"The instructors were so much fun to be with. They made everything as safe and as fun as possible. I was as close to the instructors as I was to the students."
- Andrew Herman
Dix Hills, NY
One day you're on top of Mount Adams with 360 degree views, and another you're backpacking on a wilderness beach. You’ll also enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing and whitewater kayaking. It’s a thrill seekers’ dream come true! Top all this off with a rugged backpack in the magnificent Goat Rocks Wilderness and you’ll understand why we call this adventure “Ultimate.“
See sunsets you'll remember for a lifetime as you backpack along the wilderness beach for four days. This rocky, rugged coastline is home to sea lions, seals, otters, eagles and tide pools. Hear the waves crashing in the distance as you sleep on the beach.
This may be “the BEST day of your life!” Learn to use your ice axe and crampons before you join your summit team and head for the top. Start as early as 1 am to reach the 12,281-foot summit. Enjoy sunrise and the most amazing views you’ve ever seen! Finally, glissade (slide down) on the snow for a thrilling descent.
You’ll love this Wild and Scenic River! It follows a cliff-lined canyon carved from ancient lava flows and is fed by the snow melting off Mount Adams. Most of our students agree that this is the best rafting river in all of the Pacific Northwest.
You’ll be amazed how quickly you can learn to kayak– last year everyone (even beginners) learned how to confidently paddle class II whitewater. You’ll practice maneuvering your kayak in a calm lake before moving on to thrilling rapids. Divide into small groups so you can progress at your own pace.
Refresh a few basic skills before exploring these world-class trails for two days. The single-track trails wind through pine forests and offer fun for every ability level.
We set up a variety of climbing routes for two days at world-famous Smith Rock so you can choose just the right level of challenge. Learn new techniques and quickly improve your climbing. Jump off a rock into a cool river to relax after an exciting day.
The Goat Rocks is our absolute favorite place to backpack (and is featured in Twilight). Hike along a ridgeline peppered with alpine lakes and wildflowers. Summit old Snowy for views only seen in postcards. You'll see Mount Adams in one direction and Mount Rainier in the other. Develop your leadership skills as friendships deepen. * The Ultimate Northwest 1 trip will likely backpack near Leavenworth, WA instead of the Goat Rocks, depending on snowpack.
Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
Flights:
Ultimate Northwest 1:
ARRIVAL: Portland, OR airport (PDX)
Schedule arrival between 8 AM and 1 PM on June 25
DEPARTURE: from Portland, OR airport (PDX)
Schedule departure between 6 AM and 1 PM on July 18
Ultimate Northwest 2:
ARRIVAL: Portland, OR airport (PDX)
Schedule arrival between 8 AM and 1 PM on July 18
DEPARTURE: from Portland, OR airport (PDX)
Schedule departure between 6 AM and 1 PM on August 10
Driving:
Ultimate Northwest 1:
ARRIVAL: Delta Baggage Claim #8 at the Portland, OR airport
Schedule arrival between 9 AM and 10 AM on June 25
DEPARTURE: Food Court at the Portland, OR airport
Schedule pick up between 9 AM and 11 AM on July 18
Ultimate Northwest 2:
ARRIVAL: Delta Baggage Claim #8 at the Portland, OR airport
Schedule arrival between 9 AM and 10 AM on July 18
DEPARTURE: Location at the Portland, OR airport
Schedule pick up between 9 AM and 11 AM on August 10
June 25: Students arrive in Portland, OR (PDX) before 1 pm.
June 26: Day Hike in Lake Silvia State Park. Get a head start on learning backcountry skills, like tent set up and cooking.
June 27-30: Backpack for 4-days on the beach in Olympic National Park. Time your hike with the tides, explore tide pools, marvel at the rock monoliths, and enjoy memorable sunsets as you backpack along sandy beaches on this backpack.
July 1: Drive to Bend, Oregon through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area leaving the coastal rainforest for Oregon’s high desert ecosystem.
