We’re giving away an amazing multi-sport trip with O.A.R.S. this month, to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks. if you haven’t entered yet, take a minute to do so,. And then read this interview with Steve Markle, Director of Sales & Marketing for the O.A.R.S. Family of Companies. He’s spent a decade with the company and is passionate about both conservation and adventure, leading O.A.R.S. into partnerships with environmental organizations and strategic partners around the world. He led O.A.R.S. into the world of social media long before the competition knew what a tweet was. Steve lives with his wife Nichole and their Son Preston in the Sierra Foothills overlooking the Stanislaus River Canyon in California. I’ve known Steve for years and we regularly run into each other at the Adventure Travel World Summit. He’s a busy guy and I caught up with him this morning.
Steve and Preston Markle on an adventure
EP: Rafting legend George Wendt founded O.A.R.S. more than 40 years ago, and still has a role in the company. But where do you, as the younger guy, see the rafting world in 2013?
SM: Aside from the pure enjoyment of getting repeatedly splashed in the face on a hot day, I still see rafting less as an adrenaline-inducing thrill ride and more as a means of access to some of the most untouched, pristine regions of the world. And, at the heart of the company, rafting is about exposing people to natural areas and inspiring them to care and take action for the future of wildness. River trips just have a way of taking people out of their comfort zone and removing all the distractions of daily life, which really opens the door for meaningful interactions with the natural world and their fellow travelers. I see river trips becoming increasingly popular as outfitters continue to raise the bar on comfort and more people seek to take a break from technology.
EP: Is adventure travel still a new experience for most guests or are you dealing with a clientele that needs new thrills and seems a bit jaded?
SM: A lot of the folks who join us have never been rafting before and many have never camped. It’s never gets old hearing about how people were scared of bugs, or whatever, before their trip and by the end of it, they’re sleeping under the stars outside of their tent. We have some veteran rafters too, but with some 30+ stretches of river and more than a dozen sea kayaking and multi-sport adventures around the world, we can always find something that will knock your socks off.
Rafting Cataract Canyon with O.A.R.S.
EP: How important are multi-sport trips to O.A.R.S., like the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer that we’re giving away with you?
SM: By our standards, our Yellowstone operation is a pretty big piece of the puzzle. It gives us a solid foothold in two of the most popular national parks in the country, but what we offer is really unique. Generally people don’t think of Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks as good sea kayaking destinations, but it’s a great way to explore off the beaten path and away from the crowds. Like rafting, the boats are just the vehicle of access to some of the most extraordinary hikes and sites in the region and our small groups are ideal for exploring. And, generally, our multi-sport trips tend to attract a slightly younger, more active set of travelers, which gives us a great opportunity to introduce people to the world of O.A.R.S.
EP: There seems to be a big move to custom trips these past few years, trips where an extended family or a group of friends get together to raft or hike. What kind of numbers are we looking at – how many people do you need to make it cost effective, and what would a ballpark price per person be for a given trip?
SM: Indeed. We’re seeing more and more cases of grandparents booking trips for the entire family. Generally, you’re going to need to recruit 16-20 people to make it a private affair and prices will range from under $1,000/person to more than $2,000/person for a 5- or 6-day trip. However, in some cases we can bring our minimum number down to 10 or 12 people on a trip like the Rogue River in Oregon or our trips in Grand Teton National Park.
On the Yampa River with O.A.R.S.
EP: You do sea kayaking trips as well, which people may now know about. Do you actually get to cover some distance on these trips?
SM: We do. On most of our sea kayaking trips we cover 5-8 miles/day at a pace of about 2-3 miles/hour. The rest of the time is generally spent exploring on foot and relaxing in camp, on a catamaran or in a family-owned inn.
EP: Your Crete sea kayaking trip looked pretty amazing to me. How tough is it, and are you staying in hotels on this one?
SM: Our Crete Sea Kayaking trip is pretty special and arguably one of our more active trips. We stay in local inns and eat at seaside tavernas while kayaking in crystal blue waters. This is the trip I’d like to take my wife on next…
Fiji with O.A.R.S.
EP: What do you think your most unsung destination is – anywhere on the planet?
SM: Fiji. It’s rafting in paradise with some of the friendliest guides on the planet. We employ exclusively native Fijians and compensate the community to help ensure the protection of the Upper Navua Conservation Area. This unique public-private partnership protects the UNCA from future logging or gravel extraction and, to date, the community has earned more than $1,000,000 through trip fees. It really is the model for ecotourism in the world today and I’m always surprised we don’t get more recognition from the travel press.
EP: Steve, let’s say I’ve done the Colorado River with O.A.R.S.. I want to do another rafting trip in the US with you guys, but what on earth could compare to doing the big one?
SM: I honestly think Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River is as good as it gets. Maybe I just prefer more mild summer temperatures, alpine scenery, crystal clear water, hot springs, wildlife and the nearly continuous whitewater, but I could run the Middle Fork over and over and it would never get old.
EP: Where are you looking next to expand to?
SM: We’ve got our eye on a new series of lodge-based river trips around the world that will include new adventures in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.
Camping next to the Tatshenshini River in Alaska with O.A.R.S.
EP: How about you own dream trip – where would you go tomorrow if you could?
