Eli Todaro grew up in Southeast Louisiana. Eli is a NOLS Wilderness First Responder alumni with specialties in swift water and high angle rescue. He has always had a great passion for the outdoors. Growing up hunting and fishing was a big culture in Louisiana, but Eli didn’t discover the true outdoors until after highschool when he took his first NOLS semester course. Since then he hasn’t been able to get enough of them. From backpacking in the Wind mountain range in Wyoming to rock climbing in Sinks Canyon. More recently Eli has taken up skiing and lives for the fresh powder. This is Eli’s first guide job and he is looking forward to exploring the San Juan’s!
Eli comes from a background of family restaurant businesses and has a deep love for Cajun cooking. He isn’t afraid to prepare a dish he hasn’t made before or adapting recipes for those with dietary restrictions. This summer he really looks forward to gathering with paddlers around the camp stove. “Breaking bread is one of the best ways to bring people together.”
Most amazing outdoor and/or wildlife experience you’ve had?
I was backpacking in the Absarokas mountain range and we had setup our camp kitchen near a stream in a beautiful valley filled with obsidian. Our group is gathered around preparing dinner and we notice that there’s movement of a large animal on the other side of the bank. Maybe 100 yards away we can see him stand up on his hind legs and sniff in the wind. It’s a grizzly bear! Only a baby but it had to be at least 8 feet tall. Following bear protocol we made bear calls out to him and he fell down and ran away! Best possible bear interaction if you could ask me.
What’s your favorite “luxury item” to bring with you camping?
There’s a few “luxury items” that I almost always bring with me when I go camping, but if I had to pick one it would be Cajun seasoning. If there’s one thing I can’t stand in the backcountry, it’s bland food. Cajun seasoning is versatile and a little bit goes a long way. My go to Cajun seasoning brand currently is “Slap ya Mama”.