BEHIND EVERY STORY IS A WRITER WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO TELL IT. The compelling first-hand tales detailed in Explore East Idaho were authored by an expert staff with experience across the outdoor industry, from boating to snowmobiling to environmental conservation. No matter your interest or activity level, you are sure to find yourself someone to relate to among our contributors.
BRADY KAY
Brady Kay is the executive editor of Pontoon & Deck Boat Magazine and has been at the helm of this publication for over 20 years. During his tenure, Brady has tested, reviewed and photographed countless boats, traveled to all 50 states for feature profiles and is currently serving as the president of Boating Writers International. When not working, he can be found onboard his pontoon, enjoying the waters of east Idaho with his wife and three children.
JASON AND MICHELLE HARRIS
Jason and Michelle were both born and raised in Idaho Falls. They have been married now for 29 years and have four daughters. They love east Idaho and love to boat, ride their Razor and ride their Spyder. Jason also loves to golf, snowmobile and dirt bike. Michelle loves to walk, scrapbook and work at The Vogue. They are proud to call Idaho Falls home.
GREGG LOSINSKI
Gregg spent a career with the Idaho Fish & Game exploring all over Idaho. During the past decade he has expanded his outdoor wanderings to all over the globe! He especially enjoys spending time in Slovakia where he helps to reduce conflict between humans and brown bears. He often is accompanied in his travels by one of his three grown sons. He is an avid nordic and alpine skier.
KRIS MILLGATE
Outdoor journalist Kris Millgate is based in Idaho where she runs trails and chases trout. Sometimes she even catches them when she doesn’t have a camera, or a kid, on her back. My Place Among Fish, the sequel to her first book, My Place Among Men, is available now. See more of her work at www.tightlinemedia.com.
STEVE SMEDE
A lifelong outdoor fanatic, Steve Smede has spent the last 30 years exploring every nook and cranny of the region for both work and recreation. A longtime editor and writer for a variety of publications ranging from houseboats and skateparks to gardening, golf and agriculture, he served as editor for Idaho Falls Magazine for 14 years. Due to an ongoing bout with motor neuron disease, he retired at the end of 2019. He’s a lifelong photography nut who still shoots and writes for the magazine on a monthly basis.
RYAN HARRIS
Ryan Harris is the publisher of SnoWest magazine and has been in the magazine business since 1996. When the snow is long gone, he spends his time with his family in the mountains surrounding Idaho Falls enjoying mountain bikes, dirt bikes, paddle boards or hiking. Harris in particular has helped e-MTBs gain popularity in the region since 2015.
EMILY FITZPATRICK
Born in Florida, Emily moved to East Idaho five years ago and has fallen in love with the mountains and her career as a writer. Her passions include photography, reading, writing fiction and hiking the trails with her husband and miniature dachshund, Atlas.
MATT HYDE
Matt Hyde is a 4th-generation fly fisherman. His father used to throw him over his shoulder at a very young age and carry Matt to an island where he learned not only how to tangle up the fly line but also how to untangle it. Matt guided the South Fork of the Snake in the 90s and has fished many rivers from New York to California and from Alaska down to Chile. Matt achieved the top ten in the Jackson Hole One Fly Competition and took first in the single fly competition on the Utah Green River.
STEVE JANES
Steve Janes is the region’s resident snowmobile expert and enthusiast. Janes has been riding snowmobiles in the region since the 70s and retired as the editor and publisher of SnoWest Magazine for 40 years. Janes has raced snowmobiles in all forms of competition and covered the majority of North America in his travels. •