Who We Are?
Membership & Diversity
Bringing different views and different voices to a collaborative effort, creates opportunities for people of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences to create something together.
Improving Communication on the River
Board of Trustees
Bill Ables - Co-chair
Bill Ables was raised in Pendleton, OR and spent a lot of time in the outdoors in and around Umatilla County. He graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Wildlife Science, then went to work with the Oregon State Police, Fish & Wildlife Division. Bill spent several years as the Game Officer in Southeast Oregon before transferring to Enterprise where he worked in the backcountry of Northeast Oregon for 25 years. During that time he ran jet boats in Hells Canyon from Lewiston to Hells Canyon Dam, ran drift boats and kayaks on both the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers, and has been a pilot since 1975. Since moving to Enterprise in 1976, he has conducted both backpack and horse patrols in the Wenaha, Eagle Cap, and Hells Canyon Wilderness areas.
Bill and his family have always enjoyed hiking, hunting, and fishing in Northeast Oregon. After retiring, he still resides in Enterprise and enjoys the many beautiful places here in the Pacific Northwest.
Shay White - Co-chair
Born and raised in the Boise area, Shay is a life-long Idahoan. He has worked in the boat industry for over 15 years with a focus on aluminum jet boats. His first jet boat ride in Hells Canyon was at the age of three. Shay spends much of his recreation time in Hells Canyon, which he considers a very special place. In fact, over the last 30 years, there has never been a year that Shay has not been to Hells Canyon. Shay is an avid outdoorsman and loves hunting, fishing, and racing boats. He currently is the president-elect of the Western Whitewater Association and is a member of the John Day Snake River RAC.
Leslie Anderson - Treasurer
A fifth generation Idahoan, Leslie has been a dispersed recreationalist in Idaho’s wild places her entire life, from family horse packing trips to peak bagging, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and skiing, while living in the Sun Valley area for 30 years. She now also rafts with her husband, Joe, since moving to the Lewiston area in 2013. Leslie is a big proponent of collaboration and of providing access to recreation for all citizens. Leslie served a 4-year term on the Board of Blaine County Recreation District who partnered with the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) to manage Galena Lodge and the extensive North Valley Trails System. She has also done trail work projects in the SNRA as well as with the Idaho Trails Association and the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation. Leslie and Joe consider it a great privilege to be among the founding members of the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative, Inc., (HCRC) and highly value the treasure that is the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
Justin Luther
Justin is a product of Hells Canyon and the Snake River. Born in Lewiston and raised in Hells Canyon, Justin’s parents outfitted on the Snake River, including out of Kirby Creek, which his dad still owns. Justin is the owner of Snake River Adventures and River Quest Excursions. He started guiding trips on the Snake River as a teenager and it can be said that only his dad has more miles on the Snake River and Hells Canyon than he does. Justin also manages the Garden Creek Preserve for the Nature Conservancy and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things Hells Canyon.
Vanessa Stedman
Vanessa grew up in Albuquerque, NM, and first came to Washington when she was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. She fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and with a man from Idaho; they married and moved to Lewiston in 2014. Vanessa is now retired from the Army, having spent most of her career in rotary wing and unmanned aviation. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from Lewis-Clark State College, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Idaho. Hells Canyon is her favorite place to spend time with her husband and two daughters. They’ve enjoyed rafting, backpacking, and, more recently, doing volunteer work with the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative over the past few years.
Members
The HCRC is composed of a diverse group of users: rafters, jet boaters, aviators, motorized recreationalists, commercial outfitters, backcountry horsemen, citizens-at-large, veterans, backpackers, and hikers. HCRC works collaboratively with our members and partners to accomplish work in a unique and efficient manner. With the success of individual projects and the establishment of a relationship with the U.S. Forest Service, our membership has steadily continued to increase over the last three years.
- Back Country Horsemen
- Idaho Aviation Association
- Intermountain Jet Boat Association
- Hells Canyon Adventures
- Veterans Organizations
- North Idaho Backpacking Babes
- Northwest River Runners
- Oregon Hunters Association
- Public Land Access Year-Round (PLAY)
- R.A.F.T.
- Recreational Aviation Foundation
- Snake River Adventure/River Quest
- University of Idaho Outdoor Program
- Western Whitewater Association
- Whitebird Recreation District
Liaisons & Partners
Liaisons and partners are the backbone of our collaborative success. Our congressional staff members, Forest Service representatives, county representatives, and recreation specialists from state agencies and power companies are invaluable assets for which we are grateful for their continued support and advocacy.
Liaisons & Partners include representation from:
- Idaho County
- Idaho County Weed District (ID)
- Idaho Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation
- Idaho Land Trust
- Idaho Power
- US Congressman Russ Fulcher's Office (ID)
- US Senator Jeff Merkley's Office (OR)
- US Senator Jim Risch's Office (ID)
- US Senator Mike Crapo's Office (ID)
- US Senator Ron Wyden's Office (OR)
- Wallowa County
- Wallowa Mountain Hells Canyon Trails Association
- Wallowa Resources
- Wallowa Whitman National Forest
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
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