Montana Vacations

Exiting out of Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam early Wednesday morning, I was met by the blowing wind and light snow of a not-so-spring-like day in the blustery Netherlands. At the end of March, the weather seems just not able to make up its mind, just as its doing back home in Montana right about now. I search the rows of taxis and busses for my friend and Austin-Lehman’s European Operations Manager, Ron van Dijk. All of a sudden, a familiar voice calls out from across the way. Sure enough, Ron is here, right on time, and we’re ready to drive the 1.5 hours southeast to Nijmegen, his home town.

We had previously decided that it would be a great idea to bring an American over to Europe to attend the annual European spring guide training held at Ron’s office in the middle of town. Our director had popped in a few years before, but otherwise Ron (who’s been managing operations in Europe for decades) had been handling guide training, quite well I might add, with few influences from any “outside forces” for years and years.

Now, I must tell you, I had my qualms about attending our European training. Our operations are run a bit differently in Europe since we feature mostly biking trips in Europe versus more multisport trips in the US. Plus, what other learning’s would I be able to pass on to our most seasoned guides in the business, like Desiree Jansen and Anneke Peelen who’ve been guiding ALA’s (and previously Eurobike’s) trips for more than 20 years each? Wow! I was quite relieved to know that I had guided one of our Austria Family Tours the previous summer, so I at least had an idea about the “behind-the-scenes” magic of a European trip, and the differences between running an Austrian tour versus a Montana trip. Plus, my experience as both a guide in the field and as a member of the esteemed ALA office staff couldn’t hurt me either, right?

I realized as soon as our European guides started filtering into the room one by one, big hello’s and hugs to be had by all, that I had nothing to fear.  These were my fellow guides, even if not on the same continent, and they had nothing but smiles, encouragement, and inspiration to provide. What a team to be a part of! What friends to have across the ocean in a foreign land! I have nothing but good things to say about each and every one of our European guides – what amazing leaders and human beings in general!

Over the next two days, Ron and I would proceed to educate the tourism industry’s finest guides, covering every little detail of customer service, problem solving, and logistical management. Everything from the well-known ALA “WOW” factor to marketing efforts were covered. We jumped on the Austin-Lehman Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr accounts for an online tour, and stressed the importance of communication among fellow guides, hotel and restaurant staff, and our offices in both Nijmegen and Billings.  Van and bicycle safety, food preparation, “sweet dreams”, paperwork, and photography became the focal points of conversation (among many other important items). Most of all, we shared our stories and advice with other guides, new and seasoned alike, providing all with inspiration for the upcoming 2013 season.

Overall, I took the following away: tour guides work HARD, just as hard as anyone I know, to provide Austin-Lehman’s guests with the perfect vacation. Our slogan, “the toughest part is going home” could not be truer in any sense of the phrase. As I sit here typing this blog on my flight home, I can’t help but be excited and motivated for the upcoming season, AND I’m not even done yet! Our domestic (U.S. and Canada) guide training is coming up in May and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with all of those closer to home. Better yet, Ron van Dijk himself will be flying to Billings to take part in our guide training for the first time. I can’t wait to begin the whole process over again, only this time, at home!

Hope you’re as stoked as I am for the upcoming vacation season. I can personally tell you that because of your guides, it’s going to be a good one…

Tot ziens!

Kasey Austin

Did you know that one of our country’s treasures is part of a disappearing act? Scientists are predicting that the last glacier in Glacier National Park will melt by 2030! Only open approximately 100 days a year, the time is ticking to visit this remote haven.

Lucky for us, there is still an opportunity to freeze time in Glacier on the Austin Lehman Montana Family Glacier National Park trip. Hotels will transform into living museums once you step inside. The “parketecture” of the lodges will take you back to a simpler time instantly. Unplug and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of a real vacation from days past.

From the rustic, quaint rooms of the McDonald Lodge after an antique red jammer bus ride up the iconic Going To The Sun Road, to the ultra-cushy Grouse Mountain Lodge, there will be plenty of memories to share around the dinner table long after you adventure is over.