July 2-5: Rock climb and mountain bike for two days each (the groups will split in half and will flip flop activities). We set up a variety of climbing routes at world-famous Smith Rock so everyone can choose just the right level of challenge. Learn to mountain bike for two days near Bend, OR. We refresh a few skills to make sure everyone is comfortable with their bike and then hit the trails for two days. The single-track trails wind through pine forests and offer fun for every ability level.
July 6-8: 3-day kayak course with our friends at Wet Planet. Learn to paddle a whitewater kayak in just three days. Once you are comfortable on flat water, we will tackle some class II whitewater sections.
July 9: Logistics day. (Food shop, do laundry and wash vans).
July 10-13: Backpack for 4-days near Leavenworth, WA. Explore pine forests in the Eastern Cascades, and amazing views of the Enchantment Wilderness.
July 14: Drive to Trout Lake, WA and prepare for Mt. Adams.
July 15-16: Overnight summit attempt of Mt. Adams. Learn to use an ice axe and crampons during snow school. Your climb begins at 2 AM so you can reach the top of the 12, 281ft. summit and witness stunning views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier. Glissade (slide) down the mountain!
July 17: Raft the White Salmon River and 10 ft. Husum Falls! The glacially fed White Salmon River follows a canyon carved by ancient lava flows from nearby Mt. Adams.
July 18: Students depart from Portland, OR (PDX) by 1pm.
July 18: Students arrive in Portland, OR (PDX) before 1 pm.
July 19: Day Hike in Lake Silvia State Park. Get a head start on learning backcountry skills, like tent set up and cooking.
July 20-23: Backpack for 4-days on the beach in Olympic National Park. Time your hike with the tides, explore tide pools, marvel at the rock monoliths, and enjoy memorable sunsets as you backpack along sandy beaches on this backpack.
July 24: Drive to Bend, Oregon through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area leaving the coastal rainforest for Oregon’s high desert ecosystem.
July 25-28: Rock climb and mountain bike for two days each (the groups will split in half and will flip flop activities). We set up a variety of climbing routes at world-famous Smith Rock so everyone can choose just the right level of challenge. Learn to mountain bike for two days near Bend, OR. We refresh a few skills to make sure everyone is comfortable with their bike and then hit the trails for two days. The single-track trails wind through pine forests and offer fun for every ability level.
July 29: Logistics day. (Food shop, do laundry and wash vans).
July 30-31: Overnight summit attempt of Mt. Adams. Learn to use an ice axe and crampons during snow school. Your climb begins at 2 AM so you can reach the top of the 12, 281ft. summit and witness stunning views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier. Glissade (slide) down the mountain!
August 1-3: 3-day kayak course with our friends at Wet Planet. Learn to paddle a whitewater kayak in just three days. Once you are comfortable on flat water, we will tackle some class II whitewater sections.
August 4-8: Backpack for 5-days in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. The Goat Rocks may be our absolute favorite place to backpack anywhere.! Hike along a ridgeline peppered with alpine lakes and wildflowers. Your group may elect to summit Old Snowy, an inactive volcano.
August 9: Raft the White Salmon River and 10 ft. Husum Falls! The glacially fed White Salmon River follows a canyon carved by ancient lava flows from nearby Mt. Adams.
August 10: Students depart from Portland, OR (PDX) by 1pm.
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 Ultimate Northwest is a perfect trip for students who are currently in 9th, 10th or 11th grade. No previous experience is necessary to join any of our trips, but this trip will be physcially challenging! 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.
Will I be able to do the activities on this trip?
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. Students can choose their level of challenge, from absolute beginnger to advanced mountaineering. As long as you can comfortably run a few miles, you'll be able to summit Mt Adams (with good weather, of course!).
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
Tessa Dawson - Tessa’s first trip with Adventure Treks was as a 12-year-old student. Since then, she has been on three other Adventure Treks trips as a student, and this is her fifth year as a Trip Leader. She has led trips for Camp Green Cove, led educational trips with High Rock’s LEAP program and taught skiing at Mammoth Mountain, CA. Tessa is a graduate of Colorado College where she had the opportunity to study in Kenya and lead a trip to Mission Wolf, a wolf sanctuary in Colorado. Tessa has also taught outdoor education programs for Outward Bound in Australia. Most recently she has been working as a Ski Patroller at Park City, Utah where she was able to throw bombs and create avalanches! She is a Wilderness EMT, Outdoor Emergency Care Technician, Avalanche level 1 and 2, and a Swift Water Rescue Technician.
