Our Owners and Independent Contractors

Don Lester from Endless Adventures

Don has been a leader in the outdoors for over 15 years.

Born in Fresno, CA, Don Lester started boating, hiking and climbing at a very young age.  His dad started some of the first programs in CA that took rival gang members into the Wilderness in an attempt to show them an alternative lifestyle to being in a gang.  He spent much of his younger years with his dad around Yosemite and the Kings River.

During his summers in High School Don went to camps in Canada and Colorado which started him backpacking and climbing many of the 14000 ft mountains in Colorado. Don spent the last 15 years guiding rivers in CA, OR, West Virginia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and the South West. For a several years, he was logging 150+ days on river! In addition to his time on the water, he spent 2 years working as a full time firefighter/EMT with Rocklin Fire Department. Don took an 81 Day Multi Environment Outward Bound Course and a Wilderness EMT in Yosemite with WMI of NOLS. It was during this course that he first met Julie Munger, owner of Sierra Rescue, for the first time.

Don has been working with Sierra Rescue for 13 years now and is one of our full time independent contractors, American Canoe Association Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and an American CPR Instructor.  When asked why he became a rescue instructor Lester responded, “I love teaching rescue courses because I want people to learn from the mistakes I have made without having to make them themselves.  I enjoy trying to bring the word and actions of a professional back to the boating world.  It seems to have gotten lost somewhere.  My favorite thing about contracting for Sierra Rescue is being the little fish in a pond full of smarter fish.  I have learned so much from Julie Munger, Abigail Polsby, Zach Byers, Mike Mather, Tren Long and John Rogers. I hope to someday be as good of an instructor as they are/were.” If you’ve ever taken a class from Don, you know he’s right up there with the best of them! When not teaching rope & water rescue classes, you can find Don river guiding on  California rivers with H2O Adventures!

Tim Warren from Outdoor Professionals Truckee

A native of the southern ocean island of Tasmania, Tim began his love of all things water at an early age, surfing and sailing around the island’s rugged coastlines. It wasn’t long before he found his way onto rivers and began a career guiding, teaching, and instructing in his favorite element.

After completing his Certificate IV in Eco and Adventure guiding, Tim worked as an expedition guide on his home rivers before venturing internationally. He has worked extensively as a backpacking, rafting, and sea kayaking guide in remote wilderness areas in Tasmania and Australia and has led small group adventure trips in a variety of countries including Scotland, Canada, Argentina, Chile, and Antarctica.

Tim’s second passion is teaching and education in all forms. After a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Diploma of Education in Outdoor Education, he has worked within the American, New Zealand, and Australian adult education systems as well as formal appointments at various outdoor programs. While still continuing to maintain his field work with students, he was also spent five years as the lead trainer for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing at the Outdoor Education Group.

Tim was first exposed to Sierra Rescue International in 2012 while on a paddling trip to California and updating his own rescue qualifications. He was immediately inspired and knew that he wanted to join the crew, which he did in 2017 and after becoming an instructor with Rescue 3 International and American Canoe Association, has become one of our full time lead instructors as well as Instructor Trainers. In addition Tim is a Wilderness EMT and when not teaching he may be boat captaining or guiding in Antarctica or maybe river guiding in California. Tim lives in Truckee, California and loves backcountry skiing, surfing, mountain biking, and of course playing on any river.

Sami Hawkins-Hawk Wilderness Instruction

Sami was born and raised in Lotus, CA. She started her whitewater career in 2010 guiding rafts on the American River in California. Looking to pursue her passion as a whitewater kayaker, Sami began her path as a kayak instructor in 2014 with Sundance Kayak School on the Rogue River in Oregon.

This past fall Sami began her journey as a Wilderness Medical Instructor contractor for Sierra Rescue. She also got an opportunity to travel down to Pucon, Chile to teach kayaking for California Women’s Water Sport Collective for their first ever international trip. With her personal and professional wilderness experience, Sami is a wealth of knowledge. When not teaching rescue, she is teaching kayaking or guiding kayaking trip down the Colorado, Salmon, Owyhee and Rogue Rivers with DeReimer Adventure Kayaking, CCWC, NWRG and more.

Liam O’Neill-Diamond Back Rescue

Born and raised in Wilson Wyoming, Liam started guiding in Jackson for his father and exploring the rivers in the surrounding areas. This is when he discovered the importance of rescue and medical training. His love for wilderness drove him to explore the great wilderness rivers of Idaho. He spent ten years guiding on almost every river in Idaho and still continues to guide on the Selway, Lochsa and Salmon rivers.

