1973:

Camping at a hut (removed long ago) in the Glacier Peak Wilderness on our first eight-week adventure in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Since then, over 14,000 students have participated in a variation of our original Northwest trip.

1974:

The first WV group approaching the summit of Mount Rainier. Since then, 243 groups and 2,484 students have safely climbed this magnificent sentinel in Washington with a veritable “who’s who” of American mountaineering guides.

1975:

Pausing at an old tree stump in Washington’s Olympic National Park. Since 1975, over 8,200 WV students have backpacked along this magnificent coastline, preserved through the efforts of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, William O. Douglas.

1977:

The wreck of the steamboat S. S. Evelyn on the Yukon River. Our 200 mile canoe trip down the Yukon River was just one aspect of the first teenage adventure to Alaska offered by any program from the “lower 48”.

1979:

The first “row your own” whitewater trip for young adults down Idaho’s Salmon River, a continuation of the four-day river trips we pioneered on Oregon’s Deschutes River in 1973.

1982:

Taking a break along the newly completed Alaska Pipeline on our first 1,200 mile Alaska bicycle adventure. Over 4,100 students have since adventured with us on a variety of remarkable trips into the land of the Midnight Sun.

1987:

Loading up the Beechcraft for our first ever sea kayaking trip into Glacier Bay National Park’s Muir Inlet. Since 1987, over 700 young adults have paddled with us through this spectacular area of fjord glaciers, eagles and whales.

1990:

Watching the sunset from our campsite on the shore of Yellowstone’s Shoshone Lake, America’s largest wilderness lake above 7,000 feet. Since 1978.we have been the only wilderness program for teens with access to these lakes.

1994:

Paddling with Humpback Whales on Chichagoff Island in Alaska. Since acquiring this amazing authorization on the Tongass National Forest, over 350 WV students have witnessed the most incredible whale watching on the planet.

2001:

Backpacking the Jatbula Track in Australia’s Northern Territory. Wilderness Ventures becomes the first teen wilderness travel program for young adults to venture in to the ancestral homeland of the Mangarrayi aboriginal people.

2003:

Our 2,000th student reaches the summit of Wyoming’s Grand Teton. Since 1976, over 150 Wilderness Ventures’ groups have climbed this classic peak in Grand Teton National Park.

2007:

Wilderness Ventures becomes the first and only wilderness travel program for young adults to be awarded a concession license in Grand Teton National Park granting us exclusive access to overnight backpacking trips in the park.

TODAY:

At WV, we continue our history of innovation, as we expand our offerings of new and exciting summer adventure options for young adults.