Ashley Drake has spent 15 years turning adventure into a life — and a business.

Co-owner of Arrowhead River Adventures in Grants Pass, Ashley runs trips on the Rogue, teaches wilderness medicine, raises two wild kids named Wren and Rosie, and is usually the first voice you hear when you call — unless she's out on the water, which is entirely possible. She grew up in the Portland area and found her way to Southern Oregon by way of international travel, summer camp, and a husband she met at both.

We talk about how Grants Pass chose them rather than the other way around, organizing international travel and what that teaches you about hosting, the joys and realities of running a small seasonal river outfit with your spouse, settling into home in a small town, making adult friendships, managing energy through a seasonal business, her life's journey from camp counselor to co-owner, a trip to Antarctica, the privilege of hosting outdoor experiences, and her go-to trail snacks. Plus her most-used outdoor gear, advice for her younger self, advice for someone who wants to live like her, and how she wants to be remembered.

Links
arrowheadriveradventures.com | @arrowheadriveradventures
hello@arrowheadadventures.com | (541) 830-3388
NOLS: nols.edu
Big Lake Youth Summer Camp: biglake.org

Active Listener Offers
Arrowhead River Adventures — Code GOWILDLY for 10% off any half-day rafting trip in 2026 or 2027: arrowheadriveradventures.com
Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d
SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com
ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips
Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast
Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Ashley Drake, Arrowhead River Adventures, Rogue River rafting, Grants Pass Oregon, whitewater rafting Oregon, family owned river outfitter, wilderness medicine, NOLS, international travel adventure, Antarctica travel, summer camp, small business Oregon, seasonal business, river guide life, outdoor hosting, adult friendships, small town life, Southern Oregon rivers, Hellgate Canyon, Rogue River day trips, trail snacks, outdoor parenting, place-based podcast, outdoor lifestyle, whimsy, Kula Cloth