Expedition Members

Travis Winn | Trip Leader
Founder of China Rivers Project, Co-founder of Last Descents

Travis Winn has led and participated in nearly 30 river expeditions in southwestern China, and explored more than 1,500 miles of rivers flowing off of the Tibetan Plateau. In 2006 he founded Last Descents River Expeditions with a Chinese partner, Na Ming Hui, and in 2007 founded China Rivers Project with Kristen McDonald. He has worked for a translator and host for National Geographic Magazine, and been featured on PBS, BBC, and The Travel Channel, and in China Daily, Men’s Journal, and the Chinese edition of Outside Magazine. He has worked with Beijing University and many domestic and international conservation organizations in China on river conservation issues, and is fluent in Chinese. Travis is committed to develop river running in a way that contributes to the social and environmental wellbeing of the eastern side of the Tibetan Plateau.

Eric Ladd | Co- Trip Leader, Raft Guide
Big Sky, Montana

Eric grew up in Colorado gathering a passion for the mountains and rivers. He has fifteen years of river guiding experience including seven years as a professional guide based in Vail, Colorado. Eric has successfully guided groups down most of the major watersheds in Colorado, Utah, Montana and Idaho. Currently, Eric resides in Montana and enjoys skiing, biking, fishing, softball when away from the river. Eric was an expedition leader of the First Descent of the Salween River in 2007.

Brandy Ladd | Safety Kayaker
Big Sky, Montana

Brandy has committed much of her time to exploring the mountains and rivers of the northern Rocky Mountain region. Working in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park gave her a respect of protected, undeveloped land accessible only by foot or hoof. For the past fifteen winters, she has been involved in many capacities of the ski industry and is now a ski patroller for Moonlight Basin in Montana and a ski guide for Baldface Cat Skiing in British Columbia. Brandy has kayaked rivers and oceans throughout the western United States, Alaska, Hawaii, New Zealand and Latin America. Brandy was a member of the First Descent of the Salween River in 2007.

Jason Moore | Raft Guide, Medical Care
Vail, Colorado

Jason has completed numerous adventures throughout the world as a kayaker on self-support and first descent trips, a professional raft guide and surfer. Jason traveled to Australia for an extended surf trip where he made multiple outback crossings and found a job in a chicken slaughter house. Recently, he returned from a boat trip in Tuamotu Archipelago, Tahiti with big reefs, big sharks and big surf. Currently Jason is pursuing his PhD in Epidemiology while working as a Trauma Surgery/Critical Care Physician Assistant. He has also co-authored a medical book on abdominal trauma. Jason was a member of the First Descent of the Salween River in 2007. Jason is currently pursuing a degree in Epidemiology.

Li Weiyi
Beijing, China

Li Weiyi (Crystal Lee) worked in Chinese real estate industry for 13 years and designed the sales strategy for more than seven development projects sale design in Guangzhou and Beijing. She has worked for three major companies, in the capacities of marketing manager, magazine editor, media relations, investor relations, and as an assistant to the Vice President for China Vanke Corporation, a leader corporate social responsibility in China. She participated in her first river trip in August 2008 and decided to quit the real estate industry and join the Last Descents team as a full time volunteer in March 2009. So far this year she has served as trip historian and “river recorder” on three major expeditions and coordinated the participation of Beijing University in a “Floating Forum” on the Great Bend of the Yangtze to discuss a better development strategy for rivers in western China.

Roger & Cheryl Ladd
Evergreen, Colorado

Roger and Cheryl ventured west to Colorado 35 years ago following their passion for adventure and the mountains. Roger has been a part of the real estate and develpment business for the past 30 years and Cheryl has worked as an Emergency RN for 10 years. Parents of three, they have completed descents on many major US Rivers including the Arkansas, Selway, and the Middle Fork of the Salmon among others. Away from the river, they enjoy golf, hiking, skiing, and any other crazy adventure their kids throw at them including summiting Cotopaxi in Ecuador, descending and ascending the Grand Canyon in a day, and canyoneering technical slot canyons in Utah.

Mike Martins
Big Sky, Montana

Mike has worked in the ski industry for 8 years as a design professional focusing on the development of renewable solutions for the marketing industry. His passion for the mountains and the outdoors has led many of his clients to reduce the environmental impact of their marketing collateral. He has rafted both technical and big water rivers while working as a whitewater photographer. His favorite means of travel are biking, hiking, snowboarding or by kayak.

Troy and Megan Paulson
Big Sky, Montana

Married for six years, Troy and Megan love to share their sense of adventure and time in the outdoors together. Both fully-certified Professional Ski Instructors, Troy and Megan have a passion for alpine skiing and exploring mountains. Throughout the past 10 years, they have taught skiing at both national and international resorts, with two seasons in Germany. When the powder isn’t falling, Troy and Megan can be found camping, hiking, backpacking, rafting and kayaking – paddling rivers throughout the greater Yellowstone region. They are always ready for a new adventure and are interested in the development of alternative energies and conserving recreational opportunities on lands and waterways around the world.