Born To This Life

Nov 16, 2024

Guy Robins was raised with a deep connection to the outdoors, learning fishing and guiding at a young age from his father in Scotland. His adventurous spirit led him to the Himalayas where he co-owned an expedition company and discovered a passion for mentoring young guides. Based in Idaho for the past 20 years and working as a respected fly fishing guide, Guy, never passes up a chance for a day on the river or an adventure in the mountains. The father of two, being active in the outdoors is as necessary as oxygen. And he shares that passion with others, generously.

Early Life

Some people are born to a life in the outdoors. Guy Robins falls squarely into that category. Born in Scotland, Guy grew up with his feet (heart and head as well) in every river he could find. He learned the art of fishing and the trade of guiding initially from his father who ran, as Guy explains it, “An Outward Bound-type of school in the Scottish Highlands.” In addition to fishing, Guy was kayaking, rafting, and climbing with skill and understanding before most of us learned our times tables. His earliest memories are of finding peace and purpose in the outdoors. “My father believed in Kurt Hahn principles. Hahn is one of the founders of Outward Bound and believed that the ‘modern’ educational system was failing us because it wasn’t teaching young people life skills—how to be courageous, how to live outside of your limits, how to face challenges.” And so off to a Hahn-inspired boarding school Guy went when he was only 9 years old.

Guy remembers that there were characters there—legends who had achieved unimaginable things in the outdoors—first ascents climbing and first descents kayaking—and came back to the center to offer the gift of sharing those experiences and the knowledge and understanding that they earned while in the field with others. He was hooked.

Now, 45 years of guiding under his belt, Guy is one of those legends—although he’d bristle at the word being applied to him, but there’s no way around it. Guy. Is. A. Legend.

We met all these kids living in villages all over where we guided... We built relationships around the river, around adventure. We taught them what we knew and many of those young men ended up guiding around the world and some own their own expedition companies.

12 Years in the Himalayas

He owned an expedition company in the Himalaya with his buddy and fellow adventure hound Gerry Moffat for 12 years. It was a wild and expansive ride during which they ran trips of all kinds—rafting, biking, climbing—in Northern India, Pakistan, and Nepal.

And while there, Guy got a taste for what he may love about guiding the most-mentoring. “We met all these kids living in villages all over where we guided. They were curious and would follow us in the streets while we were carrying gear from place to place. We built relationships around the river, around adventure. We taught them what we knew and many of those young men ended up guiding around the world and some own their own expedition companies.” Passing the torch, just like others had passed the torch to him.

His path to that time in Asia was a circuitous one. After school in Scotland and guiding for his father, Guy took off for South Africa where he guided for four years. Then he found his way to America where he hitched his way from one adventure to another for two years. He climbed big walls in Yosemite and guided rivers in North Carolina. That’s where he met Gerry, who had a few seasons guiding in the Himalaya under his belt already.

Twelve seasons of guiding in the Himalaya including one 18-day expedition where he met a man named Roger Crist, a legend in his own right who lived in Ketchum, Idaho. Guy would eventually visit Roger in Ketchum and loved Idaho so much that it became his home during the few months a year he wasn’t guiding in Asia. After he sold his stake in the expedition company, Idaho became his year-round home.

A highly sought-after veteran fly fishing guide, Guy is at peace on the river. It’s where the world makes the most sense to him and he loves sharing that with others. “I love guiding. I love meeting people from all walks of life. I appreciate that people take a chance when they book trips—many are trying something for the first time. If I get to be a part of helping them feel more comfortable, more capable… If I get to help them learn something new and something that will feed them… well, that sure is something, isnt’ it?”

For a man who has lived a life filled with off-the-hook adventures, having a family at the age of 50 might well be his greatest one… or at least the one that allows him the least amount of sleep! “I am lucky to have a wonderful wife and two smart, funny, adventurous children. And we love our time outdoors together. I love seeing them discover their own courage and grit in the outdoors. I love seeing them discover their capabilities. I love seeing them face their fears and find their way through them.”

That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?

Guy’s Guiding Highs

Working with veterans with post-traumatic stress has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I’ve had in my guiding career. Higher Ground is a local Idaho organization serving veterans by providing them opportunities to learn outdoor recreation—skiing, fishing, rafting, etc. I was guiding this one veteran who told me that while he’s at home, he has to take medication to get through every day. He shared a few days into our trip that he hadn’t had to take a pill once while on the river with us. That information clarified for me what I’d always known to be true in my bones—being in the outdoors is stimulating for sure, but it is also the most calming and centering experience you can have. I love sharing that with others.”
Is it parenting or guiding? Or both? But taking his kids on the river, on the ski hill, or climbing—passing down a love for the things his dad taught him to love. What’s better than that?

Guy’s Guiding Musts:

The world according to Guy: “Having the right gear can make or break a trip. I want my clients to feel prepared because the more prepared you feel, the more confident you feel. And any experience is better if you are prepared and confident.” Check out Guy’s cache to up your fly-fishing game.