ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE · BRIEF HISTORY · WHY HCK?
WHO WE ARE
Dave Panu has been exploring Lake Powell and its surroundings since 1980. A New England transplant, Dave is tireless in his search for undiscovered places. As a former food and beverage Manager at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Wahweap Marina on Lake Powell, his culinary talents are unequaled. An effortless kayaker, Dave has paddled Mexico, The Bahamas, The Islands of Hawaii and over 100 Lake Powell Trips. Dave is a Coast Guard Captain, 20 year Grand Canyon Boatman and a 10 year Kayak Guide on Lake Powell.
Clint Spahn grew up on the waters of Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon. He took his first river trip in the Grand Canyon when he was 7 years old and has worked his way to become a lead pilot. After receiving his Coast Guard Captain's License and Wilderness First Responder Certification he has become an integral part of Hidden Canyon Kayak. His upbeat attitude and well rounded knowledge of the area have proved him to be an essential part of the HCK team.
Les Hibbert began sea kayaking in 1997 in Britain’s North Sea under the tutelage of kayaking legend Derek Hutchison. A teacher of Outdoor Education with 25 years of guiding whitewater trips in Grand Canyon, Les has paddled in Mexico, Belize, The Bahamas and New Zealand, in addition to the United Kingdom and the United States. Currently much of his kayaking takes place in coastal Washington and British Colombia. Les holds a Coast Guard Captain’s License, is certified in Wilderness Medicine and is an Instructor for the American Canoe Association.
Joe Sams grew up on the water, spending summers in Florida and winters at the Jersey Shore. He’s been guiding river trips in Black, Grand, and Glen Canyons since 2001. Joe also managed Canyon Jetboat Services on the lower end of the Grand Canyon and holds a 50 Ton Master Coast Guard Captain’s license and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Also, an accomplished camp chef, Joe loves sporting an apron and preparing gourmet meals while on trips.
Kris Sams-Kenney grew up enjoying the outdoors in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. While off getting her Wildlife Biology degree in Florida, she developed an interest in paddling the rivers and estuaries of the Sunshine State. After school she moved way out west to work protecting and conserving the environments of our National Parks. She’s been living the dream as a professional guide in the Black and Glen Canyons of the Colorado River for the last 9 years. Kris is a nurturing soul with a Wilderness First Responder certification in case your adventure turns perilous.
A BRIEF HISTORY
In 1998 the National Park Service at Glen Canyon issued a new Management Plan that allowed for the first time the creation of adventure opportunities not under the direct control of the Concessioner. The managers and guides of Diamond River Adventures have kayaked the Lake, outside the rafting season in years past. Finally they had the means to introduce river clients to an equally spectacular adventure. The result, Hidden Canyon Kayak is a new, small and infinitely flexible company backed by a much larger organization with many years of experience in adventure travel.
WHY HIDDEN CANYON KAYAK?
As indicated above, Hidden Canyon Kayak is unique in it's ability to be both small and large. As a small start up, we keep group size manageable and enjoy low client to guide numbers. We are not locked into any set agenda and can customize with advance notice your particular trip. All this guarantees you a level of personal attention unusual in the industry. On the large side we are an organization with a 30 year history of running successful whitewater trips in Grand Canyon. We have an excellent track record as a licensed National Park Service Concessioner and as such have in place big company programs such as risk management for both employees and clients, environmental and recycling initiatives and crew training programs that address resource, wilderness first aid, food handling and Coast Guard issues. On the water our edge really shows. The paddling equipment, camping gear and menu are a step above and our guiding team has more miles paddled on the lake (and elsewhere) than any other operator.