into the search bar... read more
Mike LoPatriello
Guide
Mike has Google to thank for his career as a raft guide. In search of excitement and more time in nature, the former middle school counselor typed “fun jobs outside” into the search bar a decade ago, and the rest is history! Since then he has guided around the world, including on the Arkansas, Colorado, Gauley, Tuolumne, Futaleufu, Rogue, Cal Salmon, and Owyhee, to name a few. Home has been everywhere from Park City, Utah to Brazil where he met his veterinarian wife, Fabiana. His adventures have also taken him into self-reflection and, along with his creative writing/literature degree, led him to pen and self-publish two books including one on poetry. Mike has a quiet humble confidence that makes everyone feel at home. In his spare time, Mike’s practicing yoga, running, snowboarding, traveling, reading, writing, and trying to convince his twin sister, who he says couldn’t care less about rafting or camping, to spend more time outdoors.
Katie Duffie
Guide
Katie is a homegrown guide from the Rogue Valley and knows the Rogue River like the back of her hand. She has guided all over the country, including the California Salmon, Illinois, Upper Klamath, ... read more
Katie Duffie
Guide
Katie is a homegrown guide from the Rogue Valley and knows the Rogue River like the back of her hand. She has guided all over the country, including the California Salmon, Illinois, Upper Klamath, the Colorado, the Smith, the Scott, Upper Gauley, and Chatooga. After a couple years of college, Katie wasn’t finding her calling so she hit the river. Now her ‘aw shucks’ humbleness hides an extremely competent and talented guide. Guests and guides describe her as goofy, exuberant, energetic, and always fun – she is one of our most requested guides. In the off-season Katie’s working at the local ski area or “doing mountain things in general” with her canine sidekick Enzo. She now has her sights set on surfing (“I’m not good at it by any means”) and learning to bake bread.
Anvesh Thapa
Guide
Anvesh’s first real job was as a guide, and after 25+ years, his career path spans the globe. Anvesh calls India home so waterways like the Ganga, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Pinder, Mandakini, ... read more
Anvesh Thapa
Guide
Anvesh’s first real job was as a guide, and after 25+ years, his career path spans the globe. Anvesh calls India home so waterways like the Ganga, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Pinder, Mandakini, and Kali are his “backyard” rivers. He co-owns his own rafting and kayaking company in India as well (expeditionsindia.com), and led the first commercial river descents on the Brahmaputra (post 2001 flood), Lohit, Kameng, and Saryu Rivers. He’s also run rivers in Ethiopia, Norway, and New Zealand as well as the US (Colorado, Green, Owyhee Rogue, Salmon, Selway, Teton, Snake and Upper Klamath). When not guiding, he’s teaching outdoor ed with NOLS, kayaking with ACA, and Swiftwater Rescue skills. Anvesh is the consummate pro and still relishes being able to meet new people and get them hooked on river travel and wild places.
Dan Stirling
Reservations and Logistics
Dan is one of those people who can talk to anyone about anything. A gregarious former river guide with laid-back energy, he holds two degrees (in English and International Development) and has spen... read more
Dan Stirling
Reservations and Logistics
Dan is one of those people who can talk to anyone about anything. A gregarious former river guide with laid-back energy, he holds two degrees (in English and International Development) and has spent much of his professional life working in academia (at Montana Tech and Southern Oregon University). He’s also lived in 8 US states, Japan, Australia, Costa Rica, and Uganda. Coworkers appreciate his fearlessness and positivity, and guests love him for his sense of humor, enthusiasm, and enviable ability to walk the perilous email line between businesslike and casual. The feeling’s mutual: “My favorite thing about the Momentum office is getting to talk to people about what is usually one of the highlights of their year.” When not chatting up guests, Dan’s “running slowly for fun and in races”, hiking, snowboarding, and amateur birding with his wife, daughter, and pup, Shirley. He’s also great on a trivia team, can solve a Rubik’s Cube, and can recite every line of “The Big Lebowski”.
Amanda Cook
Guide
Amanda is from Colorado Springs and spent her earlier years teaching snowboarding (and come winter, you can still find her on the mountain). She has guided in the South East, Mountain West and West... read more
Amanda Cook
Guide
Amanda is from Colorado Springs and spent her earlier years teaching snowboarding (and come winter, you can still find her on the mountain). She has guided in the South East, Mountain West and West coast including rivers like the Chattooga, Upper Klamath, Salmon, Rogue, Owyhee, Rio Grande, Ocoee, French Broad, Pigeon, and Colorado. Amanda is a soft spoken off the water and a talented boater on the water and makes strong connections with the people that share the river with her.
