Raquelle Melchert’s story of becoming a river rafting guide in Alaska is a testament to her deep-rooted love for the outdoors. Born and raised in Anchorage, her childhood was shaped by parents who instilled a passion for nature within her from an early age.
“My parents pretty much forced me into the outdoors when I was younger, and I didn’t like it at first,” Melchert reminisces. “Then as I got older into middle school, I started really enjoying exercising and adventuring outside and that kind of just grew.”
Her fondness for outdoor pursuits took off, leading her to fall in love with various activities like skiing, biking, backpacking, river rafting, and more. For Melchert, spending time outdoors became more than just a hobby—it became an identity.
Two years ago, she got an opportunity to become a river rafting guide for Chugach Adventures, a tour operator based in Girdwood, a small mountain town just outside Anchorage. While they primarily offer rafting tours, they also provide kayaking and hiking excursions as well.
A typical day for Melchert as a raft guide begins with an early morning gathering at the compound in Girdwood. From there, they load up in vans to a nearby train station, as the river they float is only accessible by train.
Loading up gear onto the train, they get off at the designated spot to transfer rafts and equipment onto buses and trailers.
Once they reach the river’s mouth, it’s time for a safety briefing and the distribution of life jackets. Rigging all the boats takes about an hour before they split into groups, with one guide leading each boat, accompanied by six to eight adventurers per raft.
Navigating down the river, they maintain a spaced-out formation to avoid congestion. Designated leaders and sweeps make the groups stay organized and safe.
Upon reaching the takeout point, they unload everyone from the rafts, a process that can be both lengthy and meticulous.
Eventually, the train returns to transport them back to the starting point, where they reload all the gear before hopping into shuttles and returning to camp, marking the end of another day of rafting adventures.
Throughout her time as a raft guide, Melchert has not only grown her skills but also expanded her understanding of her surroundings.
“I’ve learned more about my surroundings than ever, especially when people ask questions, I have to be able to respond,” Melchert explains. “For example, how did this river form? Well, we’re in a huge, glaciated valley that to a lot of people doesn’t really make sense because our river is super braided and changes a lot, and it’s very different from a canyon river like in the lower 48.”
A lot of people come to Alaska without a clue of what to expect or what the nature/wildlife is like, so it is Melcherts’ job to stay informed and teach people about the beauties of Alaska.
“One of the most common questions that we get when we’re on the lake before entering the mouth of the river is if there’s any whales or orcas in the lake, which is absurd because it’s a 34° freshwater lake in the middle of the mountains.”
That is one example of how much people don’t know about Alaska, and that is why they are out there exploring what it has to offer!
“It is fun to see people get really excited about Alaska’s beauty, and it’s special for me to be able to share that with them,” she says.
Melchert’s journey into the world of raft guiding wasn’t without its challenges. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, she had to assert herself to gain the recognition she deserved.
“I had to advocate for myself a lot,” Melchert reveals. “I felt that my capabilities weren’t recognized as much as they should have been initially.”
This is a common problem many women in tourism face, and it is so important to have representation in these industries to show the future female travel guides all they can accomplish too.
Despite the challenges, Melchert’s passion for the outdoors has propelled her forward, carving out a niche for herself in Alaska’s outdoor industry.
In the future, she wants to spend more time skiing in the back country and finding that balance between life and getting outside.
“I probably won’t live in Alaska long term for a while, but I can definitely see myself moving back there later and taking advantage of our skiing and backpacking,” she said.
For right now Melchert will continue pursuing a major in Human Physiology and a minor in environmental science at the University of Oregon, while making sure she gets in her mountain time!
“I want to be super capable and confident in my ability so I can continue spending time in big mountains.”
That’s what she loves!
Bella Oberlatz 
Leave a comment