The Trail Less Traveled

Selway River Adventures with Doug Proctor

Doug Proctor grew up just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, where his love for rivers was seeded early in life. As a boy he spent years canoeing with his family and through the Boy Scouts on class one rivers across southern Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. At the age of 12 he embarked on his first extended canoe trip—a two-week wilderness journey in Kentucky that helped shape his lifelong passion for river travel and backcountry adventure. In 1977 Proctor began his professional guiding career, leading whitewater rafting trips commercially on the New Riverand the Gauley River, two of the eastern United States’ premier whitewater destinations. Over the next 35 years he built extensive experience as an outfitter in West Virginia, guiding trips through challenging Class III and Class IV waters and cultivating deep skills in river stewardship, guest experience, and wilderness logistics. His love of rivers and adventure didn’t stop in Appalachia. His guiding has taken him to Grand Canyon, Alaska, Chile, Costa Rica, Idaho, and numerous rivers in both the eastern and western United States. These experiences helped refine his craft as a guide renowned for both technical competence and a commitment to sharing wild rivers with thoughtful guests. Today Proctor is co-owner of Selway River Adventures, a wilderness rafting outfitter based in Stanley, Idaho. With his partners he operates under one of the extremely limited commercial permits on the Selway River, a nationally designated Wild and Scenic river flowing through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Trips are typically five to six days long, weaving technical whitewater with solitude and natural beauty few river runners ever get to experience. Proctor now lives in Stanley with his wife Cathy and their dogs, drawn to Idaho by the remarkable concentration of great rivers in the region. Guiding river trips for over 40 years, he views sharing his experience with guests and friends as not just a profession but a deep passion—one rooted in the rhythms of wild water and the stories those rivers tell. Show notes: 00:03:51 - The Selway River: Permit System and Access00:05:56 - From Boy Scouts to River Guide Entrepreneur00:07:56 - Class 6 Rafting Company Origin Story00:09:59 - Selway River: Protected Wilderness and Rafting History00:12:24 - Early Spring Wildlife and River Adventure00:15:41 - Protecting Rivers and Wilderness Areas00:17:56 - Selway River Adventures Trip Overview00:19:38 - First-Time River Trips Need Only Willingness00:21:41 - Wildlife Abundance on the Selway River00:24:23 - Salmon Extinction Crisis and Dam Removal Solutions00:26:27 - Selway Lodge History and River Adventures00:28:21 - Epic River Adventures in Alaska and Beyond00:30:19 - Doug's Eighth Grade Singing Trauma00:31:53 - Three Pieces of Life Advice and Conservation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Culinary Journey Across Continents: The Silk Road Catering & Spice

Sam and Elise Risho are the culinary heart and soul behind The Silk Road Catering & Spice in Missoula, Montana. Their story is rooted in decades of family food tradition and a passion for global flavors. Sam grew up in a restaurant family, learning the love of food and hospitality from his father and brother through years of working in local eateries and mastering fine-dining service and kitchen craft. In 2009 Sam and his brother, along with Elise, opened The Silk Road Restaurant to bring a tapas-style global tasting experience to the community. The restaurant’s success eventually blossomed into a thriving catering business and an artisanal spice line inspired by world cuisines. Elise plays a central role in running the business and shaping its creative vision as co-owner alongside Sam. Today they focus on crafting memorable menus for weddings and special events and sharing unique spice blends that reflect their commitment to exceptional hospitality and globally inspired cuisine.Show notes:00:03:49 - From Sheltered to Adventure: Building Community00:06:05 - Growing Up in a House of Hospitality00:07:53 - Adventures Before Kids Around the World00:10:03 - Custom Tailoring in Shanghai's French District00:12:13 - From Restaurant to Catering Adventures Across Montana00:14:11 - The Silk Road Inspired Spice Blends00:17:23 - From Spice Bags to Store Shelves00:20:54 - Finding Your Favorite Spice Blend00:23:04 - Adding Sour and Shopping Local00:25:46 - Community Spirit in Missoula, Montana00:28:30 - Hiking Adventures with Kids in Missoula00:30:49 - Keeping Missoula Weird Through Diversity00:32:56 - Embrace Slow Travel and Community Connection00:35:06 - Parenting Advice: Encourage Kids to Try New Things00:37:39 - Clark Fork River and The Wellerman Song Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Missoula Spotlight: Aimee McQuilkin, Shane Clouse and Dave Stromeyer