Dean Kure
Guide
Dean was working his way to the top of his field when it struck him that he wasn’t living a life he valued. Through guiding he found peace and perspective along with creative pursuits like mu... read more
Dean Kure
Guide
Dean was working his way to the top of his field when it struck him that he wasn’t living a life he valued. Through guiding he found peace and perspective along with creative pursuits like music and photography. Born in California, Dean’s lived in states across the Western US, Missouri, and Australia, as well as traveled through dozens of other countries. He puts his BA in Environmental Health to use volunteering for a variety of nonprofits concerned with environmental, human, and consumer rights. On the water Dean is still driven and that shows in a quick, tireless, and detail-oriented work ethic. Because of that you will often find him guiding our ‘Safari Style’ river trips. His life now revolves around guiding, playing guitar, doing puzzles, and cooking as a love language for his 6-year old daughter.
Boroka Marton
Food and Logistics - Oregon
Boroka is part of the hard-working, hand-picked, behind-the-scenes team that expertly navigates menus to create and pack some of the best river meals anywhere. Food is one of her passions; She says... read more
Boroka Marton
Food and Logistics - Oregon
Boroka is part of the hard-working, hand-picked, behind-the-scenes team that expertly navigates menus to create and pack some of the best river meals anywhere. Food is one of her passions; She says she thinks about it all the time and loves being able to experience other cultures through their cuisine. She’s especially partial to Romanian food after splitting her formative years between the US and Transylvania (she speaks fluent Transylvanian Hungarian). That combination might explain why travel is her other favorite past time. Boroka is also an expert at navigating 5 different guides asking her to pack the lettuce in 5 different ways without showing outward annoyance.
Rick Sievers
Guide
Rick has been guiding for over 40 years and has an extensive background in education, guiding, and exploration. He graduated from the University of Colorado with B.A. in History and Anthropology, a... read more
Rick Sievers
Guide
Rick has been guiding for over 40 years and has an extensive background in education, guiding, and exploration. He graduated from the University of Colorado with B.A. in History and Anthropology, and also studied Geography and obtained an Education Certificate. Later he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska and managed and led educational marine biology programs off the west and east coasts of Baja California for New Perspectives. He has guided in Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Alaska and Canada, has made three first decent expeditions that focused on conservation issues in equatorial Africa, and has done a ski traverse of Baffin Island. Rick now spends much of the year exploring the northern Rockies and guides on our Idaho Salmon and Owyhee trips. Rick’s knowledge, storytelling, and laid back demeanor have made him a guest favorite and he has by far the most luxurious mustache of any current, past, or future Momentum guide.
Eric Meldrum
Guide - Momentum Alaska Co-Owner
Eric is a Los Angeles native and has been guiding for over 30 years. He began guiding with Whitewater Voyages – a California based company that employed and taught many current river and adventur... read more
Eric Meldrum
Guide - Momentum Alaska Co-Owner
Eric is a Los Angeles native and has been guiding for over 30 years. He began guiding with Whitewater Voyages – a California based company that employed and taught many current river and adventure travel company owners (including Pete). He now guest guides on our trips in the lower 48 and manages and leads our Alaskan Tatshenshini trips. He also has taken many of the photos on Momentums website. Eric currently resides in Sacramento with his four year old daughter and two dogs. Erik is drawn to wild places and the adventures that lead you to them, and when he isn’t on the river he can be found obsessing about snow pack levels, getting his beauty sleep, and listening to old school Eminem. He might also be on the shortlist of the ‘Worlds Nicest Person’.
Mark Crawford
Guide
Mark splits his time throughout various regions in hemispheres around the globe. He has worked and run rivers in Oregon, California, Idaho, New Zealand, Chile, and Morocco. He is laid back but extr... read more
Mark Crawford
Guide
Mark splits his time throughout various regions in hemispheres around the globe. He has worked and run rivers in Oregon, California, Idaho, New Zealand, Chile, and Morocco. He is laid back but extremely detail oriented – a rare and very valuable combination when it comes to guiding and trip leading our many trips. Mark is another of our renaissance people with interests and experience ranging from photography to Geography. He also has an affinity for wild weather patterns, salted chocolate anything, and sunrises.