There is just something special that happens when we disconnect – we really RE connect! It doesn’t get any better than relaxing on the shore of Two Medicine Lake, and truly leaving it all behind. The smiles and miles keep coming as we hike, bike and raft this International Peace Park.

Known as the ‘Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park is the only place in the lower 48 States to still see the original wildlife and predators that the first European settlers saw. As the weather continues to warm, and glaciers eventually melt, eco systems and wildlife will also be affected. Can’t you just imagine exploring the frontier and getting glimpses of the same beauty as our ancestors before us? The park also boasts one of the highest densities of grizzlies in the world, offering post card worthy pictures and legendary campfire stories if you are lucky enough to see to see one.

We hope you’ll take us up on our open invitation to join us for the adventure of your lifetime in Glacier National Park before its namesake is lost forever!

1. Fewer Crowds.  Not only does Yellowstone take on a whole new look in the winter, there are less people there to see it, meaning more space for you to enjoy.  

2. You get to ride in a snowcoach. No doubt the frigid temperatures scare some people away from taking a Yellowstone winter vacation.  However, nothing beats enjoying this unique perspective of the park from a heated, comfortable snowcoach.  The first snowcoach was patented in 1939 by J. Armand Bombardier (hence the Bombardier Snowbus), and was first brought to Yellowstone in 1955.  While the snowcoach has been much updated, you can still see a few of the original 1955 fleet cruising around. In fact, you may even have the chance to ride in one!



3. Frosted bison.  That’s right, frosted bison.  The Yellowstone Bison are famous, and seeing them hanging out around the thermal pools, covered in a dusting of snow, is pretty darn cool, and an incredible opportunity for the professional and casual photographer alike.  

4. Bald Eagles are WAY easier to see in the winter. Bald Eagles are probably the most incredible birds we have in this country (I know that’s a statement several people might debate), and seeing them in person (or bird) is a unique and unforgettable experience.

5. Snow Shoeing the terrace loop at Mammoth Hot Springs. Take in the white, orange, and yellow limestone travertine formations, constantly changing over time, on the first day of your Yellowstone Winter trip.  It will set the tone for five days of adventure and exploration in Yellowstone’s winter wonderland!



6. Cross Country Skiing around the Old Faithful boardwalks.  Marvel as Old Faithful, surrounded by a blanket of snow, erupts, and glide past its fellow neighbors, as you cross country ski in the Upper Geyser Basin.

7. Hot Chocolate by the fire at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. After an exciting day of cross country skiing, relax, out your feet up, and get warm with a delicious cup of hot chocolate by the inviting fireplace in the lobby of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

8. Geysers are steamier in the winter.  Steamy geysers attract a lot of wildlife, who use the heat to keep warm in the winter.  Keep an eye out for bison, elk, coyote and foxes around these natural hot (really hot) springs.

9. Dogsledding.  Experience the exquisiteness of the Paradise Valley as you glide on a sled pulled by eight friendly huskies. Who wouldn’t want to do that??

10. Chico Hot Springs in the winter.  There’s no better way to end your trip than a night at Chico Hot Springs.  Relax in the naturally heated waters of the hot springs, and follow up your soak by indulging in one of the best dinners in Montana at the Chico Dining Room.

This past July, my family- myself, my husband and our daughters ages 5 & 7, took our first family adventure vacation- the Montana Family Adventure.  To say it was life-changing really isn’t far off.  But beyond that, our terrific guides- Patrick, James and John- taught us quite a few things…  About Montana, about nature and about ourselves.

If you’re lost in the woods, you should start liken’ the lichen
Not that we were in any danger of going hungry (see below), Patrick gave us all a nature lesson the first day about lichen, an edible fungus that, though not the most tasty of substances, is filled with nutrients.  Just in case you’re lost in the woods without food.  Of course, he also tricked us with mountain goat poo, it was a friendly prank, which tasted surprisingly like carob. 

