Adventure Vacations

Is there any better way of experiencing a place than cycling the back roads of a destination? I think not! 

Making your way to Old Faithful Geyser via bike will surely be a memorable part of your Yellowstone National Park vacations.  Cruising the rolling hills of California’s Wine Country, or the sea side trails of the San Juan Islands add an adventurous element to your trip that shouldn’t be missed.  Feeling the breeze on your face as you explore the natural wonders of not only our domestic destinations, but all across the globe, really helps give you a sense of peace and place as you travel.

Biking for vacation can seem overwhelming if you haven't done it before, but once you are on that seat, participating in all the elements around you, I promise, you will soon realize there is nothing better! Imagine pedaling your way through the small villages of Europe, coasting down hills to the salt pans of Peru, or biking the Michelson Trail in South Dakota.  Why not trade your 4 wheels in for 2 and see where it takes you! With so much to see and do I hope you will try incorporating biking into your future adventure vacation packages.

Your Friendly Adventure Consultant,

Mindy Vanderhoof

Your Friendly European Guide,

Kavya Bisz

Learn more about Kavya

I could really get used to waking up by the ocean (not really practical living in Montana).

We left at dawn to shuttle south to Walvis Bay where we met up with Jeannie our kayak guide. On the water early to beat any potential mid day winds was fine with us.

As we drove to our launch site, we just knew we were on track for a great day.  The sun was making what we understand to be a rare appearance along the coast.  We passed lots of birds (all of which Jeannie would tell is all about and the occasional jackal.

As we got closer to our "put in" we started seeing huge seal colonies.  Jeannie assured us, no need to stop for pictures now as we would get right in the middle of them by water.  Since they have no known predators in these parts approaching be sea, it was easy to understand the logic of being able to get close.

What we didn't realize as we paddled up was that to the hundreds of young seal pups, we were a great source of curiosity and amusement.   We quickly found ourselves surround by thousands of playful seals.  They acted like any "pup" and would follow us and "chew" on anything placed in the water.  Including my hand and Andy's GO-Pro camera (Andy should have some great shots)

We literally paddled and played with the seals for hours.  When paddling hard they would take it as a challenge and race the kayak.  When you stopped, they would surround the kayak and bark for attention.  Occasionally one would get comfortable enough for a "belly rub". Yes, they sure reminded us of canine pups, just in mass quantity.

Reluctantly we paddled back to the jeep and headed back to town.

Another "treat" for a Montanan is a beach side grill, today was just going to be a dang good day!!

This PM was again free (something we are not used too) and we took advantage of the time to clean camera gear and just "chill" on the beach.

Today was a good day, experiencing this with my son has made it one of my favorite family adventure vacations I have done so far.

Dan Austin

A few years ago my family decided we should take a European vacation.  My cousin was living and studying in the Loire region of France and our family (3 generations!) decided we should go for a little visit.  I would never turn down an opportunity to travel, so off to France I went with the family!  The plan was to arrive in Paris, take the train to meet up with my cousin and then set out by car to tour the history rich Brittany/Normandy regions of France.  While we didn’t have a set daily agenda, we did have some hotel reservations and definitely had a list of places to visit.

This trip turned into nothing less than a disaster.  We spent more time getting lost, getting frustrated, finding attractions closed, arriving very late at night to our hotels and peering in the windows of closed restaurants.  We spent very little time actually relaxing and enjoying our time in France and enjoying our family vacation.  Looking back now I can find some humor in the whole thing, but that trip really got me thinking about guided vacations.  If we would have gone with a guide my grandmother would have actually had time to savor her coffee and a delicious dessert in the gorgeous villages we sped through.  My grandfather would have actually had time visit Utah Beach.  Our meals would have been filled with delicious food, smooth French Bordeaux’s and conversation rather than meals filled with zombie like stares and frustrated silence.  While we saw some amazing things on our comical European vacation, we wouldn’t have missed so many things and there would have been much more family harmony if we would have traveled with a guide.  We can finally look back on our family adventure vacation and laugh but it has taken years.  Years! 

So here are my top five reasons I highly recommend traveling with a guide.  These are lessons learned the hard way! 

