“I don’t know of any company who provides such a high level of comfort for the parents and the children. It’s like sending your child to visit a close family friend.”
- Nancy Crawford
Louisville, KY
Experience the real Western United States! Swim in clear mountain lakes, enjoy high alpine meadows, and check out the view from your summit. Whether it's rafting the whitewater of the Lower Salmon River for four days or learning to whitewater kayak, you will feel the excitement of this great adventure. Finally, soak in the view from the summit of Mt St Helens. This trip visits the best scenery in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Enjoy two amazing backpacking trips. Your first backpack, four days in the majestic Cube Iron Mountains, is highlighted by hiking on 7,000’ ridgelines with excellent views. During your five-day backpack in the dramatic Eagle Cap Wilderness, there are plenty of side hikes where you can shed your pack in order to swim in a remote lake or summit a spectacular peak. You will have the opportunity to lead your small group during the backpacks, testing your outdoor, leadership and community-building skills.
Learn to paddle a whitewater kayak in just three days with our friends from Wet Planet. You will learn to Eskimo roll and practice paddling strokes on a flat-water lake. Once you are comfortable with these skills, we will tackle some class II whitewater sections. We will divide into small groups so everyone can progress at their own pace.
We'll camp at Climber's Bivouac, possibly in the snow, as we prepare to climb this volcano. It is an early start the next morning. We begin in the dark. This hike is challenging but you will make the top! At the summit you'll be above the clouds and the incomparable view is more than worth the effort! The crater beneath you is still smoking from the 1980 eruption. Glissade (slide) down the snowy mountain for high-speed fun.
We will paddle for four days through the remote and beautiful canyon of the Lower Salmon River. The “row-your-own” boats are small (two-person) rafts with oars instead of paddles. Scout rapids as you learn how to read whitewater and successfully paddle the boats. By the end you, will have paddled whitewater in Idaho and Oregon
Space is Limited. Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
Arrive in Spokane, WA airport (GEG) by 1 pm opening day.
Depart Portland, OR airport (PDX) by 2 pm closing day. *Note different arrival and departure cities.
Already enrolled? Log in to the Registered Students Page for your equipment lists, paperwork, and more!
Wednesday, June 23: Students arrive before 1 pm in Spokane, WA (GEG). Drive to Thompson Falls, MT.
Thursday, June 24: Day hike to Big Hole Peak.
Friday, June 25 - Monday, June 28: Backpack for 4 days in the Cube Iron – Silcox Mountains. The highlight of this backpack is hiking along 7,000’ ridgelines with excellent views.
Tuesday, June 29 - Friday, July 2: Raft for 4 days down the Lower Salmon river with Winding Waters Expeditions. Scout rapids as you learn how to read whitewater and successfully paddle the boats. By the end you, will have paddled whitewater in Idaho and Oregon.
Saturday, July 3: Logistics day (shop for food, do laundry, and clean vans).
Sunday, July 4 – Thursday, July 8: Backpack for 5 days in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. You will have the opportunity to help lead your small group during the backpacks, testing your outdoor, leadership and community-building skills.
Thursday, July 8: Finish backpack in morning. Drive to the Columbia River George.
Friday, July 9 - Sunday, July 11: 3-day kayaking course with Wet Planet. You will practice paddling strokes on a flat-water lake. Once you are comfortable with these skills, we will tackle some class II whitewater sections.
Monday, July 12 - Tuesday, July 13: Over night summit attempt of Mt. St. Helens. We will camp at Climber's Bivouac, as we prepare to climb this volcano. At the summit, the crater beneath you is still smoking from the 1980 eruption. Glissade (slide) down the snowy mountain for high-speed fun. Celebration dinner near Portland this evening.
Wednesday, July 14: Students depart from Portland, OR (PDX) by 2pm.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary prior to and throughout the trip as we constantly improve the Adventure Treks experience. Itineraries may change due to: Severe weather, student ability, motivation and conditioning, high or low rivers, high or low snow pack, unpredictable natural disasters and acts of God, vehicle breakdowns, road closures, volcanic activity, forest fires, illness, ever changing permit regulations, any potential threat to safety, even a brilliant idea from an instructor or student. In the event of a schedule change, comparable activities will be substituted when possible and you will be notified by e-mail of significant changes.
Is this the best trip for me?
The Big Sky Challenge is a perfect trip for students age 15-16 who are currently in 9th-10th grade. No previous experience is necessary to join any of our trips! With 24 students in the group, you will be challenged appropriately because we break up into small groups for each activity based on your interest and ability.
What other trips might be right for me?
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
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Dave “Dmac” McGlashan –Originally from Western North Carolina, Dmac has whitewater kayaked and climbed all over the country and world and we’re thrilled to have him join us for a his fourth year as a Trip Leader and as our Educational programs director. He received a Master’s in Recreation from the University of Tennessee and graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School. He ran the kayaking and climbing program at Camp Arrowhead for several years before working as their Program Director. Dave has lived in Southern France and Fiji, is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and American Canoe Association Kayak Instructor.