There are no poisonous snakes in western Montana
To say I don’t like snakes would be an understatement.  I am terrified of them.  So I was (very) nervous about hiking through the wilds of Yellowstone.  In fact, one of my first questions was about snakes.  Patrick immediately put my fears to rest when he told us that western Montana isn’t warm enough for poisonous snakes.  (Yea!)

Don’t run from a griz

                  “Get your kids and start walking slowly backward towards the vans,” Patrick said. 

We had stopped at a pullout- along with at least a dozen other people- due to a Grizzly sighting.  As we stood safely at the edge of the road, hoping for a glimpse, others were walking up and over the hill to get an “up close and personal” look.  And then Patrick saw one of the men come running back over the hill.

“I was sure we would see an attack,” Patrick told me later.  “You never run from a Griz, they will chase you.”  So, what should you do?  Apparently, you slowly back away, hoping the bear is bluffing.  If he does charge, curl in a ball and play dead.  (Yeah, I think my “flight” instinct would overrule that, too!)

There’s flat…  and then there’s “Montana flat”
We were prepared for most of our hikes.  But there were a couple that we were told were flat.  Of course, it was our guide John who told us that.  What we didn’t take into consideration was that John had climbed Mount Everest, so a somewhat challenging hike to us, was flat to him.  About half way through the week we knew to ask, “Is it really flat, or is it Montana flat?” meaning no really steep parts but still uphill.

Humans, though the most intelligent species on the planet, can be incredibly dumb
Not including the bear incident, we witnessed, first hand, the ignorance of people in the wild.  I was sure we would see a young man get gored by a buffalo.  Tip:  stay in your car when a herd is crossing the road.  We also saw entire families creeping way too close to Black Bear and quite a few adults walking within feet of a Bull Elk so they could get good photos with their iPhones.

The tales our guides shared put these to shame- and they didn’t end so well.  “People can do really stupid things here,”  James said.  “It’s like they think the animals are tame and the rangers let them out every day for the tourists to see.”

It is possible to be pampered at 12,000 feet when you’re covered in dust
When you’re covered head to toe in dust, some of which is turning to cakey mud as rivulets of sweat trickle down your body, it’s difficult to imagine feeling pampered.  And then your guides bring out silver trays of iced coffee.  Or they bring you wet wipes followed by sliced apples with caramel dipping sauce.  Not only do you feel pampered, but you are so thankful you didn’t have to carry it up yourself!

The Pied Piper is real
Though he wasn’t carrying pipes, Patrick managed to charm all the children on our tour.  Wherever he was, they wanted to be.  By mid-week the adults had termed him “the Pied Piper” as we knew that if our children weren’t with us, they would be near him.      

Sometimes you have to work hard to see magnificence
Sure, you can see amazing things when you stay on the beaten path.  But to see truly breathtaking sights, you need to work harder.  This was truly driven home to us after we scraped and clawed our way up the steep hill behind the Grand Prismatic.  Only 10% of visitors to Yellowstone see this view.  It was worth every bruise and scrape.

You’ll never go hungry.
Despite the increased amount of physical activity, you will never feel a hunger pang during your AL vacation.  Between the filling breakfasts, fabulous lunches, morning and afternoon snacks on the trail, “just in case” munchies in the vans, and local specialties for dinner each evening, hunger doesn’t stand a chance.

You can trust someone you just met with your kids in less than a week
At the beginning of our trip, we kept near the girls as we hiked.  By mid-week we kept them in our sights.  By the end of the week, as we were hiking through an area where bears had been sighted only the day before, our girls were separated- one in front of us and one behind- each so far away we couldn’t see or hear them.  As Doug and I walked along, we commented on the fact that we weren’t worried at all.  We knew that our youngest was at the front of the pack with John, while our eldest was tagging along at the end with Patrick.  And we knew that both were completely safe.

Our family so thoroughly enjoyed our Austin-Lehman vacation that we are hoping to do another one next summer!  We’re thinking the Yellowstone/ Tetons trip…  unfortunately it has no horseback riding- which is a “must” for my youngest, who fell in love with her four legged guide this year.

