Lead guide

He  serves as our Lead Guide with a rare combination of lived experience, deep-rooted heritage, and a genuine connection to the land he explores. As our Founder's youngest son he is, tracing his ancestry to some of the original sons of Texas, including Comanche and Texas Ranger lineages. That history is not just a footnote for Austin. It’s a compass that shapes how he moves through this region and tells its stories.

Military service runs just as deep. Austin separated honorably from the U.S. Marines in late 2024, following in the footsteps of his father and great-grandfather, both Marines as well. His great-grandfather later married a nurse in the Swedish Army, a union that brought Scandinavian roots into the family and explains the unmistakable Norwegian features passed down through generations.

During his own service, Austin spent a brief but formative period embedded with multiple Special Operations units, refining leadership, adaptability, and decision-making under pressure. Prior to the Marines, he built a strong foundation in safety and rescue as a lifeguard at the Frisco Athletic Center and began emergency response training with Denton CERT at the age of 12. Yes, really.

Austin has already helped blaze an eight-mile paddle trail on the West Fork of the Red River and participated in the discovery of large ammonite fossils in the area. He has a deep love for North Texas history, from whispered Jesse James hideouts to the quieter human and geological stories hidden along the river. When he’s not guiding, he’s usually found lounging on a remote sandbar with friends, letting time slow to the pace of the water.

 In 2024, Austin picked up a camera and a GoPro, capturing striking footage of river corridors, paddle expeditions, and the quiet moments in between. What began as simple documentation quickly turned into a passion for visual storytelling. In 2025, he plans to expand his skills behind the lens, continuing to learn, experiment, and share the landscapes he guides through from new perspectives. 

Grounded, capable, and shaped by generations of service and survival, Austin brings both heritage and heart to every trip he leads.