Ultimate Northwest – 24

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Ultimate Northwest – 24

Destination

Oregon, Washington

Current Grades

9th, 10th, 11th

length

24 Days

view dates and prices
Meeting Place

​Arrive and depart:
Portland, OR (PDX)

For 24 days, wander through an untamed and diverse landscape that simply embodies adventure. Hike with waves crashing on one side and soaring cliffs on the other in Olympic National Park. Rock climb and mountain bike near Bend, Oregon—one of the world’s premier destinations for both sports! Take a hike through the Goat Rocks Wilderness, an untouched land formed by extinct volcanoes. Learn how to whitewater kayak on the Klickitat River before heading to Mt. St. Helens to attempt a summit on a famous volcano. Finish your adventure on the White Salmon River, one of the world’s best raft rides.

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Ultimate Northwest Itinerary

Backpack in Olympic National Park

With miles and miles of coast, Olympic National Park contains one of the country’s most beautiful and wild beach hikes. For four days, you’ll see bald eagles, otters, sea lions, and seals while walking with crashing waves on one side and sheer cliffs on the other. Camp on secluded beaches, surrounded only by your best new friends, impressive sea stacks, and starry skies.

Mountain bike in Bend

Strap on your helmet for some of the country’s best singletrack trails for two days. Learn a few tips and tricks of mountain biking in a grassy field beneath the 9,068-foot Mt. Bachelor. Then choose your challenge as your group winds through pine forests before descending breathlessly downhill. There are options for every level!

Rock climb in Smith Rock State Park

You’ll quickly realize why Smith Rock attracts climbers from all over the world. For two days, test your grit on the welded volcanic tuff that comprises the impressive spires in the park. We’ll set up ropes for every ability—progress as you feel ready! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you move up through the grades.

Backpack in the Goat Rocks Wilderness

Named for the mountain goats you’ll likely spot as you wind through this spectacular rugged alpine terrain for four days! Vibrant wildflowers fill the valleys, while snow-capped volcanoes rise in all directions. Hike above tree line, where views may extend as many as 100 miles away! This is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful areas we’ve ever visited; you and your friends will make memories to last the rest of your life.

Whitewater kayak on the Klickitat River

Pick up a paddle for three days of kayaking on this scenic tributary of the Columbia River. You’ll practice basic paddling strokes and safety techniques on flat water before progressing to class I and II rapids on the river. On day three, practice your strokes on mellower runs, or move on to roll clinics and run fun class III waves!

Summit attempt on Mt. St. Helens

Students will climb Mt. St. Helens to stand on the edge of the ever-growing crater and its surrounding glacier, literally watching geology in the making. Rewards for the St. Helens summit also include 360-degree views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood. We’ll also get to hike through the world-famous Ape Caves beneath this volcano.

Whitewater raft the White Salmon River

The New York Times has rated the White Salmon as one of the world’s top places to visit. Lined by cliffs carved from ancient lava flows and fed by snow melt from Mt. Adams, most of our students agree that this is the best rafting in the Pacific Northwest. Get ready for the ride of your life!

Dates and Prices

Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/24/24
  • Return Day
    07/17/24
  • Price
    $6,495
Departure Day Return Day Price
06/24/24
07/17/24
$6,495

No experience necessary; all skill levels welcome!

Camping

About two-thirds of our nights are spent at “frontcountry” campsites, where we’ll generally have a more developed campsite with running water, toilets, and sometimes cell phone service. This may be a public or private campground. We often stay at the same frontcountry site a few days in a row.

The other third will be spent “backcountry” camping, referring to wilderness locations where we are most likely out of cell phone service and away from our vehicles, electricity, and other amenities. Many multi-day activities like backpacking take place in the backcountry.

Included in tuition:
  • All meals
  • Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, and all group gear
  • Guided activities
Not included in tuition:
  • Airfare to and from Portland, OR (PDX)
  • Trip insurance (more info here)
  • Personal clothing and items (packing lists available for enrolled families)
Challenge/fitness level

Fitness and physical challenge are subjective, so Adventure Treks does not “rate” its trips based on challenge. However, because we’ll be engaged in different outdoor activities throughout each trip, our students have the responsibility to be physically fit. We know physical fitness looks different for everyone, but it’s important to come prepared so that you and your fellow students can succeed. One student not coming prepared with physical fitness will negatively impact the entire group. In the months leading up to their trip, students should develop a routine that emphasizes stamina and sustaining a moderate level of exertion for many hours, several days in a row. Running, swimming, bicycling, aerobics classes, and team sports are all beneficial and will help improve cardiovascular fitness in preparation for a student’s trip.

Activities

Backpacking

Mountain Biking

Mountaineering

Rock Climbing

Whitewater Kayaking

Whitewater Rafting

Reviews

Lori Shapiro, parent from Northbrook, IL

Abby just loved her trip to Oregon and Washington. It was beyond just the beauty. She formed lifelong friendships, she learned new skills, she had fun, and she pushed herself to try new things. All the students got to know each other, and AT did a great job of mixing up the kids. She learned new skills and participated in hikes and other activities that she may never have done before. She loved camping and learned new skills with that as well. The instructors were amazing, including all the staff that ran this trip and Adventure Treks. She didn’t even want to come home; this trip made her summer and beyond.

Meredith Rose, parent from Pasadena, CA

Our daughter had many wonderful opportunities to meet new people from all over the country, take on physically challenging activities, and immerse herself in the communal effort needed to successfully navigate a three-week outdoor adventure. My daughter had so much fun the first time around. She was really looking forward to going on a longer outing this summer.

Diana Selig, parent from Pasadena, CA

AT provides challenging experiences, a wonderful and supportive community, and valuable life skills! Especially after a year in quarantine, it was valuable for our teen to be outdoors, with peers, making new friends, and having exciting adventures in beautiful settings. Anya said that she liked everyone on the trip and that they all got along, supported each other, and had fun together. She made friends from all over the country. We send our warmest thanks to the instructors for leading this trip! The circumstances sound challenging (with the heat wave, the mosquitoes, the long backpack route) and we so appreciate their creating a positive group experience, which was especially important for the kids after this difficult pandemic year.

Katie Scruggs, parent from Huntersville, NC

AT provides your child a mixed bag of things that allows them to grow. They are challenged physically, they learn to be an important part of a community as well as making others feel the same, they have time removed from technology and realize they LOVE that part, and they are supported by a group of instructors that want to know them and want this experience to be all it can be for them by always going the extra mile. This particular trip allowed Lu to know that she can do really hard things. She was proud of her accomplishments. AT has been a part of our family for five years now, and it has been an amazing experience for all four of our children. It has provided our girls opportunities to learn to love the outdoors, make friends all around the country, realize they can do challenging things, see the value in the differences we all have, be a part of a tight knit community, and even learn some cooking skills along the way!