Backpack the Olympic Beach

After our arrival in Seattle, we'll journey to the Olympic Beach for a coastal hike along the last wilderness beach on the Pacific coast. We'll hike through lush rainforest, along broad sandy beaches, explore tidal pools, swim, hunt crabs, and look for bald eagles, bears, deer, seals, and hopefully orca whales.

Sea Kayak the San Juan Islands

A ferry ride north will take us to the beautiful San Juan Islands Archipelago where we'll sea kayak for 3 days in the placid waters of the Puget Sound. We'll kayak to the smallest, most pristine islands where we'll see bald eagles, seals, and hopefully orca whales.

Rock Climb at Smith Rock State Park

Just 30 minutes east of the Cascades lies one of North America's finest rock climbing environments, Smith Rock State Park. We will set up our base camp in this breathtaking high desert area of granite cliffs where, for 3 days, we will have the opportunity to learn basic climbing skills and safety procedures such as movement on rock, anchors, rappelling, rope systems and signaling. Grouped by ability, we'll climb a variety of challenging routes, culminating with an optional Tyrolean traverse of the Monkey's Face.

Backpack the Pacific Crest Trail

Just 30 minutes from Smith Rock lies the dramatically beautiful Three Sisters Wilderness along the Pacific Crest Trail, clear blue lakes, numerous flower-filled meadows, and towering volcanoes. We'll spend our days learning basic navigational skills, low-impact camping techniques and wilderness cooking procedures, while at night we'll be amazed at the bountiful and brilliant star-filled sky.

Whitewater Raft the Deschutes River

Just 30 minutes from the Bend area, the Deschutes River cuts a steep and spectacular canyon through the Oregon desert. For the next 2 days, we will raft and inflatable kayak thrilling whitewater rapids ranging from Class III to IV. Each evening we'll camp beneath magnificent cliffs, listening to the roar of this river as it carries snowmelt from the Cascades to the Columbia River. We'll conclude this wonderful introduction to the Pacific Northwest with our traditional end-of-summer banquet in Seattle.

 

All the major components of this trip have been offered by us over the past 39 years.

 

Teachers/Group Leaders: This adventure or a variation of it can be offered as a private/custom trip with your own departure dates. Please contact our group desk at 800-533-2281.