Liam went to work in the Grand Canyon for AZRA. During his training with AZRA he came into contact with Sierra Rescue. Over the next few years, Sierra Rescue contracted Liam for several Sierra Rescue classes while still guiding full time. Now he has made the transition from full time river guide to a full time contractor as a rescue and medical instructor. Liam teaches wilderness medical and swiftwater rescue classes offered through Sierra Rescue, Rescue 3 and the ACA. His passion for medical and rescue ensures he will continue to teach for a long time to come! When he is not teaching he is either traveling or guiding up on the Lochsa or down in Grand Canyon.

Lynsey Nunes of Nunes Consulting LLC

Lynsey hails from South Dakota where outdoor opportunities are boundless and a foundation of exploration + service is strongly instilled. Attending University in California introduced whitewater rafting to the activity list as well as an interest in wilderness medicine. AmeriCorps NCCC took her to the east coast and solidified an “off the beaten path” mindset.

It is back in California with All-Outdoors working as a commercial river guide that she discovered a new form of boundless that reveals itself when you train/work with the same crew for a decade. She also started training with Sierra Rescue as they developed the rescue curriculum for river runners. Seasonal opportunities led Lynsey south in the fall. Technical rigging machines for a theatrical snow effect and driving boom lifts added skills to the resume. Traveling further south into Central and South America in the winter confirmed, it’s anything near a river system that truly fills her up. She stepped away from the outdoor industry in 2016 to start a family. As it turns out, an outdoor professional returning to the industry can smoothly integrate back because the industry is one rooted in community, growth and meeting people where they are at to help build them up.

Lynsey currently resides with her family in Lotus, Ca. She is a Sierra Rescue International Instructor (Rescue and Medical), Rescue 3 International Flood Tech/A & SRT/A (Water and Rope) Instructor, ACA Level 5 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and Wilderness EMT.

Carson Lindsay-Lindsay River and Wilderness Instruction

Carson was born and raised in Truckee, California and spent his entire life playing outside. His parents met in the 70’s working for the same raft company that Carson works for. He learned to roll his kayak when he was 16 and began his commercial guiding career two years later. Now, he has spent countless days on the river working as a raft guide and kayaking in countries like Chile, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Norway, and Iceland.

“There’s no other place I would rather be than on the river. Being a raft guide was always rewarding because I love sharing a place where I feel so at home with people who are so outside of their comfort zone. Teaching has been even more rewarding because I’m able to apply the knowledge I have to give so many people a better understanding of rivers and river safety. I’ve learned so much from everyone at Sierra Rescue and I’m super excited to continue learning from the best!”

Zach Byars of Byars Rescue

Zach teaching in his favorite place – Yosemite National Park

Zach Byars, a native Texan, grew up running rivers his whole life. His parents met whitewater raft guiding for ARTA in California during the early days of commercial rafting in the 70’s and he followed suit. He has been a commercial whitewater guide on western rivers for the last decade. Between rescue seasons he still runs trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho for ECHO River Trips.

Zach entered into the rescue world in 2008.  First as a student on a Rogue River swiftwater class with Sierra Rescue and then Zach became an American Canoe Association Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, a Rescue 3 International Swiftwater and Flood Instructor and an American CPR Instructor.

When asked what draws him to the water, Zach will tell you he’s “part fish, or otter, or something. I feel at home in the water.” On teaching Byars says, “I love that this job allows me to work and train with professionals ranging from Air Force Para-rescue to fire agency folk to river guides.” Byars especially enjoys getting the chance to work with new whitewater commercial guides. “They have so much to learn, and we can have a big influence on them and their mentality towards boating. Bottom line is that safer boaters are better boaters.”  When not teaching, you can find Zach on the water somewhere, or skiing powder in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Tren Long of Cascade Raft, Kayak and Rescue

Tren Long started his life out in the water.  The youngest of 3 brothers he grew up slalom racing eventually representing the USA across the world.  When he was not racing he spent all his time at the family rafting company on the Payette River working as a safety kayaker.  The years spent honing his skill and abilities shepherding hundreds of rafting trips instilled a love for swiftwater rescue and a very hands on approach.

Through the years he has with his brothers had dozens of live rescues from working with the volunteer ambulance services in the area and having a working relationship with the local fire and rescue services.  The experience and passion for rescue shine through in all his classes.  As an Instructor Trainer for Rescue 3, Tren teaches Swiftwater Rescue, Technical Rope Rescue, PWC Rescue (both surf and river), and is the Rescue 3 agency instructor for Chile. Tren is an owner of Cascade Raft and Kayak on the Payette River in Idaho. You can find Tren teaching in Idaho and the western US March through October and in Chile from November through February.

