About Me

I’ve spent my life chasing rivers, trekking through remote landscapes, and embracing adventure at every turn. I’m still at it 30 years later —rafting, guiding, and sharing my passion for wild places with others. My journey has taken me across the western USA, Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru, working as a commercial whitewater guide, backpacking guide, and most recently, a government-employed river ranger.

Pioneering River Expeditions

As the owner of Travel Afoot, I organized and led the first-ever commercial descents of Mexico’s Rio Urique and Rio Tutuaca/Upper Aros in the Copper Canyon region. These days, I take groups down Peru’s Rio Marañón—often called the Grand Canyon of the Amazon.  I apply my “No Coolers” philosophy on multi-day expeditions. My expertise in meal planning, packing, and cooking in remote settings has also helped outfit river trips in Idaho, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, Mexico and Peru.

Guide & River Ranger Experience

I began guiding in 1991 and never looked back. Whitewater and wilderness have been my life’s work for over 30 years, and I’m still out there, running rapids and exploring remote landscapes.

Rivers I’ve Worked On:

• USA: Kern, Kaweah, Merced, Tuolumne, American (North, Middle, South Forks), Yuba, Truckee, Rogue, Yampa, Green (Gates of Lodore), Middle Fork & Main Salmon
• Mexico: Yaqui, Aros, Mulatos, Urique, Lacanja, Usumacinta
• Guatemala: Lanquin, Cahabon
• Peru: Marañón

As a River Ranger, I’ve Patrolled:

• Colorado (Cataract), Green (Labyrinth & Stillwater) – Canyonlands National Park
• Snake & Hoback (Wild & Scenic) – Bridger-Teton National Forest
• Rogue (Wild & Scenic) – Bureau of Land Management

Writing & Recognition

I’m the author of the Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers cookbook series and a longtime contributor to NRS’s Duct Tape Diaries. My work and adventures have been featured in:

• Canoe & Kayak – “Covert Operators: The River Gypsy”
• Paddling with Purpose – “Fiercely Independent River Gypsy Mama”
• American Whitewater – “Lacey Anderson – Whitewater Maven”
• NRS (Northwest River Supply) – Many of my articles have been publish in NRS Duct Tape Diaries enewsletter –  https://community.nrs.com/duct-tape/author/laceyanderson/

First Descents—Because Adventure Has No Age Limit

Some of my most thrilling moments have been pioneering first descents, many of which I tackled after turning 50! My list includes:

• Tehuantepec, Atoyac, Xochistlahuca, Atotonilco, Santa Catarina, Tlaplaneco, Mezcala, Sahuripa, Sirupa, Agua Azul (first raft descent)
• Rio Urique in Mexico’s Copper Canyon (first raft descent)
• Numerous second descents and first-ever cataraft descents
• If I made a list of first descents by a female? That list would go on forever!

Protecting Rivers for Future Generations

I’m passionate about keeping wild rivers free-flowing. Since 2012, I’ve been involved in efforts to protect Peru’s Rio Marañón, working with local and international conservation groups (Remando Juntos, Conservamos Por Naturaleza, Marañón Waterkeeper, Paddling with Purpose, Marañón Experience). I’m especially proud to have recruited Peruvian whitewater outfitters to join the cause.

Fun Fact: I’ve Logged Well Over 12,000 River Miles!

Between guiding and personal adventures, I’ve racked up more than 12,000 river miles—and that number keeps growing! I guess you could say I’m a little river-crazy.

Thanks for reading! Hope to see you on the river someday!

BELOW IS THE OLD BIO (I am currently editing & do not want to disappear because of links) check back later please.

I have experience as a commercial whitewater river guide, a backpacking guide and most recently as a government employed river ranger. I have worked in the western USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. As the owner of “Travel Afoot” I organized and led the first commercial descent of the Rio Urique and the Rio Tutuaca/Upper Aros in Mexico’s northern Copper Canyon region. I currently take rafting groups down to the Rio Maranon in Peru, aka “Grand Canyon of the Amazon”. I have applied my “No Coolers” philosophy while providing support on commercial multi-day river expeditions in Mexico and Peru.  I have also provided my expertise on menus and camp food for river expeditions in Idaho, Oregon, and California. My experience as a backpacking and rafting guide allows me to provide expert meal planning, packaging, and preparation guidelines to groups of all sizes. I am the author of the “Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers” cookbook series (CWC) and am an ambassador and  contributing author to the NRS enewsletter Duct Tape Diaries. A few articles have been written about me and my various river experiences. Check them out in Canoe & Kayak, Paddling with Purpose,  American Whitewater, and Northwest River Supply

• BACKPACKING / HIKING GUIDE & WHITEWATER RAFTING GUIDE: I started out as a commercial hiking and backpacking guide in 1991 in 1995 I started working as a commercial whitewater guide and have never looked back. It has become my life’s work and passion. To this day (30 years later) I am still working and playing on rivers!

• LOCATIONS WORKED AS A COMMERCIAL RIVER GUIDE:
USA: Kern, Kaweah, Merced, Tuolumne, North, Middle and South Fork of the Americans, Yuba, Truckee, Rogue, Yampa, Green – Gates of Lodore, Middle Fork and Main Salmon
Mexico: Yaqui, Aros, Mulatos, Urique, Lacanja, Usumacinta
Guatemala: Lanquin, Cahabon
Peru: Maranon

LOCATIONS WORKED AS A RIVER RANGER:
Colorado (Cataract), Green (Labyrinth & Stillwater) – Canyonlands National Park.
Snake & Hoback (Wild & Scenic) – Bridger Teton National Forest.
Rogue (Wild & Scenic) – Bureau of Land Management.

• AUTHOR: contributing author for NRS duct tape diaries since 2010. I am also a self-published author publishing my first camp cookbook in 2010. I have since published 6 more cookbooks with a few more in the works.

• ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT ME: “Covert Operators: The River Gypsy” in Canoe & Kayak, “Fiercely Independent River Gypsy Mama” in Paddling with Purpose, and “Lacey Anderson – Whitewater Maven” in American Whitewater.

• FIRST DESCENTS: these were all Amazing Adventures! All in Mexico (most of which I did after the age of 50!).
The list: Tehuantepec, Atoyac, Xochistlahuca, Atotonilco, Santa Catarina, Tlaplaneco, Mezcala, Sahuripa, Sirupa, Agua Azul (first raft descent), Urique in Copper Canyon Mexico (first raft descent), and then several second descents and many more first cataraft descents. Then considering I could also make a list titled First-Descent by Female – now that list would be the longest list of all!

• RIVER ENVIRONMENTALIST: I am an environmentalist supporting Peruvians in their campaign to save the Upper Amazon (Rio Marañón). I am involved with 2 Peruvian NGO’s Remando Juntos, Conservamos Por Naturaleza, and 2 international NGO’s Maranon Waterkeeper and Paddling with Purpose. But I am most proud of the fact that I have recruited several Peruvian whitewater outfitters to help in the campaign (Mayuc/Peru Rafting/Vive Aventuras/Maranon Experience). 2020 will mark my 8th year organizing and running expeditions on the Rio Marañón.

• FACT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT ME: between the years of boating commercially and boating just for the fun of it, I have logged well over 12,000 river miles!! The number of miles is higher now, because I did the original tally back in 2013. Whooh! I guess I am a bit river crazy.

Thank you for reading all the way to here! I hope our paths cross someday,

Lacey Anderson