Maine Rafting and Fishing Guide: Victor DiSilvestro
Name: Victor DiSilvestro
Hometown: North Yarmouth, Maine
Age of First Rafting Trip: 23 on the Penobscot with Wayne Hockmeyer
Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 1999
What type of guiding do you do?
Whitewater Rafting, Fishing
What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors?
It has to be working with the other guides and the people I have guided on the river. I have made lasting friends at Northern Outdoors, both guides and guests. I particularly enjoyed working with my two sons, Zack and Luke, it was a blast working with them on the rivers we run and it has brought our small family closer together.
What is your favorite river to guide, and your favorite rapid on that river?
I have great memories and stories from all 3 rivers but I’d have to say the Dead River. Those cool crisp, blue bird sky October runs with the foliage… love it. Big Poplar is a terrific rapid, get past fryolator and you’re good to go.
What’s your classic Northern Outdoors memory?
So many great memories from all three rivers, but I was the Overnight manager for years, managing Northern’s overnight trips up on Indian Pond. So many of my NO memories come from those days and nights out there. I’ll never forget the thrills and spills up on the pond. I enjoyed driving the Carolina Skiff up to the East Outlet to meet the guests for lunch, making the indian sauna and late night dips into Indian Pond. The trips there were always eventful, full of laughter and made for great stories… I wish Northern still did overnights.
Where do you adventure when you are not working?
While in Maine I spent a lot of time in the White Mts of New Hampshire, I love the mountains but love my camp on Pleasant Pond much more. I enjoy fishing, SUPing, boating, I love being in or on the water. Right now I’m teaching in Costa Rica so I do lots of adventuring here, deep sea fishing, ocean kayaking, hiking up volcanoes, rafting and sitting in hot springs.
What do you do in the off-season when you’re not guiding for Northern Outdoors?
I’ve always been a teacher, this gave me the summers off to live the guide life. I will return to The Forks from Costa Rica for the summer to get back on the river.
Tell us about any certifications, special talents, guide awards.
Besides the white water guide and fishing guide licenses I also hold a rec license. I may have earned an associates degree in foosball at UMO. I’ve been told I’m a great cook. Over the years I’ve won Kennebec Part Time Guide of the Year, The Guest Award and Outstanding Performance Award.
What rivers have you run outside of Maine?
Shotover in New Zealand
Salmon in Idaho
Trishuli in Nepal
Pacuare in Costa Rica
Ayung River in Bali
Soon the Urabamba river in Peru and the Grand Canyon!
Which Kennebec River Brewery beer is your top choice after a day on the river?
Sledhead Red
Get to know more of our awesome rafting, hiking and fishing guides: Meet Our Guides
3 Responses
Riding down the river with Vic is like riding down with your dad — if your dad is the man! With comfortable adeptness that only seasons of experience could earn him, Vic will get you through the raging rapids safely and the calm waters pleasantly. If you’re doing the day trip down the Kennebec, you may not get to chat with Vic much while he’s hustling to prep, serve, and clean one of his famous picturesque and tasty riverside lunches, but do yourself a favor and shut your yapper when you’re rafting through the calmer waters to let Vic share some stories of his unbelievable adventures from his travels around the world. You won’t find a bad guide among the tightly knit, sharp and fun group from the Northern Outdoors, you’ll just find the best guide in Vic. Thanks for a great adventure to add to our travel stories, Liz and John, 7/29/18
Victor is my dad, and I can confirm that he is indeed the man, thanks for the post Liz and John!
Victor is talented , humble and overall rather wonderful. He was our guide on several occasions on the river , both eventful and memorable. In addition to being a loving father and husband he is a man of action. He may not remember this but on one occasion while we were camping in Saudi Arabia he jumped up and ran to someone who was obviously chocking we did not notice. They turned out to be ok but his action was inspirational for me. Don’t be timid , act to help others , time is important. The only issue I would argue is his ability to name a favorite beer since he seems to enjoy so many.