Top 5 Reason’s You Should Go with a Guide

1. No Getting Lost.  We spent countless hours backtracking, looking at maps, attempting to read road signs in a foreign language and finally finding our way just in time to miss out on whatever we were trying to find.  When traveling with a guide all that is handled for you.  The guides are experts and not only do they speak the language but they know the best routes, the best coffee shops or attractions along the way. 
2. Insider Knowledge.  Whether it is pointing out some history of the area, telling a local story or simply knowing where the cleanest bathroom is located guides have the insider knowledge on local sights, culture and hours of operation. With years of experience there is no better way to travel than with an experienced guide.
3. Best Food.  While you are bound to stumble upon delicious food in many places, when traveling with a guide you know you are experiencing the best food the area has to offer.  In many cases the guide you are traveling with is a personal friend of the restaurant owner or has become friends over the years of doing business together.  You are going to get the best service, the best table, the best reservation time and the best food! 
4. More Relaxation, Less Stress. When traveling with a guide all of the details are handled for you.  You get to truly enjoy your vacation and the time with your loved ones.  It truly makes your vacation a time to relax and take it all in! 
5. New Friends.  Not only is your guide going to be your local expert, driver, daily planner but by the end of the trip they will be your friend.  Guides love what they do and they love getting to know people from all over the world.  Going with a guide will give you an experience like none other.   

You will never go at it alone again, trust me.

Your Friendly Travel Consultant,

Melissa Ladvala

It all started with a casual conversation with my daughter's college roommate at her graduation last May. "Hey, Jacq, you should go to Peru with Kasey and me" . A couple of weeks later our group had grown from two to four, and then to five. A few more weeks down the road and our group is now seven in total, our final number ended up being eight!

I love to travel in South and Central America, and Peru has been on my bucket list of adventures for a very long time. The scenery is fantastic, the food is delicious and the locals are so friendly that I have a hard time leaving them.

In order to get ready for this adventure I have been training for the last six months. Four mornings a week I have been going to fit camp at the gym at 5:30 am. Yes, it sounds crazy, but, I have to be able to keep up with the youngsters in the group! I know that day when we climb Huayana Picchu I will thank our fearless fit camp leader Angie for all of those extra lunges. While I cant do much to prepare for the altitude, the rest of me (body & soul) will be strong and ready to trek on down the trail!

I have been so excited about our trip, that even though my suitcase is still on the shelf in the garage I have packed and repacked my bag and my pack in my sleep! Counting the days until our departure and watching weather.com!

Your Travel Wizard,

Carol Austin

In less than two weeks, I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime – hiking into Machu Picchu “the back way” via the Salkantay Trail with family and friends. This is a trip that has been in the workings for an entire year! I’ve been counting down the days until May 16^th just like a little kid counting down to her birthday. The date of departure for my Peru: Salkantay Lodge to Lodge trip is just on the horizon,  and this much longed for adventure is getting gloriously within reach…

I tried to figure out exactly which part of the trip I’m most excited about, but I just couldn’t do it. When it comes down to it and I read over my daily itinerary (again and again), I find each part of this trip equally as thrilling. Hiking to a high-altitude glacial lake, crossing a 15,000 foot pass, and visiting an organic coffee farm are just a few of the highlights that I’ll experience in a few week’s time. I guess if I had to pick one experience to look forward to the most, it would be seeing a distant southwesterly view of Machu Picchu from Llactapata Pass, a view that most people never see. I have no doubt that the whole trek will be absolutely magnificent!

Secondly, I’m excited to spend time with some special family and friends. Any of Austin-Lehman’s trips can be created as a custom or exclusive adventure for you and the people who mean the most. Seeing the world with close companions make hiking vacations all the better and something for you and yours to cherish long after the adventure has come and gone. As for me, I’ve rounded up a motley crew of my mother, college  roommate and her parents, and a fellow guide who works at ALA – talk about an interesting group! We may all be quite different in our daily lives, but we all share one thing in common – a passion for travel and adventure!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m just a little bit excited for my upcoming trip to Peru. The point of this whole blog is to get you excited about adventure and to put the idea in the back of your head that rounding up a few of your buddies may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the long run.

See you on your next adventure,

Kasey Austin

I don't think excited is a strong enough word for how I feel about my upcoming trip to Ecuador. I will be taking my 66 year old Dad on his first adventure vacation! We've done some hiking vacations before, but they were a long time ago. This will be his first full-on multisport trip at 66! I mention this becuase it is awesome, I have to give the ole man some credit for taking me up on this adventure. 

We are first headed to the Provinces of Cotopaxi, Napo and Pichincha to see our friends at Tierra del Volcán. There we will be doing some horseback riding, hiking and biking around the National Parks, as well as helping with some conservation projects. We will be staying in some real haciendas in the Cotopaxi area. (photo of Hacienda El Tambo) We will spend 3 days treking around this extraordinary ecosystem of the Condor Bioreserve, which has a considerable amount of local endemism.

