Day 1

You will embark on your British Columbian adventure by meeting your Wilderness Ventures group leaders and campmates at the Seattle airport. From there, we will take the short and scenic drive to our campsite for the first evening. With plenty of daylight left, we will set up our tents and make our campsite a home with the help of a warm fire and introductions. After a good night's of rest and excited conversation, we will head for the hills, taking one step deeper into the pristine beauty of British Columbia's mountainous region.

Day 2-6

As we enter the Whistler valley north of Vancouver, you will have trouble containing your utter excitement to explore the surrounding mountains and make the most of the plethora of outdoor activities the valley has to offer. Using our peaceful riverside campsite as a homebase, we will spend the next 5 days challenging our own vertical limits through skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and using the ropes course. Popping out of your ski or snowboard bindings to clip into your mountain bike pedals moments later is an exceptional summer experience that will keep your heart pumping and a grin on your face. With hundreds of mountain biking trails to explore and countless hidden falls to hike to, dinner by the campfire will be filled with exciting stories and memories.

Days 7-10

One of the most exciting ways to explore the westernmost province of Canada is on the many rivers flowing through it. The river current that slowly rocked us to sleep every night in Whistler Blackcomb will now take us on a wild ride through the next chapter of our adventure. Expert paddling instructors will guide us from our beginnings on a calm shallow lake to the exciting whitewater of the Cheakamus River as our skills improve. We will receive world-class instruction in paddling basics, how to maneuver in and out of eddy lines, roll our kayaks, and read the river. As we shoot through rapids and camp along the river for the next 4 days, you will have the opportunity to admire the lush British Columbian landscape of old growth forests and learn about the flora and fauna of the primitive landscape.

Days 11-13

After 4 days on the water, we will trade our spray skirts, lifejackets, and paddles for harnesses, ropes, and carabiners. The climbing mecca near Squamish is an ideal setting for the next chapter of our mountain expedition. Expert climbing guides will teach us the ropes as we learn essential skills such as knot tying and belay techniques. While improving our skills and becoming comfortable maneuvering low angle rock climbing routes, we will prepare our ascent of the famous Chief, the world's second largest granite monolith. The multi-pitch climb leading to the summit of the 93,000,000-year-old granite dome is sure to be an exhilarating highlight of this trip of a lifetime. As you sit atop the Chief, you can witness the same breathtaking view the Squamish tribes enjoyed hundreds of years ago.

Day 14

Catching a breather from our adrenaline-packed adventure in the wilderness, we will kick the mud off our shoes and hit the town with a day of sightseeing in Vancouver. The bustling coastal city of over 2,000,000 boasts many attractions such as the Vancouver Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, all of which we will visit time permitting. 

Days 15-18

Setting our sites south, we'll cross the International border back in the US, then board a ferry boat that will take us into the far reaches of the Puget Sound amidst the small island chain of the San Juan Islands. These islands, which are actually the summits of an ancient mountain range, are location to some of the most exceptional sea kayaking in the world. Home to an abundant amount of aquatic wildlife, including Orca whales, other wildlife such as bald eagles, deer and sea lions are sure to make an appearance. Here, we'll paddle our way through the string of islands, camping somewhere new each night. This is truly a life-changing experience as our trip draws to a close.

Day 19

Before concluding our adventures in the wild, we'll embark on a single-day whitewater rafting experience down the renowned Sauk River. Flowing from the snowy Cascades towards the Puget Sound, the Sauk is renowned as a once-in-a-lifetime river rafting adventure – a fitting culmination to our time together. 

Days 20-22

We will then head back to Seattle to clean up our gear and prepare for the end-of-summer-banquet. Of course, we'll take the time to visit the iconographic sites of Seattle, such as Pike's Place Market and the famous Space Needle – feasting on our final meal together at an authentic local restaurant. Memories of this incredible summer adventure will be shared over this feast as we enjoy our last night together before boarding our planes the next day, taking our lifelong friendships and outdoor adventure knowledge with us.