The Softer Side of Western Adventures

on location: west ❖

elana andersen

s your group eager to experience the thrill of a new adventure? Explore the unknown? Adventure travel has taken a dramatic turn from being limited to death-defying, adrenalincharged, physically demanding activities to soft adventures that tone down the heroics and turn up the emotions.

Great soft adventure experiences throughout the West will energize spirits and excite the five senses.

Here are some examples of adventures you may want to plan for your group:

I

ALASKA

Warbelow’s Air Ventures has introduced a new “Arctic Adventure” package to view polar bears. The twoday journey takes travelers to Kaktovik, an Inupiat Eskimo village located 260 miles north of the Arctic Circle, during its annual subsistence whale hunt, September-October. The illusive bears gather in the area for a short time each year to forage the hunt’s remains. The package includes transportation, meals, accommodations and viewing expeditions. Warbe-

low’s offers both scheduled and group charter service. (warbelows.com) ARIZONA

The thrill of flightseeing combined with land excursions to places less traveled is a fantastic way to experience Arizona. Westwind Air Service tours from Phoenix include the “Grand Canyon West Rim Adventure,” which features several experiences. It begins with a scenic flight to the canyon’s West airport.

First land stop is a walk on the clear glass Skywalk that jettisons 65 feet out over

Discovering the Softer Side of

Western Adventures From rafting in Idaho to llama treks in Washington, groups kick it up a notch with active outings that spotlight some of America’s most scenic landscapes

Montana’s Glacier National Park offers a stellar backdrop for ambitious bike riders and other adventure seekers.

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Photos by Donnie Sexton

The wild rivers of Montana and other Western states provide travelers with a raft of whitewater thrills.

the 4,000-foot depth of the canyon. There is a visit to the Hualapai Indian Cultural Village and stop at Guano Point for lunch, hike along the rim and photo stop at a 270-degree canyon viewing site. The highlight of the afternoon is a helicopter ride to the canyon floor and a pontoon boat ride on the Colorado River. (westwindairservice.com) CALIFORNIA

Good food and drink, fitness and a healthy respect for preserving the earth—combined, these tenets of the California lifestyle will create an indulgent adventure. In Sonoma County, for example, there is a plethora of recreation options and culinary choices, including more than 250 wineries, 200-plus specialty farms and artisan food purveyors, 20 farmer’s markets, and ocean-to-inland mountain landscapes. Enjoy a bicycle tour of wineries paired with a gourmet picnic (sonomavalleybiketours.com), a casual Russian River rafting trip through villages and nature reserves (rradventures.info), and field-to-table restaurant and winery culinary packages that feature local products (fromfarmtotable.com, farmtrails.org).

COLORADO

Taking a ride on the wild side is far from rustic when vacationing at a Colorado dude ranch. In many cases it’s downright luxurious. The fun of ranch vacations comes with the outdoor atmosphere, spectacular scenery and wide-open spaces. Standard activities include horseback riding, hiking, swimming and fishing.

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on location: west ❖ The camaraderie at the dinner table and around the campfire is hard to beat.

Meals are hardy, accommodations are private and well-appointed, the staff is attentive and friendly. Other adventures may include hot air ballooning, Jeep tours, rock climbing, cattle drives, whitewater rafting, golf and tennis. The Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association (coloradoranch.com) represents about 30 ranches.

IDAHO

Can’t decide which adventure you want to do first—sport fishing, whitewater rafting, wilderness trail rides or immersion into the life and times of Sacajawea? All these adventures and others are available through Kookaburra Rafting from its base in Salmon on the Salmon River. Visitors may choose to experience one type of adventure or do something new every day. River rafting is mainly Class 2 and 3, horseback riding is at an easy pace and drift boats take visitors to the best steelhead holes. The historical immersion programs, in cooperation with the Sacajawea Interpretive Center, focus on Native American culture and Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery.

Overnight accommodations are available in Salmon. (raft4fun.com).

MONTANA & WYOMING

Both states offer many opportunities for sportsmen and outdoor adventurers at all skill levels. Options range from fishing and hunting to whitewater rafting, cattle drives and just hanging around a guest ranch. Tour companies and outfitters are accustomed to adapting activities to meet the abilities and pace of their guests. For adventure travel ideas, contact the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association (montanaoutfitters.org) and Wyoming Guides and Outfitters Association (wyoga.org).

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UTAH & NEW MEXICO

The World Outdoors organizes guided walking adventures in some of the Southwest’s most beautiful locations.

The “Utah Canyonlands-Escalante Hiker” program explores Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef national parks and the Grand Staircase-Escalante area. The “New Mexico Hiker” adventure starts near Santa Fe and follows a path to an Anasazi settlement, landscapes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe, the canyons and pueblos near Taos, Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande’s inner gorge. Both are easy to moderately paced six-day packages led by two guides. The World Outdoors also offers similar itineraries offering multisport activities. (theworldoutdoors.com) WASHINGTON

Sea kayaking through the San Juan Islands with Adventure Travel Associates is a great adventure even for those who have had no previous experience.

The crafts are stable, the waters calm, and the marine life is abundant with seals, porpoises, eagles, sea birds, otters and orca whales. Guided trips range from day outings to six-night itineraries. Accommodations are at rustic resort lodges offering private cabins with services and amenities. (adventureassociates.net) Some wilderness treks require the use of pack animals to haul camping, sport and survival gear. Deli Llama Wilderness Adventures operates llama packing treks (up to seven days) into the high country of North Cascades National Park, Northeastern Cascade Pasayten Wilderness, and the rainforest valley and alpine highlands of Olympic National Park, May through September.

In early spring, a special three-day program is designed to acquaint new trekkers with the ease and pace of this style of adventure. (delillama.com) LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

It’s Unreal How Real We Are

Listen closely and you’ll hear the centuries-old echoes of ancient Native Americans, Spanish Conquistadors and Wild West legends.