River & Trail Outfitters

We were stoked to be featured in the Brunswick News Journal in the May issue. Abbie Ricketts did an incredible job telling the story of our unique history as the oldest outfitter in the Harpers Ferry area. To read the entire issue, check it out at: https://lnkd.in/gKjWJmNC

We were going through documents to shred and stumbled across an old newsletter that we used to send out. This was sent out in the autumn of 1997. Lee loved the Harpers Ferry area, and he loved West Virginia. This quote is my favorite: "Next time you hear the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads", think of River and Trail Outfitters and the sport you will have hiking in the Appalachian Mountains where black bear, white-tail deer, bobcats, turkeys, otters, beavers and other wildlife make their home. We are currently accepting reservations for the 1998 Hiking Season. We hope to see you soon!"

🌎 Happy Earth Day folks! We are so thankful for Mother Nature and that we have the privilege of getting people outside to enjoy her. As a company, we participate in and organize trash clean-ups, we always pack our trash out and try to leave the outdoors better than we found it. We support conservation-focused non-profits, like the Potomac Riverkeepers who do incredibly awesome work. We also teach leave no trace education in our kids' nature summer camp and recycle hundreds of pounds of metal and plastic every year. Here are some recommendations of things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment when you visit us in Harpers Ferry! ☀️ Bring reusable water bottles and have a way to attach them to your tube (rope or carabiner). ☀️ Before your trip, fill out your waivers electronically to save paper. ☀️ Carpool to River & Trail with your friends and family. ☀️ Stay away from glass bottles. If dropped, they shatter and glass shards are impossible to clean up in a natural environment. ☀️ Use reusable soft or hard coolers instead of styrofoam coolers. Styrofoam coolers leach harmful chemicals into our waterways and are not designed to survive water exposure. ☀️ Pack it in, pack it out. Make sure any trash you accumulate during your trip makes it off the river with you. Bonus points if you pick up extra trash that you see on your trip! #riverandtrail #almostheaven #visitmaryland #earthday #keepourriversclean #harpersferryrafting #harpersferrytubing #leavenotrace #wherealmostheavenbegins

Why guide for us at River & Trail? Wayne has been around for many years and has always been an incredible raft guide trainer. This is what he has to say about working at River and Trail: "Two main things I can think of. First, our coworkers are not just nice people (which they absolutely are), they are GENUINE people. Second, our guests/customers arrive for their activities with a generally positive expectation. This is pretty rare in the service industry, and all we have to do is not mess up their expectation." Wayne, thank you for all of your years of hard work for River & Trail! I am always amazed when watching you read water, and how you pass the skill of reading water on to the next generation of guides. We appreciate you! #nowhiring #riverandtrail #outdoorrecreation #tourism #almostheaven #visitmaryland #outdoorjobs

Dave Hubbard, the man, the myth, the legend. What our first employee has to say about working at River & Trail: "I was the first employee at River and Trail Outfitters, I started in 1972. I have worked many other jobs over the years but I continue to work part-time for RTO. I continue to work there due to the company culture. It is one of friendship and family combined with professionalism. The 30-plus marriages and the 100s of friendships created at River and Trail are an example of the work culture. Those who join the RTO team for the guiding experience are joining a company where many world-class River Guides and Paddlers initially got their start. Some of these world-class guides and paddlers return to train and mentor a new generation." Dave, thank you so much for all of your hard work and dedication over the years. Thank you for sharing your river knowledge and skills with the new generation of raft guides. You have always been incredibly inclusive and kind towards everyone you meet. Your presence in the office reminds me of Lee. See you around! Link to fill out an application: https://lnkd.in/g77D7R_m #riverandtrail #nowhiring #outdoorrecreation #tourism #whitewaterrafting #raftguide #almostheaven #harpersferry #visitmaryland

Why guide for River & Trail? Here is what Jordan, fondly known as PJ, has to say! "I started guiding at River & Trail when I was in high school as a summer job. This was my first exposure to working in the outdoor industry and to the whitewater community. River & Trail was such a great place to learn to guide rafts and to kayak, I immediately felt accepted into the family and made some long-lasting memories and friendships! Ever since that first summer on the Shenandoah that sparked my excitement for adventure I’ve chased my passion for kayaking all over the world!" The river and the people of River & Trail still hold a special place in my heart!" PJ, thank you for the many trips that you guided, swept, and TL'ed. It has been so neat to watch your whitewater journey continue; we are thrilled that we were your starting point! Stay safe out there! Link to fill out an application: https://lnkd.in/g77D7R_m #nowhiring #outdoorrecreation #rafting #riverandtrail #harpersferry #almostheaven #visitmaryland #tourism

Why work for River and Trail? Here is what Gabby has to say about working at River & Trail: "Looking for more than a paycheck this summer? Becoming a raft guide at River & Trail Outfitters changed my life for the better. It’s opened so many doors, brought so many amazing people into my life, and allowed me the opportunity to share my love of the outdoors with more people than I could have ever imagined when I first signed up for guide school!!" Gabby started her guiding journey at River & Trail many years ago. Since then, she has guided much bigger rivers, but we are appreciative of all the times she comes home to guide for us. Thank you, Gabby for all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that you have put in over the years! Link to fill out an application: https://lnkd.in/g77D7R_m #riverandtrail #womeninwhitewater #visitmaryland #almostheaven #harpersferry #whitewaterrafting #raftguide #nowhiring #outdoorrecreation

We are currently hiring raft guides, operational support staff, retail & reservationist staff, and CDL drivers with a minimum of a Class B license. It is preferred that CDL drivers already have their passenger endorsement, but we can assist with additional endorsements needed. Scan the QR code or visit our website to apply! https://lnkd.in/g77D7R_m

Keeping our rivers and trails clean is incredibly important to us as a business, and as stewards of the environment. We were thrilled to sponsor this event that helps students pursuing education in the natural resources industry.

This newspaper article was written about Lee, our founder, in the Good Shepherd Paper in the summer of '98. The article is titled "Lee Baihly: A Man In His Element". My favorite excerpt from the article is as follows "Regarding his life, Baihly says that he has never looked back or had any regrets about going into business for himself. He loves his work and is only interested in looking forward. Baihly is not only the "captain of his own ship," but also a man with a satisfied mind." Lee was a bright light to many, and paved the way for outdoor recreation in the Harpers Ferry area. He worked with the Sierra Club, the Potomac Riverkeepers, and many other outdoor conservation clubs and organizations to preserve our outdoor spaces for future generations. We are honored to carry on his legacy and we miss him daily. #riverandtrail #riverandtrailhistory #harpersferry #harpersferrytubing #harpersferryrafting #outdoorconservation #environmentalist