Embracing Adventure: Polly Hilleke’s ’95 Journey from CRMS to Family Legacy

When Polly moved from Indiana to Carbondale at age 15, she couldn’t have imagined how profoundly this change would shape her future. Polly started her junior year at CRMS as a boarding student while her parents built their new home in Carbondale. Polly reflects on how those formative years at CRMS set the foundation for a life rich with outdoor adventure, family connection, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Ask Polly about her favorite CRMS memories, and her answer centers not on places but people. “Spending time with faculty,” she says without hesitation. “The unique opportunity to share both academic and Wilderness experiences with teachers created bonds that went far beyond the classroom.”

She recalls running and studying photography with Meredith Ogilby, stepping into leadership as a Wilderness trip leader, learning to kayak with Dave Powers ‘72 and Bobby Campbell, running up Mushroom Rock with A.O. Forbes ‘69, and telemark skiing with Gordo Stonington. These weren’t just extracurricular activities but formative experiences that would shape her future path in ways she couldn’t yet anticipate.

“The teachers are so special,” Polly emphasizes, recognizing the rare gift of mentorship that comes from sharing adventures alongside academic instruction.

After graduating from CRMS, Polly attended Montana State University, where she studied earth science and immediately sought ways to continue her outdoor education journey, working in the university’s Expedition MSU program for new students. The leadership skills honed during her CRMS Wilderness trips found a natural outlet in this role.

Her passion for kayaking—first kindled at CRMS—led her to find a vibrant kayaking community in college and after graduating. There she eventually met Tommy, her future husband, at a kayaking competition. What began as a shared hobby would eventually become the foundation for their family’s lifestyle and business ventures.

Following college, Polly’s worked as a wedding photographer, spent 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, and then returned to the Roaring Fork Valley. As she built her professional resume, the values and passions instilled during her CRMS years remained central to her identity.

Today, Polly and Tommy are raising four adventure-seeking boys. They deliberately foster the same connection to the outdoors that CRMS had nurtured in her. All four sons have developed into accomplished competitive skiers. Her oldest, Kelly, qualified for the Freeride World Tour, while Daniel, Dax, and Bodie also compete on the national stage.

“Raising four boys to love the outdoors” stands as Polly’s proudest achievement since graduation. She has dedicated herself to “cultivating a love for the environment and a passion for skiing and paddling” in her children—a direct extension of the values she embraced at CRMS.

While they had long considered establishing a kayaking school in the Roaring Fork Valley, finding suitable riverfront property proved challenging. During the pandemic, they discovered a Boy Scout camp on the Salmon River—the only place in the country teaching hard-shell kayaking—and successfully negotiated its purchase.

After navigating a two-year delay, including renovation, permitting, and a fire that stalled their opening, the family finally launched Salmon River Adventure Company in summer 2023. The business now offers kayaking and rafting day trips, children’s camps, and family getaways. They enjoy hosting 20 Aspen High School students each summer, and hope to host CRMS students in the future. 

“The Salmon River, with incredible canyons and white sandy beaches, is so magical and beautiful. Last year, I ran the Main Salmon River four times, and it never gets old.”

But perhaps most rewarding is watching young paddlers discover their potential: “I love seeing the kids arrive nervous at first, then grow in confidence, find inspiration, and feel empowered through connection—bonding with instructors and forming new friendships.”

The family’s rhythm now follows the seasons: summers on the river, where they run their company together, and winters in Colorado, where Polly works in real estate sales, teaches skiing, and travels extensively to support her sons’ competitive skiing careers.

Looking ahead, Polly hopes that someday her children might take over the company, continuing the legacy of outdoor education and adventure that she first embraced as a CRMS student.

Her parting wisdom reflects the core of her CRMS experience: “CRMS is a safe place to grow up, ask questions, and find yourself.”

Polly’s journey illustrates how the distinctive blend of academic challenge, outdoor exploration, and impactful mentorship at CRMS can influence not just a career but also a life philosophy that directs one’s path. From running up Mushroom Rock as a teenager to building a family business on the Salmon River, her path illustrates how education transcends the classroom when students are encouraged to explore, connect, and discover their passions.