Hillary Mosman and Lauren McCullough are the dynamic duo behind OARS Idaho rafting operations
When Grand Canyon Doris was founded, Martin Lyttonsent one of his guides, Curt ChangWhen heading out on an exploratory mission to Idaho, neither could have imagined what would happen.
Northwest Dories was founded in 1972 as a division of Grand Canyon Dories, operating out of Curt’s backyard in Lewiston, Idaho. For an impressive 50 years, he managed the company, eventually becoming paddle doris.
At first, the food was simple and the rivers were desolate. Word spread and their business steadily grew from a backyard operation to a full-fledged, sophisticated, dial-up river operation. Today, OARS Dories manages licenses on six different river stretches, launches over 70 trips a year, and the menu has definitely improved.
In 2022, after many years of dedication, Curt began making retirement plans. Hilary Mossman and Lauren McCulloughA dynamic duo with a strong connection to OARS, they embraced the challenge of becoming the new Operations Managers.
From lost cat to finding calling
Hilary grew up near OARS Dories. When she was 10, she and her sisters knocked on warehouse doors looking for their missing cat. They didn’t find the cat (he was actually home the entire time), but Hilary did find her future. That day, her older sister, Chantal, walked away with a job, and although Hilary didn’t start working for OARS until she was 15, she would get “Taco Time” and Twix candies from her sister whenever she helped buy large amounts of food for a trip. Great. .
When Hillary was officially able to work in the warehouse, she quickly took on nearly every job in the factory: cleaning bathrooms, laundering sleeping bags, driving the shuttle and managing the concession stand.
“All the skills I use now were learned because I had to solve some problems at OARS,” she laughs. “This job was perfect for me. It was everything I was good at: hard work, organization, cleanliness, efficiency. I built systems and saw the direct results of my efforts.”
The system she established as a teenager is still in use today. From dry bag labeling systems to pre-trip meeting structures, her systems have touched every corner of Idaho operations.
Having the freedom and agency to solve problems her way was a profoundly impactful experience for me. It fascinated her, and she came back season after season, growing with the company.
accidental rapids
Like Hilary and her missing cat, Lauren stumbled upon OARS Dories. During a rapids rescue on the American River, she contacted several paddle guides and walked away with a job offer. She met the founder of OARS, george winteron her first day on the job. At the end of the day, he communicated with her and solidified her positive view of the organization.
In 2017, after one season at American River, Lauren transferred to Lewiston, Idaho, passionate about her work Idaho Multi-Day River Trip.
During the season she paddled the dinghy and led trips, while in the winter she helped out in the warehouse. She could often be found with her head buried deep in the Dolly hatch, breathing through a respirator, sanding, painting and repairing damaged boats.
“Lauren had a hard, thankless, and often invisible job,” Hilary recalled.
perfect match
As Curt’s retirement approaches, Hilary begins to think about the next chapter. She knew Lauren would be a perfect fit to manage the team because of her extensive tour guide experience, excellent leadership skills, and willingness to quietly do the tedious work.
Clinton advocated for an unconventional co-management team for the two men, in which neither would be the other’s boss. For ORS’s youngest and only all-female management team, the team approach has been working well.
In 2023, after just one season on the job, OARS Dories received the George Wendt Guest Satisfaction Award, which is presented annually to the OARS operation with the highest overall Net Promoter Score.
Their partnership has both overlap and balance. Hilary trusted Lauren completely to decide which rafts to buy, how to repair the punts, and which lines were safest to navigate in rapids at different water levels. Instead, Lauren leaves all the commissary, bill paying, and master calendaring to Hillary, who gets really excited about the details of paperwork and spreadsheets.
Their people management skills are also well balanced. “Our goals are the same and the methods to achieve them are similar,” Lauren said, “but our skills are different.”
master mind
Their complementary skills are necessary to handle the complex logistics required to conduct quality river trips in some of Idaho’s most remote areas. Together they maintain six different calendars, extensive knowledge of river characteristics and flows specific to each trip, a fleet of boats, and complex shipping schedules that often involve flights to remote areas.
That’s just the surface of their responsibilities, which also include hiring and managing more than 60 employees and their schedules.
“It’s a scheduling nightmare,” Lauren said with a laugh.
“It’s worth it,” Clinton added. “We want our tour guides to have diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences. It makes everyone healthier and our communities stronger.”
“The goal they set is to make OARS Idaho a sustainable long-term guiding place, and I respect their commitment to that vision,” said Mia Clyatt, a longtime OARS tour guide. “They set clear expectations and are very good communicators.”
joy of work
When asked what they enjoy most about their jobs, it’s clear that the two genuinely enjoy working together and supporting each other. They also like the seasonality of their characters.
Summer is dynamic, people-oriented, and frankly chaotic. During the off-season, they happily return to their spreadsheets, working quietly together, strengthening their systems and planning for next season.
“Our times are full of diversity, and so are the years of the year,” Lauren said. “We have a lot of skills that we can use.”
Many days were filled with physical labor and endless repairs. Others are more cognitive. They drive forklifts, reverse trucks and manage large numbers of vehicles. They also write, speak on panels, and advocate for the protection of wild rivers.
“You have a full range of skills at your disposal. No two days are the same and no two days require the same skills as the next,” Clinton said.
Legendary Lessons
There is never a road map. The pair reflected on what they learned from their exes and explained how Curt forged his own path. “He always gets the job done, he always finds a solution; I respect him for that,” Clinton said.
As female leaders in a male-dominated industry, the two said they tried to tap into Curt’s superpower: the ability to move forward.
“Curt taught me to make decisions and move forward for the greater good,” Hilary shared.
“His philosophy is ‘You can screw up, but you can keep going,'” Lauren added.
Hilary and Lauren embody this as managers. They uphold Curt’s high expectations while helping staff and guides learn and grow from inevitable mishaps and learning moments.
“They complement each other perfectly in the challenge of managing employees and delivering the best outdoor experience to our customers,” Curt shared. “It’s been a big transition for me to be away from all the magic, but it’s very satisfying to know that these empowered women are out there.”
Curt’s legacy is there forever. The foundation he laid, coupled with Hilary and Lauren’s vision, will allow the magic of Idaho’s wild rivers to be shared with generations of adventurers to come.