Sincerely,

Jody Halsted

Jody Halsted is a writer specializing in family travel.  You can follow her family’s adventures at FamilyRambling.com.

See Jody's photos from her Austin-Lehman Adventure: Montana Family Adventure Photos

On all the Austin-Lehman trips that I have led, I encounter a multitude of questions; from the size of the park, to what time are the animals released from their cage (however, this one is not often asked). But without fail one question that is always brought up is, "What can I do around Bozeman before or after my awesome vacation?" My recommendation would first include rephrasing the question to what can't I do around this town!?

    If you consider yourself a history buff, or are seeking the inner child in you head to the Museum of the Rockies. You are instantly surrounded by the dinosaurs that walked in the same streets as you are now! Also, there are a ton of other historical artifacts from the pioneer times as well! While moseying around town, simply walk down main street for a few hours. There are great stores for some last minute gear purchases or finally get that kayak to start your hobby (inspired from your Austin-Lehman adventure)! Also on Main you can grab some of the best food Montana has to offer including the famed, Ted's Montana Grill for a hearty cut of bison steak raised on one of Mr. Turner's farms! Also those looking to stay out a little later can indulge in the nightlife of Bozeman that more often than not will include live music and dancing!
     If you would like to push yourself a little bit more towards the outdoorsy lifestyle of the area your options only continue to grow! A short drive to Big Sky resort can have you flying downhill on a mountain bike or Zipping through the sky on their newly installed zip line systems. Also a quick call to the office or one of your guides can get a connection to a fly fishing guide that has newly been added to the Austin-Lehman family! All the local shops also rent everything from bikes to paddle boards! So turn an afternoon into an adventure taking some rented or purchased gear into Hyalite Canyon just outside of town. Paddle the reservoir or bike the seemingly endless trails! In short, Bozeman is an excellent town to start or finish off your Yellowstone National Park Vacation or Montana family adventure offering fun for all ages and interests! Myself and the rest of the guide staff all look forward to meeting you future adventurers!

Cheers,

Patrick McGarry

One of the great things about traveling to a new place is getting to try the local cuisine.  When visiting someplace new, one of the most memorable experiences you can have is to try out the local delicacies.  Combining new tastes with travel can be a great way to vividly remember your trip.  Here at the ALA office, we have sampled some pretty crazy dishes that many people would never even think of eating!

1. Smiley- One of the strangest food experiences that Dan had while visiting South Africa was trying a smiley. A smiley is a sheep’s head that is charred on a braai or grill.  The head is grilled until its lips are burned off which leaves the sheep’s head with a big smile!
2. Plátanos Maduros- While Christy was enjoying Costa Rica she also decided to try out this savory local dish also known as Costa Rican fried bananas.
3. Rocky Mountain Oysters- Melissa did not have to venture far from home to find a memorable meal.  Rocky Mountain Oysters are a Montana delicacy.  While eating cow testicles may sound crazy to you, many people in the area go crazy for them!  There are even festivals dedicated to this wild local favorite.
4. Tripe- While in Peru, Mindy decided she would enhance her experience in the country by trying one of the local dishes: Tripe.  For those of you who have not had the opportunity to sample tripe and may be wondering constitutes the meal, Tripe is animal intestines.
5. Horse Meat- In the U.S. horse is somewhat of a taboo food because of the role that they play as pets, but in many countries, this same taboo does not exist.  While visiting Holland, Jon discovered that horsemeat is a tasty, slightly sweet meat that is enjoyed by millions in Europe.
6. Pâté de Foie Gras- This delicacy enjoyed by Carol is a well-known and popular dish in France.  Foie Gras is specially fattened goose or duck liver made into a Pâté. (a spreadable paste) 
7. Alpaca Meat- Enjoyed by both the ancient Incans and Kasey, this dish is not one you can find just anywhere.  To sample this unusual meat Kasey traveled to Ecuador, one of the countries that Alpacas call home.  Alpaca meat is lean and high in protein.

As you can see, the Austin-Lehman office staff likes to indulge in the local cuisine wherever they are traveling. 

