One of the key skills to guiding in the outdoors is flexibility… but who would have thought that Pam and I would need to use this skill so much simply by driving to our destination? Yes, 2,700 miles does present a lot of opportunity for things to come up when driving from Montana to Alaska, but in our case, “things” being the road, went away. Flooding added to the heavy water from the spring thaw, washed away part of the Alaskan highway. What an adventure! Fortunately, we caught this at the tail of repairs – which I would like to add, were done with impressive speed and only left the roads closed for a couple of days. We were only held up for a few hours and started our bumpy, curvy, and beautiful drive through British Columbia, the Yukon, and into Alaska.
At one point, we drove over a brand new bridge. The river had completely washed out what ever structure was there before and now there were piles of boulders pushed into the river with loads of gravel layered on top. Over we went, not blind to the leftovers of the road to our left. Less than a foot to the side of the center line was now a 4ft. cliff where the water had stolen the rest of the road.
It was pretty exciting to see both the power of nature and the quickness of people to respond. Even more exciting, was doubling my lifetime bear sightings in a single day! Pam and I saw 15 bears along the drive through north British Columbia and into Yukon. 12 black bears – including one cub – and a mom grizzly with her 2 cubs! It was a beautiful day for munching the grasses along the side of the road and I assume the stop of traffic for the last few days had called them to enjoy it. These bears, along with moose, elk, bison, fox, coyote, eagles, bighorn sheep, marmot, and mule deer sightings have only left us void of caribou. We will keep our eyes peeled to check off caribou from the land list and then will move onto water! Whales, sea lions, otters, and more are all waiting for us on our Alaska adventure vacations to appreciate them for simply being there… and this is our job. Pretty spectacular way to spend the summer if you ask me.
Your friendly Alaska guide,
Aubree
Your adventurous spirit will be ignited at Whistler. Located in British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is a favorite spot for family adventure vacations. There are many fun activities the entire family can enjoy. You may start by exploring the Alice Lake Provincial Park, which is surrounded by mountains and forests. There are different hiking trails you can follow with varying degree of difficulty. The Four Lakes Trail, for example, leads you to a cedar forest while passing through four lake areas. Be prepared to spot birds like chickadees and robins and meet animals like chipmunks and squirrels.
Bike your way along the Valley trail to reach Meadow Park. Stop and relax awhile, and let the kids enjoy the playground and water park. Head back towards the village and enjoy the scenic route with the spectacular view of the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Many adventure vacation packages to Whistler involve a trek to the summit of the Whistler Mountain to get a panoramic view of the glaciers and the meadows below. You can canoe or kayak along the River of Golden Dreams and discover interesting things in nature. Take your adventurous spirit to a new level by trying exhilarating activities like bungee jumping, whitewater rafting and gyroscope rides. Kids will enjoy the bungee trampoline, balloon slides and horseback riding.
Adventure vacations in Whistler pump up your adrenaline. Your vacation will never have a dull moment when you travel with Austin Lehman.
Austin-Lehman adventures provide the hottest adventure vacation package all over the world. A British Columbia vacation gives you an ideal destination in Whistler Mountain to explore the wilderness of nature on a cycling tour.
Pedal alongside sparkling glaciers and through the quiet trails of countryside in the spectacular Whistler Valley. Experience the joy of skiing and snowboarding on the majestic mountains of Blackcomb spread over 8,100 acres of snow covered slopes. In peak season, there is up to 25 feet of snow, which makes it a perfect choice for adventure lovers. The thrill of dining at 6000 feet is definitely not to be missed while in Whistler.
Don’t wait for anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Just plan a surprise holiday for your partner. Choose from our adventure vacations for couples where romance and creativity are woven together for an unforgettable experience. Let your soul connect to the divine as you walk through the ancient forests of Callaghan Valley and relax sipping on simple herbal teas from medicinal plants. The hike to the top of Joffre Lake proves worthwhile when you look down at the lake. The water is so clear that you can actually see right through to the bottom of the lake. And if you are courageous enough, take a dip in the freezing cold water of Joffre’s glacier fed lakes. Hike through the rainforests in Alice Lake Provincial Park and spend a lazy day admiring the beauty of its grassy forests and fresh water lakes.
Learn more by visiting us online and viewing our detailed itineraries to plan your next vacation.
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