Rob Barham
Rob Barham. What a guy. He is big and he is silly, but don’t let him fool you, because he is also really smart. Sure, he has a degree in Classical Percussion and a masters in Appalachian Studies, but academia is just one of the environments in which Rob can move around freely. He is a professional photographer, veteran NOC employee, ACA certified whitewater instructor and instructor trainer, and is really good at telling really bad jokes.
Rob’s experience throughout the southeast US, Panamá and Ecuador have earned him worldwide acclaim as a top-notch instructor and expedition companion. Having mastered the ability to put away heaps of food in a single bound, Rob’s boundless energy is a testament to his body’s high demand for calories. He’s the guy you look to on Day 14 of a trip for comic relief, because he’s the only one who has the energy to tell jokes at that point.
Rob spends most of his year working as a kayak instructor for the Nantahala Outdoor Center where he is not only one of the best at NOC, he also trains their new instructors. But every fall, Rob migrates to Panama for the cheap beer, good cigars and great adventures. Rob has been instrumental in exploring rivers in Panama and is one of the most reliable people you will ever paddle with.