Water and Rocks is by far the ultimate in Western adventures! On this 28-day summer adventure trip, we'll travel through four states, backpacking remote forests and untouched coastlines, rock climbing in the San Juan Islands, whitewater rafting the Sauk and Wenatchee Rivers and summiting the tallest volcano in the continental U.S., Mt. Rainier. By journey’s end, we will have explored mountains, ocean, rainforest, rivers and rock – no small feat. Consider the achievements. Consider the memories. Click on Read More to learn about our own brand of summer camp where we travel together to some of the best places America has to offer, pushing ourselves and learning we have unexplored potential as we go.

This epic journey (which we selfishly assert should be a required rite of passage for every teenager) takes us from land to sea, mountain to valley, river to rock, and adventure to adventure.

We begin in the Big Sky Country of Montana—where the sheer drama is unforgettable. Backpacking through amazingly wild, remote, undiscovered trails, we weave among hundreds of mountain lakes and miles of fishable streams, looping our way through cedar forests and quaking aspen groves. Life up here is simply paradise.

We work our way over to our friends, the Hutterites, for a once in a lifetime evening with this hardy, disciplined colony of folks who maintain a self-sufficient, sustainable, pacifist life. Traveling to the Olympic Coast, dwarfed by some of the tallest redwoods in the world, we wander through rainforest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and the Pacific Ocean’s soft sand beaches full of tide pools, scanning the horizon for migrating whales. On to Mt. Erie, we rock climb the granite walls of Fidalgo and view the sparkling waters of the San Juan Islands below. Then, testing ourselves on one of the toughest and most spectacular summits in North America—Mt. Rainier, we make our ascent of the 14,411-foot peak—and see the world curve endlessly below. We finish our epic journey across the Pacific Northwest with two days of rafting down the Sauk and Wenatchee Rivers in Central Washington.  These rivers offer class III and IV rapids fed by the Cascade Mountains. We race down the narrow, fast-dropping river with calm pools, dramatic plunges and roaring rapids.

Traveling through mountains and glaciers, ocean and rainforest, river and rocks (not to mention four states), this summer will remain etched in our memories forever.

Settling In

Arrival in Salt Lake City, UT; transfer to campground; program orientation; day hikes along Cottonwood Pass; transfer to the Pioneer Mountains of Montana.

Our Adventure

Six days backpacking the Pioneer Mountains, Montana; visit the Hutterite community; transfer to Olympic Coast of Washington; four days backpacking on the beach of Olympic National Park; two days rock climbing at Mt. Erie on Fidalgo Island; four days ice and snow mountaineering and summit attempt of Mt. Rainier; transfer to the Salmon River in Idaho; four days whitewater rafting Sauk and Wenatchee Rivers, Washington.  Transfer to Seattle.

El Fin

Final banquet; transfer to Seattle, WA airport; homeward bound.

Beach Backpack: Pacific Coast in Olympic National Park, Washington

Ice, Snow Climb & Summit Ascent: Mt. Rainier, Washington

Whitewater Raft/ Inflatable Kayak: Sauk and Wenatchee Rivers, Washington