Winter is the time to plan your summer
adventure. Ask the right questions now and put some thought into what you’ll
take with you, and you’ll be more relaxed before you even start your
vacation.
What to Ask
These questions will help you decide which
company to go with and which trip to take. First, make sure you are talking
to the right person. Ask to speak with an owner or guide, and you’ll get
more detailed information about the trip you are interested in. Have these
questions (and others of your own) prepared each time you call an outfitter.
Take notes so you can compare companies and call back later with follow up
questions.
1
How long has the company been in business? New outfitters and guides
aren’t necessarily bad, but experience is always a plus.
2 How long have they been running the trip you are interested in? If it’s a
new trip for the company, they may not have worked out all the logistical
bugs.
3 What is the group size and guest to guide ratio? These can be crucial to
a good trip. Groups can range from 2 to more than 30. Make sure the group size is one
you are comfortable with. The fewer guests per guide, the more the guides
can customize the trip to you. Four to six guests per guide is a decent
average. Anything under that is excellent.
4
What type of food is served on the trip? Food styles can vary widely, but
most companies will offer vegetarian options and accommodate any special
needs. If you do have special requests or allergies, send the company a
written copy of what you can and can’t eat – be very specific. You can’t be
sure a phone conversation with the office will be correctly passed on to the
guides.
5 What type of medical training do the guides have? For a wilderness
adventure, your guides should have a minimum of Wilderness First Aid or
Wilderness First Responder. Don’t trust your life to someone with a one-day
basic first aid course.
6
How involved will you be in the trip? Will you be setting up your own tent,
involved with cooking, and helping out in other ways, or will the guides do
everything? Choose a company that will let you do as much or as little as
you want.
What to Bring
What to take on a new adventure is always
an issue, especially if you haven’t been with the outfitter before. Your
outfitter should provide you with a detailed gear list of what they supply
and what you should bring. Generally, it is good to follow these lists
closely. Try to minimize what you take. Traveling light means less to lug
around and worry about.
There may be some hard to find items on the gear list. Ask the outfitter if
the item will be easier to find at the trip location. For example, on a
river trip through the Alaskan wilderness, knee-high rubber boots are sure
to be on the list. They may be hard to come by in New York City, but every
town in Alaska has them. Here are a few items that are essential on almost
any trip.
1
A good attitude. A positive outlook is worth more than three bags of
expensive gear and high-tech clothing. Be flexible and ready for anything—that’s why they call it adventure travel!
2 Gore-Tex, Capilene, etc. If the trip poses the possibility of inclement
weather, high-tech rain and cold weather gear can be worth its weight in
gold. If you don’t already own some, consider investing in it. You will get
years of use from it, and you won’t be miserable in a $20 plastic poncho!
3
A good book. During down time or rainy days, a book is a welcome refuge.
Before you go, ask the outfitter for the titles of good books about the area
you’ll be exploring.
4 Headlamp. Headlamps are lightweight and relatively inexpensive, and they
beat flashlights by a country mile. You can find your way around camp or
find your socks at the bottom of your bag, without straining your mouth
trying to hold a flashlight with your teeth!
5
Comfort food. Most trips have food in abundance, but sometimes having your
favorite energy bar or snack can make things seem a little brighter.
6
Prescriptions or vitamins. If you have important prescriptions or
supplements, bring extra and give some to the trip leader for safekeeping.
If one supply is lost or damaged you’ll still have a backup.
What to Leave
Sometimes what you leave behind can be as important as what you bring.
Remember you're going on a trip to get away from everyday life—try to leave
these things behind and you’ll have an all around more enjoyable trip.
1 Work, stress,
and worries. Easier said than done, right? It might be hard to
quit thinking about upcoming deadlines, house and car payments, or family
worries, but there isn’t much you can do about any of it from the Colorado
backcountry. Try to enjoy where you are and what you are doing, and you’ll
find yourself more relaxed and better able to deal with whatever is waiting
for you when you get home.
2 Cell phones, CD players, laptops, gameboys, etc. Leave the electronic
gadgets behind and you will see, hear, and experience more on your trip.
You’ve gone to some trouble to make it on this adventure, be sure you don’t
miss seeing a grizzly bear or the northern lights because you were checking
email.
3 Jewelry. You're going to be active, and expensive or sentimental items
like rings, necklaces, or bracelets can be easily lost or broken. Leave them
at home or in a hotel lock-box.
4 Your watch. If you really want a relaxing, stress-free trip, take off
your watch. Leave it in the hotel or at the bottom of your bag and don’t
think about it. You’re paying guides to think about when you’ll eat, where
you’ll camp, and if you’ll meet the car in time. Let them worry about the
time, you won’t believe how freeing it feels!
State outfitters and guides organizations, such as the
Idaho
Outfitters and Guides Association, are good places to start
your search for a reputable adventure travel company. By doing some research
and following these tips, you're sure to have a more enjoyable adventure
trip.
Travis Scott grew up in Montana and
Idaho, and has spent over ten years guiding whitewater rafting, hiking,
mountain biking, and horse-packing trips in Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. He
now lives in Ketchum, Idaho, and enjoys the great access to hiking, skiing,
and kayaking. He can be reached at
twscott@wildmail.com.
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