Cedric Gamble - Born in the Adirondacks of New York, Cedric grew up climbing, sailing, and mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. He graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in Environmental Studies. For the last six summers Cedric has led trips and taught outdoor skills classes for kids at YMCA camps in New York and Washington. His favorite adventures have been mountaineering in Chilean Patagonia, backcountry skiing in New York and Vermont, and rock climbing in the Adirondacks. Cedric is a Wilderness First Responder.
Carolyn Jackson – After four years as an Adventure Treks student, Carolyn joins us for her second year as an instructor. She recently graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Geography. She has previously worked for NBC News during political conventions as well as the Vancouver Olympics. Carolyn enjoys running, hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, skiing, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
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Josh Goldbach – Josh holds a degree in Psychology from Eckerd College and also graduated from the NOLS Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator semester. He is currently working as a field instructor for the Boojum Institute in Southern California. In his free time, he is an avid telemark skier, rock climber, and backpacker. Josh is a Leave No Trace Master Educator, a lifeguard, and a certified Wilderness EMT.
Dana Rivkin - Originally from the Twin Cities, Dana grew up enjoying the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota. Since then, she earned a degree in International Relations From American University and in Spanish language and politics from Universidad Diego Porales, in Chile. Her travels have taken her to a variety of Latin American countries, as well as Maine, Alaska, and Europe. Dana worked for Student Conservation Association as a desert restoration crew member, an outdoor educator and trail work instructor for students. Her passions for yoga, rock climbing, backpacking and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest landscape keep her busy. Dana is a Leave No Trace trainer, PADI certified scuba diver, and Wilderness First Responder.
Maddee Rubenson -
Maddee is a native Oregonian, and she has also lived in Italy and Mexico. She is a graduate from Oregon State University with a degree in Earth Sciences. Maddee has worked as a guide on Mount St. Helens and has been a rock climbing instructor with OSU. She enjoys climbing, backpacking, and frolicking in the sunshine. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Reviewed by: Bruce Leader
Date: November 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
My son, Ben was on the summer 2010 Ultimate Northwest and had an amazing time! AT is an incredibly warm and well run organization. Ben's trip was a phenominal experience about which he is still talking! He is eager to travel with AT again! Doc runs one of the finest youth travel organizations that we have ever experienced (and we have experienced quite a few!). Thanks!
Reviewed by:Shalina Omar
Date: July 2009
Rating: 5 out of 5
There are many reasons that I've been coming to Adventure Treks for three years already. The activities are great but it is the community that really shapes the trip. The students of course are a large part of the community, but what really ties everything together are the instructors. Every Adventure I've been on has been outstanding and every trip has had incredible instructors. I keep coming back to AT largely due to the instructors. Each instructor brings their own flare to the group that improves everything times ten. I find it hard to explain to my friends what exactly the community is like at AT and all I can say is that there are amazing people. The instructors treat us as equals and they really inspire us to do something with ourselves. The instructors are really what sets this camp from all the others.
Reviewed by: Claire Nebeker
Date: July 2009
Rating: 5 out of 5
When my friends ask me about AT, the first word that comes out of my mouth is unbelieveable. But even that is not enough, its impossible to capture or describe the views you see, the things you do, and the people you meet in words. I can try as hard as I want to describe my love of Adventure Treks to my friends, but honestly the best thing I can tell them is to find our for themselves.
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!
Our administrative staff welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST. Submit an $800 deposit to hold your place on the adventure of your choice.
2. We intentionally limit the size of our program, so enrollment is limited. Please send in your application early to ensure a place on the trip of your choice.
3. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child. We require an essay and 2 references from each new student, and we may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better.
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: | 24 days |
| Dates: |
I June 25 - July 18 II July 18 - August 10 |
| Grades: | 9-11 |
| Activities: | |
| States: |
Washington |
| Price: | $4395 |
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