North Wash Outfitters - Canyoneering Guides

Jared Hillhouse

After graduating high school and working a couple of years in Germany, Jared moved to Blanding, Utah (20 minutes north of Bluff) where he graduated college. Continuing his education he received certification from Corrections and Peace Officer Law Enforcement Academies. He became involved with Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Responses where he came in contact with Dave Black. Hearing the stories about the canyons that surrounded his home, his curiosity was instantly captured. His first canyoneering adventure happened on the annual "Freeze Fest" down the Black Hole by Lake Powell. The hike was done January 1st through many pools of icy water - but he loved it! Jared then became associated with these hardcore canyoneers and discovered many more beautiful slot canyons and hiking thrills year round.

After being overtaken by the scenery and exploration opportunities around Bluff, he moved to currently work there full-time as a patrol deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. Jared also worked for Dave guiding at-risk youth on federal grant programs for after school activities. In 2005 the school district decided to cut funding for this program. Jared and Dave felt a loss not being able to show these young protoge's the wonderful outdoors. They began discussing the notion of opening a company and in November of 2005 North Wash Outfitters was born. Now if Jared is not patrolling or hiking the canyons of the Colorado Plateau, you can find him volunteering as an EMT on the local ambulance or maybe, possibly, at home with his family. Jared is a member of the American Canyoneering Association's Professional Division's Executive Board.

ACA Certified Canyoneering Guide

ACA Professional Division Executive Board Member

EMT-Intermediate Certified

SCUBA Certified

"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"

Jared stemming in the Middle Fork of Maiden Water

Nicole Hurst

Being a local to the area, Nicole grew up admiring the canyons, sight-seeing in the family car and on horseback with friends and family. Nicole began canyoneering with Dave and Jared as a student and has learned well how to put up with their joking. This only increased her love for the canyons, and she knew she wanted to spend more time exploring them. Nicole gets out as often as she can around her busy schedule. She is active in many activities at school and with family as well as raising horses and working a part-time job.

Nicole enjoys sharing her passion for the canyons with others and finds it rewarding to watch them learn the concepts and techniques to enjoy the canyons and be safe.

ACA Technical Canyoneering Trained

ACA Advanced Canyoneering Trained

Dave Black

Paramedic and linguist by vocation, geologist by education, outdoor bum by choice, Dave started climbing in the mid-60's. It wasn't until a decade later on the island of Crete that he did his first "real" canyon -- the Gorge of Ha. For another 20 years, he still thought of canyons as annoying and time-consuming venues of access for climbs and other curiosities. That is when a couple of determined friends showed him the error of his ways. He realized all those years of canyon-thrashing had actually been a lot of fun. Climbing has taken a back seat since then.

Dave is currently "semi-retired" and living in Blanding, Utah. He has spent most of the last nine years as an EMS consultant, primarily in the Middle East, the Balkans, and eastern Europe. He's the author of Ice Climbing Utah (Falcon), and the soon to be released (Jan 2008) "Canyoneering - A guide to Techiques for Wet and Dry Canyons." He has guided climbs extensively in North and South America.

ACA Certified Canyoneering Guide

ACA Certified Instructor

Certified Swift water Rescue Technician (SRT2)

"Si habla Español"

Dave oversees the ACA's safety and rescue programs as well as instructs WFR courses.

Dave stemming the fins of the Firey Furnace

All of our guides are certified and/or trained by the only organization in the United States to offer canyoneering certifications. The American Canyoneering Association (ACA). With North Wash Outfitters being an accredited guide service and school of the ACA, we are proud to be able to bring quality canyoneering training and instruction to the Four Corners.