Next we will be heading to the Galápagos Islands for a sea and land based trip. I think the right word would be "stoked" for how I feel about going to the Galápagos. Day 1 we will head to the National Tortoise Reserve, where we will get to view giant Galápagos turtles in the wild and maybe see some short-eared owls. Day 2 we will be kayaking and snorkling around the islands, followed by a stop at the Darwin Research Center. I am pretty excited about visiting the Darwin Research Center, I'm kind of a fan of Darwins work! Day 3 we will explore North and South Plazas Islands, making a landing on South Plazas, where some of the richest flora and fauna per square foot in the entire Galapagos Archipelago. After that we will be sadly head back to Quito and then on a plane back to the States.

I will be taking a lot of photo and video gear, so make sure you check back and see some of my photos/videos. I will also try and get some travel blogs up while I'm there.

Leave a comment and tell me what you would like to see photos and video of most! I'm looking forward to getting photos of some local boobies... Blue Footed Boobies that is!

Till next time...

Jonathan

As I was putting on my hand lotion today the smell of lavender took me back to my San Juan Islands adventure vacation in August.  After our group enjoyed an amazing picnic lunch created by our guides Blair and Toby at South Beach. Which by the way, South Beach is located in American Camp that was developed during the Pig War back in 1859 between the United States and Great Britain over a pig crossing the country boundary line and meeting its demise.  The war created the English Camp to the North and the American Camp to the South.  The two camps now make up the San Juan Island National Historical Park.

But I digress, after lunch the group jumped on their bikes and headed to the Pelindaba Lavender Farm.  You can smell the lavender before you see it as you have to crest a small hill.  Once you reach the top you see this stunning farm with rows and rows of different kinds of lavender.  I thought lavender came in one variety but I was quickly proved wrong.

At the farm you are allowed to spend as much time as you wish walking up and down the rows of lavender, cut your own bouquet or visit the gift shop where you can purchase items that are made from the lavender.

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago (a chain or cluster of islands) located in the northwest corner of the United States and are part of the state of Washington.  In the archipelago, six islands are accessible by passenger ferry operated by the Washington State Ferries system.

On our San Juan Adventure, we visit the 2 largest islands, San Juan and Orcas, over a 5 night 6 day trip which is a hiking vacation, cycling tours, kayaking trip, photograph adventure and a cruise to hopefully see Orca whales, sea lions, eagles and other wildlife, all in one!

Your Friendly Adventure Coordinator,

Christy 

There is no bad time of year to be in California’s wine country, but perhaps the best time of year to plan your visit to this bountiful region is for the harvest.  The harvest in the Napa Valley begins as early as August and can continue through early November, but the prime time is October. 

The harvest is truly a magical time to be in wine country.  There is a special energy in the air that creates a bit more hustle, puts a spring in everyone’s step while the smell of fresh wine lingers in the air.  It is the first taste of the season’s grapes, it is the hope that this year, just might, produce the most perfect bottle of wine and it is the culmination of an entire season of hard work.  It truly is a time for celebration!  It is the perfect time to really immerse yourself in the wine-making process.  During the harvest bushels of grapes are handpicked, sorted and then head off to be pressed before starting the fermenting process.  From grape to glass the process is really fascinating! 

With the days a bit shorter and the evenings a little cooler October is the perfect time for adventure vacation packages or cycling tours in the Napa Valley.  There is something for everyone in California's wine country; whether you are a foodie, a wine connoisseur, a cycling enthusiast or you are just in need of some rest and relaxation this is the perfect vacation spot! 

Cheers!

Your Friendly Travel Consultant,

Melissa Ladvala

What kid doesn't love swimming, camp fire cookouts, sleeping out under the stars and water wars! Kids (and adults) of all ages are in for a treat when they launch on this exciting Idaho Family Salmon River Raft . You'll spend the next 6 days traveling through the canyons of the Snake and Salmon River, hoot and holler while you swim the river and ride the rapids. On the banks of the Salmon and Snake hone your "corndogging" skills. Learn the history of the Snake and Salmon Rivers including tales of the Nez Perce Indians and Chinese miners of the late 1800's.  

When looking  family adventure vacations make sure to put this trip at the top of your list!