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Allison Qubain - Alli graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Biology and minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies. She spent a semester in Ecuador where she studied ecology and conservation, swam with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, conducted a biological study in a small fishing village, and embraced the challenges of the Spanish language. Last summer she hiked across the Pyrenees from Spain to France with her sister. Alli is passionate about horse packing and backcountry skiing, and is a certified Wilderness-EMT.
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Kai Schwartz – A four-year A.T. student, Kai joins us for her second year. She graduated from Colorado College where she was a student trip leader. Kai lives in Santa Fe where she works as a political consultant. She has worked as a canoe instructor in both Alaska and Wisconsin. She also spent time in Ecuador working with a human rights group, and in the United States working for environmental and political advocacy groups. Kai is a certified Wilderness First Responder who enjoys hiking and snorkeling.
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Carter Timbel – Carter joins us for his second summer as an instructor, and he was a three-year Adventure Treks student, where he attended Leadership Summit. He is a certified US Sailing Small Boat Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and PADI Open Water Diver. Carter has volunteered as an English and Math teacher at an understaffed school in Accra, Ghana. He is an avid skier, road cyclist and fly-fisherman, and just returned from a trip to Bhutan. Carter attends Whitman College, and spent this semester in Scotland, Spain, and Morocco studying Geology.
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Amber Rudeen - Amber joins us from Keystone, Colorado where she taught environmental education the past four years as the Logistics Director of the Keystone Science School. She has a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. She led trail crews and worked in Rocky Mountain National Park for five summers, explored Europe and canoed the Boundary Waters. In the fall she will be joining the Yosemite Institute as a Program Instructor.
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Hobbes Barber - Hobbes earned a degree in Zoology from Western Washington University, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Hobbes is a world traveler, most recently returning from Guyana where he volunteered at Iwokrama eco lodge. Hobbes spent seven years volunteering for Sardis Raptor Center, rehabilitating birds and educating people about birds of prey, eventually becoming a golden eagle trainer. In the spring and fall, Hobbes is an outdoor educator for the Appalachian Mountain Club in NH. He enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and most anything found in nature, except ticks.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Reviewed by: Caroline Conway
Date: June 28, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
Big Sky Challenge was my 2nd AT trip and it was amazing. It was a great first time leadership trip for me as my 2nd year at AT.It was so much fun.
Reviewed by: Elizabeth Soffer
Date: March 1, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
I had a great time on Big Sky Challenge! As my second trip, it was a great bridge between my first year's introductory trip and my third trip, Alaska Expedition. My favorite aspect of this trip was the amount of freedom instructors gave me and my trip-mates to really make this trip our own. We had the opportunity to hone our leadership skills while still under the close eyes of our instructors, all of them ready to provide necessary guidance. And, like all AT trips, the students and instructors built an incredibly close community on Big Sky Challenge. Two years later, I'm still in touch with my friends from that trip! I had an overall fantastic experience in Montana and could not have asked for a better summer. This is a great trip for students ready to take the next step in developing their outdoor leadership skills.
Reviewed by: Sam Nilsson
Date: March 1, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 bears, a rattlesnake, and much more in 3 weeks, it has to be ADVENTURE TRECKS !!!
Reviewed by: Leah Mendelson
Date: March 1, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
Holy cow! This trip is just inexplicably incredible. I attended the Big Sky trip my second year as an AT student. Everything about it made me appreciate where I was then and there... and never want to leave! It was here that i discovered that i can be a leader. And of course, as with every AT trip i've been on, I made a family of 20-some people i will never forget.
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Adventure Treks is a program for teenagers, so we don’t allow any inappropriate language or content in our reviews. We do screen reviews for spam and legitimacy, and we will post all appropriate comments in full.
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Thanks for interest in Adventure Treks!
Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST.
Our core office staff, consisting of Dock, Kyndra, Dmac, Holly and Alice, welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Apply online and submit an $800 deposit by check or Visa/MC to hold your place on the Adventure of your choice. As a smaller, more personal company, enrollment is limited, so please send in your application early.
2. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to complete your student essay, medical form, and 2 references (phone calls or e-mails to our office) from a teacher and another non-related adult who knows your child well. We may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child.
3. Your remaining paperwork and information about your trip is available on our Registered Students Page and will be mailed to you upon acceptance. Adventure Treks is selective. Applications will be carefully reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All deposits are refundable prior to March 1st, less a $200 processing fee, for cancellation for any reason. For cancellations after March 1st, tuition is non-refundable. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance for your protection. If a participant withdraws voluntarily or is sent home as a consequence of unacceptable behavior, no refund of any kind will be granted. It is the parents’ responsibility to cover any additional travel expenses.
Click map to enlarge
| Duration: | 22 days |
| Dates: | June 23 - July 14 |
| Ages: | 15-16 |
| Activities: | Whitewater Rafting Whitewater Kayaking Backpacking Mt St Helens |
| States: |
Montana |
| Price: | US $3,650.00 |
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