Would you ever try any of these unusual meals?  What’s the most unusual dish that you’ve been brave enough to try? Leave a comment and tell us!

Your friendly travel experts,

Austin-Lehman Adventures

The summer season is upon us, and what better way to pass the time then to embark on a trek though the wonderland provided by beautiful Mother Nature. While you could venture out to hike Patagonia in Chile, or retrace the ancient path of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you don’t even have to venture out of the United States to experience breathtaking beauty. The United States is a hiker’s playground from the sheer massive beauty of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, to the ancient forests of Sequoias at Yosemite National Park in California, or even travel back in time to the great Wild West to the Black Hills of South Dakota. For your summer travels why not take an adventure vacation in your own back yard and experience the awe inspiring sights that United States has to offer. 

Journey to the Rocky Mountain Range in Montana

To explore the world of hiking, one must venture out to the Rocky Mountains of Montana. The beautiful state of Montana is a perfect representation of untamed, natural beauty, and is simply stunning in its vast mountain ranges. Experience wildlife from grizzlies and wolves to bison and bears. Explore nature from their point of view and experience the geological wonders that bring amazing life and color to its National Parks. Experience unique adventures from roping and saddling a horse, to watching good Old Faithful erupt on cue. Hike with the family, roast s’mores, and retell old campfire stories that you grew up on. Explore Yellowstone’s countless geothermal features including Fountain Paint Pots and the Morning Glory Pool, and take a dip in the Boling River.

Visit Zion National Park in Utah

If the Wild West is not quite your style, maybe you would like to explore Zion National Park in Utah. Ranked one of America’s best adventures by National Geographic, these views will take your breath away as you hike past waterfalls, natural springs and hanging gardens. Zion has one of the most diverse groupings of plants in Utah, with over 900 species for you to experience. You can soak up the colorful hues of red, orange and amber during the daylight hours, and at night be surprised by the amazing clarity in the night sky. Kick back and relax as you enjoy the bright star formations in the skies, as you have probably never observed them before.

Visiting The Grand Canyon in Arizona

Looking for a hiking location with a little piece of paradise awaiting you at the finish line? Havasupai is a hidden gem amongst the vast ranges of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Accessible only by foot this is a beautiful place to explore and bask in the natural rich pools at the base of a thundering 100-ft falls. After a fairly difficult hike to the falls you will feel like you are imagining this oasis as its beauty in the arid space of Arizona doesn’t seem fit for such crystal clear waters. This Grand Canyon Vacation is also equipped with a visit to an old galena mine, hunt for fossils, a visit to a natural mineral rich whirl pool, and a stunning trek en route to Beaver falls.

  
Trekking Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Teton National Parks

You cannot possibly discuss the amazing hiking in the United States without mentioning Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. Yellowstone was declared the world’s first national park in 1872, proving that even then, people realized this beautiful gem needed to be preserved.  Take in the neon blue, 300-foot wide Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest of hot springs in the entire U.S. and the third largest in the world.  You can also experience an adventure packed whitewater-rafting excursion down the scenic Snake Water Canyon.  From hiking, to biking, to kayaking, rafting, and rodeos, Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park Vacation and Teton National Park are fantastic locations to explore some of nature’s finest views of the great outdoors.  

5 Great Items to Pack

There is no better time than now to explore the wonders of the world located in our own National Parks. Take your family to see how beautiful and diverse this country is, and how many different adventures are just waiting to be experienced. The possibilities are endless from the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming to the red rocks of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona in the Southwest to the Coastal breezes of Alaska, California and Washington. Contact Austin Lehman Adventures as your trusted Adventure Travel Company to book a hiking tour for your next vacation.

Check out some other great photos of Domestic hiking adventures on our Pinterest

Your Friendly Travel Experts,

Austin-Lehman Adventures

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

We just wrapped up guide training at the ALA Farm and one of my favorite parts of training is seeing all the guides. Working in the office we don't get to see too much of them during the season, so I enjoy spending some time with them while they are here. But today I want to highlight James Bradbury, this guy makes me proud to sell our trips. His passion for guiding and sharing his love for the outdoors is contagious... James just knows how to make everyone feel relaxed and comfortable, its kind of a gift he has! This season James will be guiding our Yellowstone Tours and Montana Vacations and I couldn't be more excited for our guest to meet James. I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about meeting our guest, he just loves showing everyone a good time.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on a truly amazing guide! To learn more about James check out his guide profile.