Your Family Adventure Wizard,

Carol Austin

The Canadian Rockies... Just look at that view! You'll find the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta and I must say Alberta blew my mind on my last trip there. Alberta in my opinion is one of the best, if not the best place for adventure vacation packages. It is just loaded with adventure activities: hiking vacations, cycling tours, white water rafting, rock climbing and all in the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The Canadian Rockies is also home to my all-time favorite hike, going up Sentinel Pass. Hiking Sentinel Pass you'll see Lake Louise, an unreal blue-green lake, Valley of the Ten Peaks, hanging glaciers, wildflowers, wildlife, dark green forest... I get excited just thinking about it! 

Another bonus of our Alberta adventure vacations is our amazing guides, this year we were able to get both our Canadian guides to return. Marcy is our veteran and lead Canadian guide, she's an Albertan local and absolute expert on the area. She will be guiding with Anne, an outdoor enthusiast with an incredible passion for sharing her love and knowledge of the outdoors. I was lucky enough to have both of them as my guides last summer and it made my trip having such professional and awesome guides. The photo below is of Anne (left) and Marcy (right) on the Sentinel Pass hike, with Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background.

Your friendly Alberta lover,

Jonathan

P.S. If you're reading this Marcy and Anne, thanks for showing me your beautiful country!

Just over a week from today I will head back to the African continent and my favorite country in the world of Namibia. I pretty much always get at least a bit excited about upcoming travels, but down right ecstatic when it comes to heading to Africa…  This trip will be no exception and will highlight both new regions (Skeleton Coast and The Dunes) as well as re-visit some of my past favorites (Damaraland, Palm Fontein and Etosha NP)

There are some real special nuances of this trip that is sure to make it very special.  First I will be traveling with Andy my son and it's shaping up to be one of my favorite family adventure vacations. This will be his first gig as a photographer, shooting the incredible landscapes and ever present wildlife. That’s a good start!  Next up is the unique nature of the program itself and our traveling companions.  We are traveling as guests of The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and our new partner Wilderness Safaris (W.S., The leading safari company in all of southern Africa). WWF and WS are looking to not only educate us, but seek our input and insight on the local village conservancies.  Namibia is “ahead of the pack” in how they work with local communities to create truly sustainable tourism opportunities.  The majority of the lodges are on community land and staff by locals in a partnership with WS.

I will share a lot more on the conservancies when I return and have an in depth understanding… you can count on that.

Now while this is “work”, no trip to Africa would be complete or even close without the traditional safari tour.    We will spend the first few days exploring The Dunes out of Sossusvei, the largest Sand Dunes in the World!  (this is a first for me).  Next up we will head to the Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast for a few days of exploring ship wrecks and kayaking with one of the largest sea lion colonies to be found anywhere in the world.

Then its fly north to start our adventure with the good folks from the WWF.  We will visit conservancies and camps throughout the north.  “Stalking” the elusive desert elephant along the dry river bottoms of Damaraland.  (our home for the night Damaraland Camp is the oldest JV Conservancy in Namibia and our host and camp manager is one of the few women in such a high position!)  

Then on to tracking black rhino (doesn’t that just sound cool?) out of our camp outside of Palmwag (my favorite camp in all of Africa).  Tracking rhino as part of a JV with Wilderness and the “Save the Rhino Trust” and partnership that has clearly resulted in the largest population of the endangered black rhino anywhere on the planet.

Moving on we will be headed to Grootberg Lodge, the first 100% conservancy owned property in the country. A region rich with predators, the conservancy works with the locals to be more tolerant of the cheetahs and lions that also call this home.

Now into the “real” bush and a camping expedition at Otjimumbunde.  You really haven’t experienced an African Safari until you sleep in a tent with the only thing separating you and the wilderness is a thin strip of canvas.  The night comes alive with all the sounds of Africa and is sure to keep your blood pumping just a bit more than a luxury lodge.  The “stories” around the camp fire by the locals will only help to set the stage.

Always a highlight we work our way to Etosha National Park and is 22, 270 sq. KM if saline desert, savanna and woodlands.  An amazing 114 different species of mammals are represented in the park… watering holes will set the stage for endless hours of photography literally thousands of animals.  It is about as rich of a wildlife experience as you can find.  Highlights will be herds of the largest elephants on the continent (measuring 4 meters at the shoulder),  one of the few “growing” populations of black rhino,  the trio of “Big” cats (lion, leopard and cheetah) more antelope (Kudu, gemsbok, eland and dik dik to name a few) than one can imagine and over 300 species of birds.. (including flamingos), of course then there are the reptiles and just so much more, Etosha should be on any wildlife lovers bucket list.

