What makes the Pacific Northwest Adventure special?
Arriving in Seattle, you will experience four quality activities: backpacking, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting with minimal vehicle travel. No other program can offer such variety with so little travel.
Do I need special rock climbing equipment for this trip?
No, you don’t need any special equipment. We supply all of our participants with any specialized gear needed for any activity. We will be using state of the art climbing gear at Smith Rock and receive great instruction on how to use it all. If you are interested in climbing after your trip is over you will have a good idea of what to buy for yourself based on your experience with Wilderness Ventures.
Where do we sleep while camping?
On all of our backcountry trips we sleep in lightweight tents. You will be assigned a tent partner and together you will carry the tent in your backpack, raft, or kayak.
Will I ever get to take a shower?
We take showers after every section on every trip. You will have the opportunity to shower and do laundry between each backcountry section.
Will I be able to call home during the trip?
Yes. Upon arrival, at the start of your trip, you will be asked by your leaders to call home and let your parents know you have arrived safely. You will also have the opportunity to send home as many letters as you want and your parents will be able to follow your trip through a series of updates that your leaders will write during the summer.
What kind of food will I eat this summer?
Your fellow trip participants, with help from your leaders, will create the menus for your trip. Everyone will be involved in this process to ensure a wide variety of food choices that provide a balanced diet to fuel our bodies. We shop in regular grocery stores and teach you how to plan for and obtain great food for backcountry travels. The food is delicious, healthy, and there will be plenty of it.
What will my group be like?
Your group will be the most important and memorable part of your Wilderness Ventures experience. Your group will have 10 students with two leaders, one male and one female. Our groups are co-ed and made up of students from all over the country and internationally as well. The other students in your group will be just as excited as you are about the Pacific Northwest trip and the activities you’ll be doing.
I’ve never backpacked before; will I be able to handle this trip?
The Oregon and Washington Wilderness areas that we backpack in are perfect for the first time participant. Gentle rolling mountains or long stretches of sandy beaches and a variety of route options make it the ideal place to learn to backpack. You will learn how to pack your pack so it is more comfortable to carry, how to pick the best campsites and much more about backcountry travel. By the end, you will be a seasoned backcountry traveler ready to take on other beautiful mountain ranges.
Will I see whales while sea kayaking?
The Puget Sound area offers some of the best opportunities to view all kinds of wildlife, including whales. While we cannot guarantee that you will see whales, there is a good chance of it happening. Every year we have many groups that encounter whales and other magnificent wildlife while kayaking the water around Puget Sound.
What’s the weather like in Washington and Oregon?
Most people think of the Pacific Northwest and think that it rains every day all year long. This is not true at all. While the winter months are wet and rainy in the area, we take advantage of the three months in the year when the weather is at its best. June, July and August are typically beautiful with sunny days and cool nights, perfect for our adventures in the surrounding areas that make the Northwest such a beautiful place.