Sincerely, 

Jonathan

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

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,

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

Night skies filled with stars, towering trees, majestic wildlife and clean, brisk air are closer than you think. Yellowstone National Park vacation packages can prove it.

Montana vacations provide an impeccable way to explore a beautiful place untouched by nature with majestic wildlife roaming freely in their beloved home. Explorers who appreciate the water can experience fishing, kayaking or rafting in the spectacular white water of the Yellowstone River. Animal lovers will love looking out for elk, bison, bears and eagles.

Kids will enjoy snacking on delicious fruit kebabs on the lovely shore of a glacial stream in Beehive Basin, where they can dip their feet in an alpine lake surrounded by wildflower studded hillsides. If you dare, raft the Yellowstone River, the longest free-flowing river in North America. To unleash your inner cowboy, saddle up for a gentle horseback ride up Pine Creek to the Absaroka Mountains and enjoy awe inspiring scenery unlike anything else in the world.  

Austin Lehman adventures are the perfect choice for families looking to create lasting memories with each other. Plan your family’s trip to Yellowstone Park this year by visiting our online catalog to learn more about all of the activities available in our vacation travel itineraries. Get ready for the vacation of a lifetime.
 

Yellowstone Park is one of those destinations that every family must visit at least once in their lifetime. Imagine a big blue sky, soaring mountain peaks and acres of lush backcountry seemingly untouched by the outside world. Then multiple that by at least 5, and you begin to understand the enormity and magnificence of this stunning national park.

With so many activities and sights to see, it can be a challenge to get everything in, but our Yellowstone tours offer all the enough excitement and fun to deliver a full and exceptional family adventure that won’t ever be forgotten. Here are the top 3 adventure activities every family will enjoy while on an Austin Lehman tour of the park.

Hiking
Spring vacations in Yellowstone offer guests such a natural setting for hiking that they might not ever want to stop. The fresh air and exercise as families venture out on the trail is only the tip of the iceberg. Hiking as a family really brings everyone together in such an awe inspiring and peaceful place.

Whitewater Rafting
No experience is needed to participate in this cool (and wet) river rafting experience. The Yellowstone River is the longest free flowing river of its kind in the U.S. (lower 48 states) with inspiring scenic views.

Horseback Rides
A gentle walking horseback ride takes everyone up Pine Creek as they venture on their four legged friends into the Mountains of Absaroka. The incredible views of the mountain top lookouts as the family ventures out with 4th generation Montana cowboys will create long lasting memories sure to be spoken of for years to come.

Don’t wait to experience this family trip of a lifetime. Visit us online to find out how to book your vacation today.
 

There’s no better time to see Yellowstone National Park than well…just about any time. Yellowstone Park is one of those destinations that offer an incredible adventure vacation any time of year. Each season in the park provides a unique experience for travelers.

As you might imagine, the busy time of the year is in the summer between June and September with the busiest months being July and August. Of course, our adventure vacation packages bring our guests to backcountry locations where crowds are few so that the magnificence of the landscapes and unique natural features can be fully appreciated.

An abundance of wildflowers greet visitors in June and July, and June, in particular, brings plenty of wildlife for travelers to see and snap photos. In September the fall flowers are in bloom and the elk come calling their mates. The winter brings an abundance of snow along with opportunities to snowshoe and glide through the trail on snowmobile.

Our Montana vacations offer summer travel times to Yellowstone to experience all the nature and wildlife that this season brings. We also have a five day wintertime journey in February for those ready to hit the scenic slopes with cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and of course, no winter adventure is complete without ice skates and snow mobiles too!

Call today or visit our website to learn more about visiting Montana and Yellowstone this year.