As we wrap up what might be my favorite adventure vacation packages we will then spend a few days in Windhoek. Here we will introduce the group to our efforts with Wheels of Change.  Andy and I will spend some time at one of the BEC’s and just get caught up with the bike crews and work on plans for our next shipment later this summer.  Time allowing we will visit with some friends running cycling tours into one of the Windhoek townships.

Then unfortunately it is back up and head home…  if all goes well with Andy, we will return with literally thousands of images and video to sort through and relive (and share) our adventure over and over again.

If I wasn’t excited about going before I penned this “blog” I sure am now…..  in closing I share an old African Proverb  “Return to an old watering hole for more than water, friends and dreams are there to meet you!”

More to come...

Dan Austin

If you’ve never experienced the breathtaking beauty of the Havasu Canyon, you need to put this awe-inspiring place on your “to-go” list asap! The colors will astound you: the reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding canyon (Havasu is an offshoot of the famous Grand Canyon), the unreal blue-green waters of Havasu Creek, and the popping green of the cottonwoods in the base camp combine to form a spectacular vacation destination for you and your family! I wanted to share a few of my favorite memories of this trip to inspire you to take an adventure vacation with ALA!

One of my favorite memories of my Havasupai Vacation that I took with my mom on a college Spring break was stepping, sliding, and climbing down the travertine cliffs near Mooney Falls using chain railings and stanchions sunk in the jagged rock. Talk about excitement: seeing this 196 foot waterfall from above, midway, and below, all while carefully making our way down steps carved into the rock through caves and around rock faces, is an awesome experience I will never forget!

Another memory I will always remember is when our guide, Stephan swam with me and a few other brave souls behind Havasu Falls. Swimming under that pounding 100 foot waterfall had my adrenaline running on high, but we soon made it under the roaring falls (it doesn’t sound that loud until you’re actually in the falls!) From there, we looked up to find a ladder that climbs to a low lying niche behind the falls. From this niche, we were able to jump through the falls, emerging mid-air for a brief second before disappearing into the deep blue-green waters below. What a rush!

Of course, there are many ways to enjoy this beautiful canyon, and if you’re looking for hiking vacations (with some camping and swimming involved), this is the place for you! I don’t want to give anymore away (I could truly continue to relive the memories) because you need to experience this wonder for yourself. Hope to make more memories soon on a Havasupai Adventure!

See you on the trails!

Kasey Austin

Now, I may be biased, because and I was born and raised in Montana, but I truly believe it is the last best place.  Every time I travel I am so happy to know that I get to come home to Montana!

If you are not lucky enough call Montana home, then you should consider it for one of your next Family Adventure Vacations!  Not only do you get to explore the areas in Montana, but also Yellowstone Park!  We hike, bike, horseback ride, and raft our way through the World’s first National Park and the surround areas!  Watch as Old Faithful Geyser shoots thermal waters sky high, examine the bacteria mats that make Grand Prismatic so beautiful, and wake up early to see wildlife exploring for food.  Nothing says Montana like bears and bison in the morning mist.

Yellowstone tours are not the only draw to this area.  On the Montana program you will also get to explore Big Sky, a glacial carved valley, and Paradise Valley, a river carved valley, pair those with the volcano caldera that is Yellowstone National Park and you will find yourself examining each geological area and experiencing firsthand how Mother Nature can create such varied terrains.  

I sincerely hope that Montana Vacations make your list of ‘must see’ destinations!  Contact your trusted Adventure Travel Companies to find out the offerings in the area, they truly are endless!

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Being National Park Week I wanted to share what Austin-Lehman is doing to protect our nation's most valuable treasures. Every year since 2010, Austin-Lehman Adventures has supported US National Park preservation by selecting a recipient National Park program and donating a portion of its profits, this year we have chosen to help Canyonlands National Park. Last year with the help of our amazing guest we raised $5,400 for the Yosemite Conservancy.

In times of reduced Federal funding (National Park programs suffered a $101 million funding cut in the 2011 Federal budget alone), ALA has pledged a $100 per person donation to a designated non-profit organization for each guest reserving a spot on its 2012 small group Arches to Moab Multisport Adventure.

“New guests and our loyal alumni love knowing that a portion of their trip fee helps preserve our national treasures” said Dan Austin.

