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KAYAK YELLOWSTONE
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MEET THE TEAM
Why choose Prismatic?
An optical prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light and can be used to separate a beam of white light into its constituent spectrum of colors. In physics, refraction is the change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another. The traditional geometrical shape of an optical prism is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use "prism" usually refers to this type, much like our logo.
Here at Prismatic Tours, we believe that by changing your daily habits, thus altering the medium through which you view the world, your experience is likely to be broken down into component parts, much like white light passing through a prism. When light exits a prism, one can view each color separately, allowing us the opportunity to appreciate each individual component of the whole, a moment to reflect. When you first begin to paddle your kayak on Yellowstone Lake, the elements that were zipping by in a blur on your drive to the marina, slowly start to separate. The trees, the mountains, the shore birds, the clouds and the reflection of it all on the calm lake. In that stillness, you can begin to appreciate all the small things that make this ecosystem so vibrant. For so many people, our daily lives are lived in a blur of white light, hardly any separation or distinction, much less appreciation for the myriad components that come together to form our lives, the white light. When that same light is applied to a prism, we can parse out all of the details of the rainbow, all of the little things that make day so wonderful, be it the sound of the breeze in the aspen trees, a shared laugh with friends or the cool touch of a summer breeze on your skin.
Light changes speed as it moves from one medium to another (for example, from air into the glass of the prism). This speed change causes the light to be refracted and to enter the new medium at a different angle. The refractive index of many materials (such as glass) varies with the wavelength or color of the light used, a phenomenon known as dispersion. This causes light of different colors to be refracted differently and to leave the prism at different angles, creating an effect similar to a rainbow. We invite you to take a moment to consider ways in which you can put your life through a prism, slowing down and separating the component parts so that you might have a minute to appreciate the beauty that is the complexity of life.
Allen
Guide
After more than a decade of adventure guiding experience all over the States, Allen moved to Montana in 2019 to work as a naturalist guide in Yellowstone National Park upon realizing that he felt a deep connection with the people, animals and landscape so unique to this place. He is a self-proclaimed life artist and explorer, and because he is always looking, he often sees the beauty that is continually available to us in nature. Allen has an uncommon respect and integrity for the land and all that live upon it, and is happy to call the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem his home.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." -Steve Prefontaine
JASON
Guide / General Manager
While attending the University of Washington with a focus on conservation and sustainability, Jason spent much of his time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest where high alpine lakes trickle into countless miles of rivers and streams headed to the ocean. Adventures and exploration were a must. A few weeks every summer were spent near Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, learning about the Ocean from Grandparents who loved to fish for salmon in the waters of Puget Sound. Boating skills and confidence in the water were gained checking crab pots and becoming familiar with the tides and currents of the Salish Sea. Summer floats and paddles on nearby waters were a common escape from daily chores and much preferred!
Jason has worked on Yellowstone Lake for 8 seasons, safely guiding hundreds of paddlers of all skill levels along the shores.
MADDI
Guide
Hailing from Northern Wisconsin, Maddi has spent much of her life perfecting the art of catching frogs, kayaking, fishing, photography, and engaging with the natural environment. She got her first kayak at age eight and couldn’t get enough. Fifteen years later, it never gets old! In highschool she used her kayak to commute to work as well as help other students gain volunteer hours by cleaning up litter via kayak. Highlights from her kayak adventures include witnessing a black bear swimming in front of her boat in Wisconsin, paddling in Alaska at age eleven, Bioluminescence Bay in the Virgin Islands and magnificent Lake Superior. If you ever find her outside of her kayak, she will be hiking, knitting, sipping craft beer at a brewery, or doing something totally epic!
DYLAN
Guide
Growing up in rural Ohio, Dylan found it nearly impossible to remain on dry land. Fishing, boating, swimming and kayaking, he has always felt at home on and in the water. After graduating Ohio State University with a degree in Zoology, Dylan set out west. After living and working in several states, he secured a job in Yellowstone and quickly realized this is where he belongs. His favorite vacations are those where he spends several days camping and paddling down a river. The Allegheny River in Pennsylvania and New River in West Virginia are some of his favorites! For the past two seasons, he has worked on a fishing research vessel on Yellowstone Lake, helping to mitigate the invasive species issues that plague the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Through his time spent on the boat and living in the park, it has allowed him to gain intimate knowledge of the area. Now he has the opportunity to share all of the knowledge he has gained with our wonderful guests! So if you need a hiking trail, wildlife viewing opportunities, some can’t miss sights, or just a quiet picnic spot, he has recommendations for days!
