Days 1-2

Our trip begins at the Portland airport. After everyone has gotten off of his or her plane, we'll all assemble in the airport and meet each other for the first time. Excitement grows as everyone buzzes in anticipation to get started on our journey. Once we're all together we'll head to our nearby campsite at the base of spectacular Mt. Hood for the first night. Settling in, it's a pretty exciting evening as we continue to get to know each other, get our first lesson in setting up camp, as well as enjoy our first campfire cooked meal. Early the next morning in Bend, OR, we'll have a great opportunity to pick up some food and other necessary supplies for our first leg of wilderness travel. Even though it's only our second day together, you won't believe how much you've gotten to know your teammates already, something that will only strengthen as our excursion progresses. Finally, we'll end our day discussing the area in which we are about to venture as well as familiarizing ourselves with the respective maps of the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Days 3-7

Departing from lively Bend bright and early, we'll be getting well acquainted with the Three Sisters Range as we hike along the Pacific Coast trail. Our educational goals for this leg will be general wilderness travel, backcountry cooking, and route finding. We'll have plenty of time to discuss these elements throughout the day, but it will surely make for great campfire conversation as we settle down each night at some of the most picturesque sites imaginable. Finally, weather permitting, we'll be making a summit attempt on the South Sister before we depart from the area. A truly matchless view from the summit; at the top of your climb you'll be able to see a majority of the dramatic Cascade Range, including summits of Mt. Hood and even Mt. Rainier. With your first major trek through, and your trip as a whole off to a pretty astounding start, we'll depart the Three Sisters area and prepare for the next segment of our excursion.

Days 8-10

Following the Three Sisters, we'll shower up, do some laundry, some shopping, and then we're on the road again. Setting our sites up north, our next locale will be Smith Rock State Park. Well known as a climbing Mecca in the U.S., 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 11-12

After our lofty experience at Smith Rock, our next activity will be a great change of pace but every bit as thrilling, whitewater rafting on the great Deschutes River! A truly distinct stretch of river, we'll find all the exhilaration we need over our two-day stay here. Where perfect weather is almost the norm, we'll take on rapids with names like "Rattlesnake" and "Buckskin Mary." Aside from learning how to negotiate our way through the whitewater, we'll spend a memorable night camping shore-side along the river, reliving the days excitement while we dry off and enjoy an appropriate dinner for the days' thrills.

Days 13-14

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.