Rob Sewell, Owner and Lead Guide
Originally from Pennsylvania, Rob set out over ten years ago from his home on Deer Lake to the American West, where he fell in love with its endless natural wonders. The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sedona and Lake Tahoe are all places he has called home while working as a Backcountry Ranger for the Park and Forest Services, before starting Hydros Adventures. From the southern tip of Patagonia to the top of Mount Whitney, Rob’s passion for the outdoors has given him the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to guide in the Grand Canyon. He is committed to reliving his passion for the Canyon through each person Hydros Adventures brings to visit this natural wonder. Rob would love for the surreal splendor of the west to impact others as it has impacted him. In his words, “My journey west first brought me to Yosemite - a rebirth place of sorts, a place where people's passions are climbing, hiking, rafting, and photography, as opposed to hot wings and Yuengling Lager...a place where social and political consciousness takes on a different flair, a place where you can make a new start. And although I do miss my home town fair at times, the west has brought me a life I had only dreamed of.”
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Rob also enjoys everything outdoors, photography, travel, and experiencing new things. He is a Wilderness First Responder and holds certifications in Swiftwater Rescue, Leave No Trace, Wildland Firefighting. Rob also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, which sometimes comes in handy with people who need more than the Canyon's natural beauty to make them whole.
P.S. Yuengling and Hot Wings from PA can get you trip discounts. Go Eagles!!!
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Tess Demoret, Trip Manager
Tess Demoret grew up in northwest Florida where she loved paddling around the ocean, bayous, rivers and springs around Gainesville and the Gulf Coast. She fell in love with the serenity and timelessness of the southwest during a college road trip, and knew she was destined to return. She is continually amazed by the spectacular geology of the Colorado Plateau and works behind the scenes to share these experiences with clients.
Tess is a graduate of the University of Florida and is the former Director of Avery Center for Health and Wellness in Pensacola, Fl. She is passionate about yoga and the healing arts, as well as outdoor adventures of all kinds. It is her sincere hope that all of Hydros Adventure’s Clients will have the time of their lives in the magical southwest.
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Taylor Sizemore, Lead Guide
Soon
after graduating from Northern Arizona University’s Outdoor Recreation
Program, Taylor Sizemore began leading trips for Hydros Adventures,
where he immediately displayed a natural talent for guiding clients
through the backcountry. By drawing on a vast amount of knowledge of
the Colorado Plateau and a knack for making people feel comfortable in
new and different surroundings, Taylor has quickly succeeded in
becoming Hydros Adventure’s Lead Guide.
Taylor grew up in
the middle of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. He has had a great
fascination with the outdoors since he went on his first backpacking
trip to the San Juan Mountains in Colorado at age 13. Taylor came to
Arizona when he was 19 to attend NAU’s Outdoor Recreation Program with
the goal of becoming an outdoor leader and educator.
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He says, “I
really enjoy giving people the opportunity to experience all the
canyons within the Canyon and the Canyon’s on the way to the Canyon.
There is not enough time in the day!”
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Mark Robert "Eb" Eberlein, Guide
Eb fell in love with the Grand Canyon on a Rim to Rim hike in August 1971. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Resource Management from SUNY (Syracuse, NY) in 1975, Eb moved to Flagstaff, AZ, where he fought forest fires in nearly every western state and performed timber inventories in Arizona and New Mexico with the Forest Service. While living in Flagstaff from '76-'86, Eb became obsessed with the Canyon, where he was quick to explore and feel at home, spending much of each winter in the inner Canyon below the Rim. After moving to Tucson in 1988, Eb became a school teacher. He left teaching in 1995 to found Sky Island Treks and to pursue full-time professional Wilderness Guiding. In 2006 Sky Island Treks merged with Discovery Treks. As a freelance guide, Eb revels in sharing the Grand Canyon with travelers of every sort, from seniors to families to 7 Summit climbers. From the Bright Angel Trail to the summit of Cheop's Pyramid, he is truly at home in the Canyon.
Eb has spent over 1300 days in the inner Canyon on day hikes and overnight backpacks. He has trekked extensively in the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, as well as most of the obscure Arizona Sky Island and Basin Ranges. He has also trekked in the Pirin and Rila Mountains of Bulgaria. When not trekking in the Canyon, he enjoys Alpine Summits, which include a climb of Aconcagua in 2001 with climbing partner Matt Nelson.
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Kelly McGrath, Guide
Kelly has spent the last five years guiding and instructing people from all walks of life through challenging and life changing wilderness experiences. Kelly has had the privilege of working with troubled youth, teenage girls, college students and retired volunteers throughout the wild west. She considers herself to be a lover of nature and people, and has made it her mission to bring the two together in her everyday life. A true believer in finding passion in her work and everyday life, Kelly strives to do what she loves in all aspects of her life.
Kelly has led trips in Montana, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Alaska. Although these places offer spectacular wilderness opportunities and breathtaking beauty, Kelly believes that there is something quite magical and unique that has drawn her to Grand Canyon. She feels at home spending time in the backcountry of the Canyon and welcomes any opportunity to be a part of its brilliance. Kelly feels that it is an honor to work in such a sacred place and looks forward to leading others in the Grand Canyon
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Matt Nelson, Guide
Matthew is a professional outdoor educator, wilderness guide and international adventurer. Guiding Grand Canyon is one of his favorite occupations, and he enjoys sharing his passion for the canyon with people every time he sets foot on the trail. He also works as an outdoor education specialist for three different high schools in Southern Arizona, and has been the volunteer leader of Tucson’s Inner City Outings program for the past five years. Introducing at-risk youth to the joys of nature is one of the most rewarding activities in Matthew’s life.
Matthew is a nature writer and outdoor columnist for a variety of local, regional and national publications, and he has over 500 published photographs and articles to his credit. An educator at heart, Matthew shares historical, botanical and environmental information with everyone he hikes with.
When he is not guiding, teaching or writing, Matthew’s interests are about as varied as the places he has traveled. Mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, spelunking, mountaineering and ice climbing are just a few of the outdoor adventures he actively participates in. He has traveled to every continent except Antarctica for personal adventures, as well as cross-cultural education opportunities. For the past two years Matthew has led groups of American high school students to Kenya, East Africa, and has led a number of international service projects to the Bahamas and Mexico. He is fluent in English and Spanish, and is working toward becoming more proficient in Swahili.
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Mike Huckaby, Guide
Mike Huckaby started hiking in the Tyrolean Alps
during summer visits with his Austrian grandfather.
Severly afflicted with Wanderlust, he has traveled
extensively in North America and Europe. Seasonal
summer breaks have given him the opportunity to
process salmon in Bristol Bay, clerk in Glacier
National Park, guide for Trek America, and
circumnavigate the Annapurna Circuit; all the while
sharing his love and knowledge of the outdoors with
others.
It wasn't love at first sight when he saw the Grand
Canyon in 1991; but awe, and a desire to know it more
fully. The Grand Canyon, the Colorado Plateau, and the
entire Desert Southwest hold imcomparable beauty. The
vastness can be a little overwhelming like you can't
take it all in. On the other hand, at times you feel
like you can sit all day in a juniper and watch the
clouds and the colors change, listening to the ravens
and the wind. Guiding is a good opportunity to spend
more time in the canyons. "I enjoy the feeling of awe
I see in other peoples faces when they get their first
view of the canyon, it's rejuvenating for me".
Mike started guiding in the Grand Canyon in 1999. He
also guides with his partner Cathy Waterman in
Mexico's Copper Canyon. An electrician by trade,
Mike's hoppies include photography, photo voltaic
renewable energy, and orienteering.
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