ABOUT

Who We Are

Family Owned

Vince, Jen, and their 3 children live in the Roaring Fork Valley. Vince has worked as the Owner/Operator for Blazing Adventures since 2016. Prior to that he worked as a river guide, trainer, and manager for the previous 12 years.  Vince has also worked 18 seasons for the Snowmass Ski Patrol. Jen stays busy as the marketing manager for Blazing Adventures. But what really keeps her moving are the 3 kids!! If anyone knows the importance of planning an engaging, convenient, and fun experience for the family, Jen does! We often lean on her expertise to provide our guests with the ultimate family experience.

Evan, Alix, and their son have also lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years! Their family loves to spend time outdoors on our local rivers and trails, as well as camping in and around the vast wilderness that surrounds our valley. Evan has extensive knowledge of everything Blazing Adventures!  He started out in Groups Sales in 2004 and became General Manager in 2016. Evan became co-owner in 2022 and continues to provide guests with unforgettable outdoor adventures!

DEDICATED STAFF

Our sales and reservation staff are the best in the business! They know our adventures inside and out because they live our adventures. Let them help you find the perfect activity for you and your group during your vacation to the Aspen Snowmass area.

LOCAL, Experienced Guides

We are the most experienced rafting outfitter in the Aspen Snowmass area. Blazing Adventures has been guiding rafting trips and land-based tours for 50 years! Our local guides live and breath the outdoors. Their knowledge and safety record is unparalleled. Our 4 most experienced guides combine for over 100 years worth of guiding!!

Meet Our Team

VINCE

OWNER | OPERATOR

Vince has been guiding, managing, and operating since 2005. He is a proud husband and father of three. Safety is his priority as an EMT and Swift Water Rescue Technician.

EVAN

OWNER | GM

Evan has been with Blazing since 2005. He and his wife enjoy adventuring with their 6 year old son. Evan knows Blazing like no one else. "We Love Evan!" is often heard from guests!

SARAH

OPERATIONS MANAGER | GUIDE

Sarah has been with Blazing since 2016. Sarah has a background as a land and river guide, as well as being certified in Swiftwater Rescue. She runs Operations at Blazing.

TESSA

OPERATIONS MANAGER | GUIDE

Tessa came to Blazing in 2022. Along with Sarah, Tessa helps run the Operations Team. An EMT, land and river guide, Tessa can do it all!

JOHN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GROUPS SERVICES

John joined the Blazing team in 2021. Popular with guests and staff alike, John is a natural at his job. You dream it up, he can plan it!

EMILY

OFFICE ASSISTANT MANAGER/RAFT/LAND

Emily came to the reservations team in 2022. On top of being an Office Manager, Emily is a river and land guide. You're gonna love Emily!

MIKE

RAFT GUIDE

Mike has been guiding with Blazing since 1999. Mike is a Trip Leader, Trainer, and is Swiftwater Rescue certified. He'll keep you laughing and learning all day!

HILLARY

RAFT GUIDE

Hillary has been guiding with Blazing since 1986! As a long-time guide, trip leader, and trainer, she's been there, done that. Enjoy a trip with a legend in the industry. Sure to be fun!

CONRAD

RAFT GUIDE

Captain of USA Men's Rafting Team! Conrad is a Trip Leader and is Swiftwater Rescue certified. His love for "adrenaline sports" is like no other. Brace yourself for fun!

KENDALL

OFFICE/RAFT/LAND

Kendall can do it all. On any given day, she can be running the office, running rapids, or out on a hike. Full of knowledge and fun. Enjoy your day with Kendall.

MITCH

RAFT GUIDE

Mitch has been guiding with Blazing since 2017. He is a Trip Leader and his education in Geology makes for an interesting adventure. You're gonna have fun with Mitch!

TESS

RAFT GUIDE

Get ready for a high energy experience! Tess is a Trip Leader with a fun-loving personality like no other. Brace yourself, it's gonna be a wild ride!

NICK

RAFT GUIDE

Nick has been with Blazing since 2012. He's a Trip Leader and Swiftwater Rescue Certified. "Mr. Fix-It" has many talents, but especially shines when guiding our guests on their adventures.

DIANE

LAND GUIDE

Diane has been guiding with Blazing since 1995! Her knowledge of local history, flora, and fauna makes for a fun experience. Non-stop education and adventure with Diane!

RYAN

RAFT GUIDE

Ryan has been guiding with Blazing since 2010. As a Swiftwater Rescue Tech and Trip Leader, you're in good hands with Ryan!

