Short Biography

Doug Ammons

Age: 52

Home: Missoula, MT

Doug Ammons is a Montana native and has been a world class kayaker for the last 25+ years. He has done dozens of expedition first descents of rivers around the world, as well as steep creeks and rivers in the Rocky Mountains in the US, Canada, and Alaska. He is particularly known for his outrageous solo descents of highwater and extended wilderness Class V+ and VI runs. He writes regularly for adventure publications and published the book, “The Laugh of the Water Nymph” in 2005, voted one of the best outdoors books of the year by the National Outdoor Book Awards. He published a second book, called “Whitewater Philosophy” in February, 2009. He has several more in draft form, including “The Stikine”. This is the dramatic history of the attempts on the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, together with the story of his 1992 solo

run, which has been equated to Himalayan climber Reinhold Messner’s epic solo of Mt. Everest.

Doug has done seven television documentaries of expeditions for National Geographic, ESPN, and the Outdoor Life Network, four of which won Emmy Awards for their photography. He wrote the scripts for four of them, played guitar on the soundtracks of three, and won an Emmy for Action Cinematography in 1998 for footage he shot of climbing and kayaking on an expedition in Bolivia. These are still shown on American and international television to audiences of millions worldwide.

His entertaining slide shows are filled with the finest outdoor adventure photography – showcasing everything from beautiful scenics to wild action. However, what he is best known for is a uniquely poetic and insightful view of adventure sports, and where they fit into our lives. He has a PhD in psychology, is married and has five children. He has black belts in several martial arts, and is a passionate classical and flamenco guitarist. His real job is as the editor of two large, international science journals.