Day 1
We promise you've never seen an airport as scenic as Jackson Hole. Nestled in at the foot of the Tetons, you will deboard your plane and meet the folks who will be your new family for the next twenty-two days. People who share and magnify your own excitement will be the first to greet you as you enter the airport. From there we will load up into our vans and make our way toward our first campsite, located only ten minutes away in the magnificent Grand Teton National Park. There we will set up camp for the first time, but most importantly, have the chance to get to know each other and realize what an extraordinary group we will become.Day 2-5
In Yellowstone, we will be taking advantage of many of the attractions that make this area so famous. First on the itinerary however, will be our exploration of its high mountain lakes. For three days, we will paddle across glassy waters. While observing osprey dive for trout, we'll master the basics of sea kayaking. At night we'll set up camp on shore-side sandy beaches, warm ourselves around the fire, and hear about the natural phenomanons that make this region so incredibly unique. After we've kayaked our way across all the water we wish to, we'll again grab some showers and do some laundry. But don't worry, we're not finished with Yellowstone just yet!Day 6-7
On the northern borders of America´s fist national park sits one of the best whitewater rafting experiences in the Northern Rockies. For an action-packed day, we´ll paddle the waters the Yellowstone River -- growing closer as a team and making strong memories as we paddle with professional guides on these exciting waters. Before departing from Yellowstone, we would be cheating ourselves if we did not take advantage of some of the famous attractions found on its dry land. Of course the one and only Old Faithful geyser will be one of our stops, as well as some of the other geo-thermal features found in the area. We´ll take advantage of those quintessential sights before embarking on our first backpacking expedition.Day 8-13
Now we take to the trails! For our first trek, we'll be venturing into the Tetn Wilderness, a region dominated by slender alpine ridges and neighboring snow-capped peaks. Traveling shorter distances at first, we will allow ourselves to become acclimatized while focusing on our backcountry education. Skills such as backcountry cooking, minimal impact camping, as well as map and compass skills are all on our agenda these first couple of days. And, although we will be learning new and interesting techniques, there will be plenty of time to break and observe the abundant wildlife whom we'll be sharing the land with. Upon exiting the wilderness, we'll then have the opportunity to shower up, do some laundry and get organized for our upcoming climb school.Day 14-15
After our break, we'll waste little time before returning back to the stunning mountains. This time however, we'll be spending the next two days climbing the rock as opposed to hiking it. Accompanied by expert climbing guides, we'll start as students in basic climbing school. Learning skills such as knot tying and belay techniques, we'll then feel confident to make a an ascent towards the next day of intermediate climb school. Climbing is without a doubt one of life's most fulfilling activities; although challenging at times, there is nothing quite as rewarding and as empowering as your climbing experience with the world famous Exum School of Mountaineering!
Day 16-20
After our climb, we'll return to the high-country for one last backpacking trip into the wilderness. Situated on the western slope of the Teton Range, we'll be hiking through the pristine Jedediah Smith Wilderness, named for one of Jackson Hole's earliest trappers. Polishing and building on our previously acquired skills, we'll be moving camp each day as we hike up and above the tree line to elevations that will offer us unparalleled views into the heart of this land. Finally, after our last day of hiking, we will once again return to Jackson for showers and laundry in preparation for our culminating whitewater rafting expedition.Day 21-22
Finally, after exiting the wilderness, we´ll conclude our journey with an exhilarating ride through the class III rapids of the Snake River. After all of the time we've spent together, rafting will be a welcome change of pace as well as a fitting end to our amazing journey. Our final night together will be spent gathered around a magnificent group banquet. A great time to reminisce about our exciting time together as well as a time to say goodbye. It has been an incredible time over the past several weeks, but it is always nice to know that although your trip may be over, you have made friends for a lifetime.
