Meet a Crab Apple Maine White Water Rafting Guide: Mike Foley

Many guides at Crab Apple Whitewater return every summer. Guests are often curious about how certain white water guides became involved in the rafting industry and what they do in the winters. Mike Foley has worked for Crab Apple Whitewater on The Kennebec and Dead Rivers for six years.

Originally from Massachusetts, Mike started out as many Maine white water guides do, looking for summer employment while they are in college. He attended The University of Maine at Farmington and majored in Special Education. The first two summers of college Mike worked at Pine Tree Summer Camp. After remembering several whitewater trips he had done in The Forks region with his family, he realized it was only an hour or so from college and contacted Crab Apple Whitewater about guiding whitewater trips. From day one Mike’s passion for white water rafting was evident. He quickly excelled at guiding and was hired immediately. The next two summers Mike worked as a Maine white water guide and paintball referee while he finished his schooling. Upon graduation, Mike took a job as a middle school Special Education Director. His school schedule allows him to raft on weekends in both the Spring and Fall and every day in July and August. Mike still works full time during the summer months and is a valued guide at Crab Apple whitewater.

In the winter months, Mike teaches at Dirigo High School. Mike works with middle school special education students. He spends his weekends skiing and driving a shuttle bus for Sunday River Ski Resort. Some years he coaches Middle School Basketball or Spring Lacrosse, but white water rafting is his true passion. Kayaking is on his agenda to learn this summer in between whitewater rafting trips. A natural athlete and quick learner, Mike expects to pick whitewater kayaking up quickly. Crab Apple anxiously awaits his return every summer. In the infamous words of Mike Foley, “I can’t wait to get on the water this Spring!”