JOHN

LAND GUIDE

John has been guiding with Blazing since 1995! He knows Aspen Snowmass. Everything. Always fun and professional. If you haven't done a tour with John yet, you're truly missing out!

JULIA

OFFICE/RAFT/LAND

Julia's expertise is in both guiding and reservations. Her fun personality and extensive knowledge will make any experience a memorable one!

TAYLOR

RAFT GUIDE

Taylor has been guiding with Blazing since 2018. Swiftwater Rescue certified and Trip Leader. Always fun and informative. His love of everything outdoors is contagious.

KATE

RAFT GUIDE

Kate started guiding in 2022. She has quickly become an all-around rock star guide with the Blazing team! Her positive personality adds to the experience of any adventure.

BEN

RAFT GUIDE

Ben has been guiding with Blazing since 2016, but river guiding since 2009. He is a Trip Leader and is Swiftwater Rescue certified. Ben is our Brown's Canyon expert!

Scott

RAFT GUIDE

Scott has been guiding on the river since 1993. He has a true love for the river and it shows. Get out and enjoy a day on the water with Scott!

SPENCER

RAFT GUIDE

Spencer hails from North Dakota. Beast mode. Enough said.

TYLER

RAFT GUIDE

Tyler. A Rookie. Not really. He's a member of the USA Men's Rafting Team. He'll certainly make you laugh and you're guaranteed to have a great time on any adventure with Tyler!

MOOSE

RAFT GUIDE

Mitch "Moose" is an EMT and member of the Snowmass Patrol. He is Swiftwater Rescue certified, a safety kayaker, and has a "safety first" mindset that keeps things fun for the whole family.

PETER

RAFT GUIDE

Peter is a Trip Leader and is Swiftwater Rescue certified. Peter is a true utility guide. He does it all and does it well!

1973

In 1973, Blazing Adventures found it’s origin as Snowmass Whitewater and was started by Hunt Walker, who was the Recreation Director for the Snowmass Resort Association. Before the Town of Snowmass Village was even a town, Snowmass Whitewater was busy taking guests down the river!

1979

In 1979, Bob and Laurie Harris acquired the business from the Snowmass Resort Association. The subsequent growth of Snowmass Whitewater paralleled the growth of Aspen and Snowmass Village as international destination resort communities.

1981

Bob and Laurie Harris acquired Blazing Paddles, a rafting company that had it’s base in Aspen. With this acquisition, Bob and Laurie were able to expand their adventure offerings to both Aspen and Snowmass.

1986

Blazing Adventures diversifies and is renamed in response to the community’s desire for more local adventure activities.  Blazing begins to offer hiking, biking, and jeeping tours for those guests looking to continue the adventure on land.

2009

Bob and Laurie decide its finally time to enjoy their own adventures and sell the company to the local boys from Incline Ski Shop.  Two brothers, Tim and Dan McMahon, along with their winter partners Johnny Henschel and Dave Fond, take over Blazing Adventures and begin a 7 year run.  What a run.

2016

Longtime guide and manager, Vince Nichols, decides it’s time to turn his passion into his career and purchases Blazing Adventures from the “Incline Boys”.  Along with his wife, Jen, and 3 kids, the Nichols family carry on the tradition of a family owned and operated Blazing Adventures.

2022

Evan Cree, General Manager & Groups Sales Director, joins Vince as a business partner in Blazing Adventures. After many years of helping run the company, Evan takes his love and knowledge of Blazing to his new role. Evan, wife Alix, and their son continue to build on the 51 year Blazing legacy.

Our Values

We are stewards of the rivers and the land.

  • From our most experienced guides to our office staff, each and every individual that works for Blazing Adventures has a passion for the outdoors in one form or another. Together, we help to educate our guests on how to preserve the playground that Mother Nature has provided for us.
  • Our guides take part in an annual volunteer River Cleanup Day.
  • Our guides are constantly keeping the river clear of debris that would be dangerous to recreational boaters and fisherman alike.
  • We abide by the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.

Volunteer work and Philanthropy

  • Our employees take great pride in volunteering for various charities and non-profits throughout the valley.
  • Blazing Adventures is proud to give back to the community by donating to a number of these charities and non-profits. Below are just a few of the many that we partner with annually:

Family

Families are our priorities. We realize families come in all shapes and sizes. We proudly consider our employees, past and present, as part of the “Blazing Family” and we graciously welcome our guests into our family as well.