Our Arches to Moab proram lets you explore Canyonlands National Park. See the amazing Colorado River by raft and pedal between burnt-orange sheer-walled canyons and enormous white-rimmed sandstone towers on a road snaking through Colorado National Monument. Marvel at how itty-bitty you feel as you traverse looming, crimson rock formations at Fisher Towers. Hike by ancient petroglyphs remains etched in stone, a glimpse into the rituals and beliefs of the Fremont, Anasazi, Navajo and Anglo communities of thousands of years past.

It is our privilege to be the stewards of these natural wonders and to protect something that has given us so much. Helping to make sure that these natural treasures are around for future generations. Austin-Lehman offers family adventure vacations and adult advenutre vacation packages to see Canyonlands National Park.

Your friendly nature lover,

Jonathan

There is just something about the desert for me.  It is harsh, unyielding and somehow so rejuvenating.  One of my personal favorite hiking vacations is in the desert of Arches National Park.  I always feel energized, relaxed and satisfied after spending a few days amongst the red rocks and under a radiant blue sky. 

The dry desert landscape of southern Utah is rugged and sometimes seems inhabitable, yet there is an abundance of hearty plants and critters who call this park home.  I am most reminded of these when wandering the park in the spring when out of nowhere flowers appear.  It seems nearly impossible but somehow they flourish.  It is so incredible!

While there is endless exploring to be done in Arches National Park, one of my favorite hikes is along the Devil’s Garden Trail.  If you don’t have a lot of time you can do an easy two mile round trip in and out to see Landscape Arch.  This is one sandstone formation you do not want to miss on your visit.  It is the longest and one of the most impressive arches in the entire park.  It is 290 feet across and it truly seems to defy all laws of gravity.  One thing to keep in mind about Arches National Park is the impermanence of the rock formations.  They are in constant transition.  So only time will tell how long Landscape Arch will be around; I’d definitely see it sooner than later!  You can continue the entire length of the trail which is a loop just over 7 miles long.  It winds its way through some incredibly scenic terrain and takes you past 7 more impressive and less known arches.

After an amazing day in Arches, with the best adventure travel company,  I love to settle in with a glass of wine and watch the sun disappear behind the red rocks while reflecting on my incredible day.  The evenings are cool and calm and sleep comes so easily as I am eager to wake up in the desert paradise for another day of exploring.

Your Friendly Travel Consultant,

Melissa Ladvala

Something we really pride ourselves on here at Austin-Lehman is working as a team. Whether it's in the office or in the field, working as a team is essential to our success. In the spirit of this we decided to make an adventure team for some upcoming adventure races here in Montana. Our team consisted of Kasey Austin, Ryan Morrissey and myself. First we took on the Grizzy Peak adventure race, a 2 mile ski, 6 mile bike and a 2.5 mile run. We were all in the top 10 in our divisions and it was a great race. As you can see below we got a little dirty on the biking section.

Race #2 and to help celebrate Earth Day this past weekend we competed in the Peaks to Prairie triathlon. The race consisted of a 9 mile run which Kasey did, a 50 mile bike ride by Ryan and a 23 mile Kayak by myself. 

There's always that point during a race when you are pushing as hard as you can, you don't think there is an end, you're tired, dehydrated and sometimes you think "what am I doing?" But then when you cross the finish line and you see your teammates there with big smiles on your face you can't help to think how worth it was! Also it's not too bad when you see the results and your team gets 3rd place in your division. 

Like most great things in life, you need to work for it. A saying I've heard that I really like is "conquerors of the useless", it really doesn't matter how many hiking vacations or cycling tours you do, its what you take from them that matters. 

That's why I love working with this amazing team here at Austin-Lehman, in the office, in the field or in a race. I know we all working together to to help share these amazing opportunities to be "conquerors of the useless" and help make memories that will last a life time.

What will you conqueror? Leave a comment at let us know what you get from adventure vacations!

Jonathan

I will always remember my first Yellowstone National Park Vacation. All I wanted to see was a bison, a big waterfall and a geyser.  Well I can honestly say that mission was more than accomplished! Now I have taken several Yellowstone vacations and each time I visit it feels like the first time.

Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872 and is the world's first national park.  Yellowstone has over 2 Million acres, approximately 290 waterfalls, is an active super volcano and is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states.  

Yellowstone tours provide an awe inspiring place filled with wildlife, waterfalls, mountains, trails, rivers, geysers, geothermal features, flowers, etc. You can hike, bike, photograph, bird watch, study the flora, fauna or just enjoy the peaceful quiet. You have to experience it yourself to truly understand the magical draw of this park!

Your friendly adventure coordinator,

Christy