Days 1-3
Arriving into beautiful Portland, Ore., we'll quickly be off with our leaders and the rest of our group, setting up at our first campsite near the beautiful and scenic Columbia River Gorge. The first days of our adventure will be busy with excitement – making preparations for our first backpacking adventure and getting to know each other and the beauty of our environment. Days 4-7
Rich with alpine meadows, high altitude lakes and beautiful faces of exposed granite The Eagle Cap Wilderness is a fitting venue for our first backpacking experience. While trekking through this pristine landscape, we're likely to see Rocky Mountain Elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and, if we're truly lucky, back bears or even the rare cougar. Since this is the first backpacking experience for most of us, we'll take our peaceful days to learn the practical backcountry and leadership skills necessary to enjoy this and many other beautiful environments. Our experience in the Eagle Cap will certainly certainly solidify a lifelong love for learning and having fun in the outdoors.Days 8-12
Next up, we'll trade our packs for paddles and enjoy the premier multi-day river trip in North America: The Salmon River. Lined with sandy beaches and characterized by exciting whitewater stretches intermittently offset by calm, lazy stretching of open river – perfect for swimming – the Salmon River is sure to offer you the most memorable rafting experience of your life. In the evenings, we'll dine on hearty feasts accented with fresh fruits and vegetables after enjoying an impromptu game of beach volleyball on the secluded, sandy shores.Days 13-16
From the lushness of the Eastern Oregon, we'll head west towards the Oregon desert and the fabled rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park – a must-experience destination for all rock climbers. It certainly won't hurt to have the help from some expert climbing instructors to teach us the ins and outs of rock climbing in this remarkable area of high desert cliffs and crags. Eventually, once our skills and teamwork are superbly accomplished, we'll take on a well known route of the area, the Tyrolean traverse of the "Monkey's Face!" A challenging course, your reward will truly be as great as the obstacle you've overcome to get there, not to mention the unparalleled views while you're at it!Days 17-20
For the second backpacking section of our Oregon Adventure, we'll be entering the exclusive Three Sisters Wilderness where we are proud to be the only outdoor program for teenagers with permits to operate in this rightfully protected area. Hiking along the Pacific Coast trail, and enjoying great campfire conversations as we settle down each night, the picturesque sites of the Three Sisters offer a truly spectacular culminating segment to our journey. Days 21-22
Finally, our last day together as a family we'll once again organize our gear, and prepare to head back to the Portland area for our departure as well as our end of summer banquet. There, we'll gather round the dinner table to reminisce and talk about the good times had and never to be forgotten. Regretfully, the following morning we'll part ways with our heads and hearts full of memories of life-long friends, which we'll never forget.
