SPARKY WETHERINGTON

My name is Mark, but everyone knows me by my nickname, Sparky, and I grew up in Salmon, Idaho. I began working on the Middle Fork Salmon in 2001 as a “swamper” (the kid who helps set up camp). After swamping for a drift boat outfitter for two years, I spent the next seven seasons rowing sweep boats, paddle boats and oar boats. In 2010, I left the river to begin my teaching career and I now teach Special Education in Idaho Falls to kindergarteners through second graders with significant disabilities in a program called Developmentally Appropriate Classroom. The focus is teaching life skills and low-level reading, math and science. But five years ago, I came back to the river after missing all the joy this place and its people brought to my life and now, I guide on a couple of trips each summer. Even though I’m 45 years old, I still have a strong passion for guiding and helping people have a cherished experience on the river. My father also worked on the Middle Fork for many years, and I loved to swap stories with him and talk about our experiences on this magical river. I honestly don’t want to go on other rivers because I love the Middle Fork of the Salmon so much.

Being a part of the Adventure Sun Valley family and guiding trips with this team has been such a pleasure. I hope you get to experience this river too!