Casey Glaubman
Guide
Casey was born in Oregon but has since lived in just about every state in the West. He has climbed and skied many of the Cascade volcanoes and spent many years climbing full time, including a month... read more
Casey Glaubman
Guide
Casey was born in Oregon but has since lived in just about every state in the West. He has climbed and skied many of the Cascade volcanoes and spent many years climbing full time, including a month-long expedition to Denali where he skied many of the classic lines. He started river guiding in Colorado and has now guided on rivers throughout the West. Casey now lives in Mt Shasta and, beside river guiding, is also a forecaster for the Mt Shasta Avalanche center and guides climbing trips and does logistics for Shasta Mountain Guides. He earned a degree in biology, is an EMT, and is an extremely good seamster (he does many of our repairs). When not guiding, Casey spends much of his free time skijoring with his dog Larry and sewing strange, often colorful clothing.
Chris Moeringer
Guide
Chris grew up in Albany New York, got a Bachelors in Music Education, and spent a decade in music before starting to guide. He has guides the Middle Fork and Main Salmon, Owyhee, Lower Klamath, Ill... read more
Chris Moeringer
Guide
Chris grew up in Albany New York, got a Bachelors in Music Education, and spent a decade in music before starting to guide. He has guides the Middle Fork and Main Salmon, Owyhee, Lower Klamath, Illinois, Rogue, and the Grand Canyon. But he still plays music – usually guitar or Trombone – and yes, he does bring a trombone on many trips. Now Chris splits guiding time between spring and fall with Momentum and Summer managing a company on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. In his free time, Chris is skiing, biking, surfing, writing songs, jamming with friends, and whenever possible, sleeping outside.
Orea Roussis
Guide
Orea was one of Momentum’s original guides and still does the occasional trip. Orea grew up in the suburbs of West Hartford, Connecticut – the Nutmeg State. She has been guiding for over 30 y... read more
Orea Roussis
Guide
Orea was one of Momentum’s original guides and still does the occasional trip. Orea grew up in the suburbs of West Hartford, Connecticut – the Nutmeg State. She has been guiding for over 30 years and is one of the most skilled paddle guides we have ever seen. She has guided in Nepal (during the start of whitewater exploration there), South and Central America, India, and all over the U.S. and was one of Whitewater Voyages ‘go everywhere’ class V guides for many years. She also still guides yearly trips on the Grand Canyon. Orea is a trained chef (as many of our guests can attest to), has worked on developing our menus, and was instrumental in developing an extremely innovative ‘fancy but lightweight’ menu for our Lower Owyhee Inflatable Kayaking Expedition. She particularly loves baking and has perfected a recipe for ‘Twinkie-misu’. Despite her big water background she loves family trips and is a favorite among the kids. Orea is logistically gifted and one of those rare guides where you can just hand her a packet of info with a new river, a new itinerary, a bunch of guest requests, and you know the trip will go flawlessly.
Erik Sol
Guide
A native Wisconsinite (with an accent that comes out when excited), Erik grew up and was comfortable with the water long before he became a river guide. He has spent over 25 years exploring and gui... read more
Erik Sol
Guide
A native Wisconsinite (with an accent that comes out when excited), Erik grew up and was comfortable with the water long before he became a river guide. He has spent over 25 years exploring and guiding on rivers throughout the western United States, India, Nepal, Tibet, and New Zealand. He now lives here in Ashland with his wife and son. He helped develop Southern Oregon University’s Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program and is now a full time instructor and professor. He teaches mountaineering, rock climbing, whitewater skills, Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness and Remote First Aid, and the all-important ‘soft skills’ of outdoor leadership. Erik loves sharing his knowledge of river environments and is a true ‘guides guide’ who is equally at home floating scenic canyons, running class V steeps, or leading a local wine tasting under the night sky. Erik is one of our original guides and we are lucky to continue to have him on our crew.
If you have not yet – check our About Us – Letter from Pete and more about Why people choose Momentum.
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Arizona’s Salt River Rafting Season is a go!!
It is mid-February and our Salt River season is a go! We only get a Salt season about half of the years and we have and we have some open spaces during the prime weeks. The Salt River, ‘Arizona’s other Grand Canyon’, is one of the most spectacular and unique... learn more
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Join us for the Last Season on the Upper Klamath
Join us for the last season on the Upper Klamath. A Sunset Travel Award Finalist & one of “Ten Once-in-a-Lifetime Cascadian Journeys” by Portland Monthly – Combine big summer whitewater, a comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), & options for mountain biking, running, and inflatable kayaking – there is... learn more
- The Momentum Blog