Aimee McQuilkin is a Missoula entrepreneur and community builder, best known as the owner of Betty’s Divine and the Clark Fork Yacht Club. Through these beloved businesses, she has helped shape Missoula’s social and cultural fabric by creating welcoming spaces rooted in style, hospitality, and connection. Aimee’s work reflects a deep commitment to local economy, creativity, and gathering people together in meaningful ways.Shane Clouse is a Missoula musician and songwriter whose work blends Americana, folk, and roots traditions with thoughtful storytelling. His music is shaped by Montana landscapes and lived experience, carrying a quiet honesty that resonates both on stage and in more intimate listening spaces. Shane is a steady presence in the local music community, known for craft, collaboration, and authenticity.Dave Stromeyer is a Missoula County Commissioner focused on infrastructure, public service, and long term regional planning. He is currently working on a passenger railroad project aimed at improving transportation options and connectivity in western Montana. Dave’s work reflects a practical, forward looking approach to governance with an emphasis on public benefit, economic resilience, and sustainable mobility.​Show notes:00:03:44 - 1983 Rabbit and Missoula Roots00:05:53 - Opening Betty's Divine While Pregnant00:09:34 - Building Community Through Shared Experiences00:11:56 - Community Heart and Entrepreneurial Joy00:13:23 - Homeownership Enables Community Business Growth00:15:39 - How Desmond the Mannequin Found Home00:18:12 - The Governor of the Hip Strip00:23:37 - Missoula's Deep History and Indigenous Stewardship00:27:39 - Gateway to the Rocky Mountains and Home00:32:15 - Stewardship and Restoring Passenger Rail00:38:12 - Keeping Missoula Special Through Community Involvement00:41:16 - Montana's State Song and Pink Grizzly Greenhouse00:44:10 - From Farm to Pink Grizzly Business00:46:39 - From Lumber Mills to Community Music00:50:32 - Historic Irrigation Ditch Sustains Missoula Community00:53:56 - Hunting and Fishing Fund Conservation00:58:58 - Montana Matters: A Song of Unity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Defending Wildlife as Public Trust: Frank Szollosi of the Montana Wildlife Federation

Frank Szollosi is the Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, the state’s oldest and largest wildlife conservation organization focused on protecting wildlife habitat, public lands access, and science-based natural resource policy in Montana. He took on this leadership role in June 2020 after a long career with the National Wildlife Federation, where he worked for over a decade on climate and water policy at the Great Lakes Regional Center and on national campaigns that defended public lands, advanced the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and connected people with wildlife. At MWF, Szollosi collaborates with state agencies including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, tribal governments, landowners, businesses, and conservation partners to advance policies that sustain healthy wildlife populations and accessible wild places. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan, and he brings extensive experience in government, including work as both a staffer and local elected official. Outside of his professional work, Szollosi is an avid outdoorsperson who has spent more than 25 years fly fishing and participates enthusiastically in annual hunts with friends and colleagues. He lives in Montana with his wife and four children and enjoys kayaking, downhill skiing, and backpacking. JOIN THE MONTANA WILDLIFE FEDERATION FOR ONLY $40/YEAR --> www.MontanaWildlife.orgShow notes:00:02:54 - Growing Up in Toledo, Ohio00:05:29 - Leading Montana Wildlife Federation00:08:26 - Finding Balance in Wildlife Conservation00:10:14 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Origins and Conservation History00:15:45 - Hunter-Funded Conservation: Montana's Legacy00:19:53 - Climate Change and Wildlife Conservation in Montana00:24:09 - Defending Public Lands Through Community Action00:26:17 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Advocacy Tools00:29:05 - Protecting Public Lands from Corporate Development00:31:30 - Montana Wildlife Federation Membership Benefits00:33:55 - Understanding Differences and Conservation Leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iditarod Lessons: John Wood on Dogs, Distance, and Discipline

John Wood is an Alaska musher from Chugiak who started chasing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the late nineteen seventies and went on to finish the thousand mile route to Nome four times in 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1986. Known for his dry humor and honesty about the grind of the trail, he once joked that after three runs he had “an unparalleled record of mediocrity” and zero prize money, yet if you asked whether he planned to run again his answer was “hell yes,” because the race embodied adventure, excitement, competition and camaraderie that felt uniquely Alaskan. John served as a musher representative on the Iditarod board and offered straight talking advice to rookies about staying upbeat, caring for their dog teams and setting realistic goals in a race where two weeks of little sleep and deep cold are the norm. The event he helped shape as a veteran competitor and mentor is itself legendary an annual March run from Anchorage to Nome of roughly one thousand miles across mountains, frozen rivers and Bering Sea coast, first completed in 1973 and often called the Last Great Race on Earth for its blend of brutal weather, wilderness travel and the deep historical ties between sled dogs and Alaska communities.Show Notes:00:02:37 - Growing Up in Alaska's Homestead00:06:29 - Mountain Life and Mining Adventures in Alaska00:09:32 - Getting into Dog Mushing with Trap Lines00:12:43 - Recording the Grand Canyon with John Wood00:16:32 - From Finishing to Competing in Iditarod00:18:59 - Iditarod Southern Route and Racing Strategy00:22:53 - Alaskan Huskies: Sled Dogs and Racing00:27:47 - Iditarod Dog Care and Rest Cycles00:30:52 - Sleep Strategy for Iditarod Success00:33:43 - Three Life Lessons from Iditarod Racing00:35:42 - Grand Canyon Evening and Iditarod Song Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.