How Many Other Guides Can Say "I Love Rafting" In Chinese?

When guests get to know their fair-skinned guide, Hank Wilkinson, sitting in the back of the boat, they are always surprised to learn he speaks Chinese.

Hank, who earned his bachelor’s degree this spring, studied Chinese language, culture and history at the College of William and Mary. The Richmond native even lived in Beijing for 4 months, and traveled the Asian country, which he called fascinating.

His interest turned to the ancients of the East after a “torture” experience with French in high school.

“I hated French. It didn’t make any sense to me,” Hank said. “I had a friend taking Chinese, and it just kind of clicked. It works your brain in a different way.”

Hank came to Wildwater in 2007. He previously spent one summer rafting on the James River in his hometown.

Hank said that, when he started, guiding seemed like the perfect summer job — working hard, working outdoors and having tons of fun. Even after finishing college, though, he’s in no rush to change occupations.

“I’m definitely staying away from wearing a suit for as long as I can,” he said.

Hank said he loves living in the woods — and living in the moment — and that seems to captivate guests, as well. What’s more, he loves the “family” atmosphere he finds at Wildwater.

“For me, the defining clincher was that it is a small company,” Hank said. “It has all the benefits of a ‘mom and pop’ store. You know the clientele and they know you.”

Hank said he’s looking forward to a great Gauley season — an extremely wet spring and summer in West Virginia are good news for dam releases — and he’s looking forward to it.

“After working hard all summer, Gauley season is like six weekends of Christmas,” he said.

Laura Bonner is “back home” with her river family.

It’s her second year as a Wildwater guide, and the learning hasn’t stopped.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the New River above 6 feet,” she said in her eCurrent interview. “There’s a lot of learning going on on my end. It’s been awesome seeing big water.”

Bonner, originally from Charlottesville, VA, began her guiding career with the Boy Scouts. She was introduced to the New River as a camp activity leader in Virginia, where she also enjoyed caving and whitewater canoeing.

After that, it was off to guide on the Yellowstone River in Montana for a summer. But West Virginia called her back.

“I missed it so much,” she said. “It’s beautiful. There’s a sense of community here. I know everyone I work with, and when we’re done with a trip we hang out as a family. We live together, work together and play together.”

What would surprise guests about Laura?

Well, she drives back to Charlottesville every Sunday night for a 12-hour volunteer shift at an ambulance service — she’s been an EMT for over three years. Occasionally, she’ll spend all day on the river, then all night on a rescue call.

“It can turn into a pretty long day sometimes,” she said. “But I love it. It’s my passion.”

Laura is looking forward to another great summer of whitewater rafting, and Gauley season this fall. She said she loves the Lower Gauley, but she might try to check out on the Upper Gauley as well.

“That might be a goal this year,” she said.

To find out more about what the Wildwater guides are up to, look them up on the web.