Mike Mather of Mather Rescue

Mike is an ACA Safety & Rescue ITE, Rescue 3 Rope, Water & Boat Operations Instructor Trainer and owner of Mather Rescue. With more than 20 years of bad judgment on and in the water, Mike Mather is one of the more experienced and entertaining rescue professionals in the industry. Having taught courses all over the U.S. and in Europe, Mike has an unconventional approach to this topic. Mike excels at keeping topics clear, accessible and applicable for rescue professionals, experienced boaters and novices alike. Kent Ford described Mike as a “highly skilled person, with a valuable set of skills, including guiding, guide training and broad national experience in swiftwater rescue. His experience level is truly unique on an international level.” A few of the teams Mike has trained to date include: USN Seals, USAF PJs, Los Angeles lifeguards, FDNY firefighters, New Hampshire Fire Academy, etc. Mike worked with Horst Fürsattel, the inventor of the rescue PFD in Germany, and tested the rescue harness by having the class haul him up an 8-foot ledge. Mike also played the role of the entrapped victim in the films “Heads Up” and “Whitewater Self Defense”. Training with Mike is not only educational but entertaining as well.

Jessie Bohn of Confluence Instruction

Jessie started kayaking at the ripe old age of 8. After a few years of toil and tears, she realized that rivers were the place to be. As her passion for paddling and other exploratory activities grew, she began to travel throughout the western United States and abroad to Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Uganda, and Nepal, developing her swiftwater safety skills through years of practice and formal training in both Canadian and American courses. Responding to a medical incident during her first international expedition sparked Jessie’s interest in wilderness medicine. After completing a WFR and graduating with a degree in biochemistry, Jessie became certified as an EMT and was introduced to Sierra Rescue. Jessie is excited to share the skills and knowledge she has cultivated after working as a kayaking instructor and photo kayaker, and after much time spent navigating rivers and responding to accidents. In her free time, Jessie may be found ski touring, paragliding, baking, or – you guessed it – whitewater kayaking. She is currently working at a local hospital and in school with plans of becoming a Physicians Assistant.

Ryan “Higgy” Higgins 

Ryan after teaching a Swiftwater Rescue Course Down Under!

With a natural love for water, staying active and the Great Outdoors Ryan Higgins is the perfect fit with Sierra Rescue! Ryan has been involved in water rescue for 10 years, starting in water polo and swimming and quickly becoming a lifeguard for the City of Newport Beach. He spent 7 years there including assignments as “The Wedge”(A world famous shore break).

Being hired as a firefighter for the Orange County Fire Authority at age 22, Ryan put himself through swiftwater training and fell in love with it. Having a passion for teaching and learning from the best is important to him. He volunteers every week to train explorer scouts since he finished the program in 2008. Ryan is part of the Orange County Fire Authority’s Technical Rescue Team (which includes: swiftwater, confined space, helicopter, rope, and trench rescue). He also holds the position of Rescue Specialist with FEMA’s California Task Force 5 (CATF5) and is a California State Fire Marshal Instructor.

Ryan was drawn to contract for Sierra Rescue because of the friendships and bonds that form on the river during our trainings. The ability for instructors to have fun and love what they do makes it a desirable position and keeps him motivated to push the boundaries, train more, try new things, and remain safe. When asked why Ryan loves teaching swiftwater courses he said, “There is something about the water that makes us humble, creating everyone as equal. Not in an effort to fight against it, but to harness and use it to the best of our abilities.”

When Ryan’s not teaching he’s an avid traveler. He went to Australia in 2012 to teach swiftwater rescue down under. He’s been to all 7 continents including Kayaking in Antarctica and recently completed a trip around all 50 states.

 James Reinheimer “JR”

James was raised in Modesto California. In High School, He was involved in Swimming and Water Polo.  While pursuing a Bachelors Degree and Teaching Credential at Long Beach State, he became an avid surfer, scuba diver,  and rock climber. In the spring of 1987, a friend convinced him to try out for the Long Beach Lifeguards.  Thinking it would be a great summer job he went for it.  Twenty-Five years later, James can look back and say that it was a wise choice!  Following his summer as a Lifeguard,  James moved up to becoming a Marine Safety Officer. Currently, James is a Rescue Boat Operator and owner of River and Sea Rescue.  His love for water sports and the great outdoors is obvious.

In 1997, James took his first Swiftwater Rescue Course from Rescue 3.  Since that time he has developed a respectful passion for the river environment for both work and play.  In 2001 he was able to become a member of the LBFD SWR team,  and now a team supervisor.  IN 2008, James was deployed for 3 weeks to Louisiana and Texas as California Regional Task Force 12 . A career highlight for James, being apart of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. During his career in public safety, James has been fortunate having gained valuable training, and experience, in many different rescue disciplines.  James gets a great deal of personal satisfaction sharing his experiences as an instructor, knowing that one day the skills learned could save someone’s life.

Currently, James is working for the Long Beach Fire Department / Marine Safety Division as a Rescue Boat Operator. His past accomplishments include LBFD Public Safety Dive Team member, LBFD Swiftwater RescueTeam, Supervisor Member California Regional River/Flood Task Force-12, California State Fire Marshal Instructor, and Rescue 3 Instructor Water/Rope and Boat operator.