SM: Alaska. There’s nothing I enjoy more than big mountains and wild, untouched wilderness where wildlife roams free. The Tatshenshini River is calling my name…
Just in time for summer vacation, we’re thrilled to be giving away the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer, a six-day multi-sport wilderness trip for two people from O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) in Wyoming this summer. This six-day (6) trip offers guided sea kayaking, whitewater rafting and dramatic hiking in two of America’s most beloved National Parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton – but off the beaten path and far away from the summer crowds. This is a great opportunity to explore a land of soaring peaks and Old Faithful, and to see elk herds, eagles, osprey and moose. O.A.R.S. has secured the most remote camping spots available in these parks for this trip, including Grassy Island in Moran Bay in Jackson Lake. This is the only way to see these National Parks: with a small group on a guided active trip that’s far from the madding crowd. You can enter daily for a chance to win this great prize from O.A.R.S.!
HOW TO ENTER AND WIN
For a chance to win this kayaking and rafting trip for two with O.A.R.S., just fill out the form below. Multiple entries are welcome, so come back and enter once a day through June 22, 2013. Complete rules are below. The winner will be notified by e-mail on or about July 15, 2013.
Important: Please adjust your spam filter to enable receipt of e-mails with the domain EverettPottersTravelReport.com, so that we can notify you if you’re a winner. Good luck!
Rafting on the Snake River with O.A.R.S. on their Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer
THE TRIP: YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON EXPLORER
On this one-of-a-kind multi-sport adventure, O.A.R.S. takes you off the beaten path and beyond the boardwalks of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks on a wild Wyoming vacation that few have seen.
O.A.R.S. provides everything you need to sea kayak, raft, hike and sightsee your way to some of the most extraordinary sites in the region. From the geothermal wonders of Old Faithful and the numerous geysers of Yellowstone Lake to the cool, reflective waters and pristine wilderness of Jackson Lake and the Snake River beneath the Tetons, they take care of details so you can enjoy lively days and dreamy nights under star-filled skies. Their passionate, professional guides share with you their intimate knowledge of the dramatic landscape and the mammals, birds, wild flowers and geology of the area.
Paddling with O.A.R.S.
ITINERARY: YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON EXPLORER
Meet in Jackson, Wyoming, and shuttle to Yellowstone National Park; visit Old Faithful and the Old Faithful Geyser Basin followed by lunch and an afternoon sea kayaking on Yellowstone Lake; camp at Grant Village
Transfer to Leeks Marina; paddle to Colter Camp on Jackson Lake; dine beneath the towering Tetons
Enjoy the morning mist, grassy meadows and forest glens that are home to abundant wildlife
Hike in Moran Bay, perhaps to spot a bear, moose or coyote
Kayak the southern shore and hike to Bearpaw and Leigh Lakes
Hike alongside rushing creeks and waterfalls; fish for trout
Big day of paddling to Spalding Bay with spectacular sweeping views
Paddle to Signal Mountain Lodge; transfer to Pacific Creek; enjoy a scenic rafting trip on the braided arms of the Snake River and search for moose; return to Jackson
REVIEWS FOR THIS O.A.R.S. ADVENTURE
“I could not recommend this trip enough and would actually strongly consider doing it again.” Wes from Lexington, KY
“The natural beauty of this area was as awe inspiring as anywhere we have ever been … When it’s over, you will be tired, you may be sore, you will definitely want a hot shower but you will be in better shape (both mentally and physically) than when you started and you’ll wish you could do it all over again.” Hunker Down Jim from Bogart, GA
“This trip exceeded all our expectations. What a great way to experience two of America’s most beautiful parks!” Cyn from Boulder, CO
Geysers on the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer trip with O.A.R.S.
ABOUT O.A.R.S
O.A.R.S. is a pioneer in the field of adventure travel, with its origins dating back to the late 1960’s. That’s when George Wendt, the founder and president of O.A.R.S., became one of the first people to raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was a word-of-mouth trip back then, but in 1969 Wendt officially got into the rafting business. His company, Gooch-Wendt Expeditions, ran the first professional trips on the Colorado River and was selected as the first exclusively oar-powered rafting operator in Grand Canyon National Park. It was renamed O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) and is considered the gold standard for adventure rafting companies. In addition to theirsignature Grand Canyon trips, O.A.R.S. offers adventure vacations in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, as well as in British Columbia, Chile, Galapagos, Fiji, Baja and Peru. They have whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, multi-sport adventures and a host of special interest trips, from photography trips to wine tasting trips.
THE PRIZE
This prize is for one (1) six-day (6) Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer for two (2) people (sharing) with O.A.R.S.
What’s Included:
•Skilled professional guide service
•5 nights catered camping
•All meals, from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day
•Expedition equipment, splash jacket and dry bags, two-person tents on a shared basis
•High quality inflatable rafts, sea kayaks, and related equipment including paddle and personal flotation device
•All transfers from Jackson to Yellowstone and return from the river
What’s Not Included:
•Transportation to and from Jackson, Wyoming
•Pre-and post-trip accommodations and meals
•Sleeping bags and pads (these items may be rented from O.A.R.S.)
•Insurance of any kind, including travel insurance
•Alcoholic beverages
•Items of a personal nature (an equipment list will be provided)
•Gratuities
Note: Minimum age to participate on this trip is age seven (7).
The winner can choose any scheduled trip departurefor the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer during summer 2013. If the winner is unable to travel in 2013, they can redeem the prize on a scheduled trip departure in 2014.
No credit will be extended for unused portion of the package. Package may not be redeemed for cash, resold or transferred. Gratuities are not included. Airfare to Wyoming is not included. The total cash value of the prize is approximately $3,078.
Paddling on the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer with O.A.R.S.
Presented by EverettPottersTravelReport.com and O.A.R.S.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
1. How to Enter. Between 9:00am Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 22, 2013 and 11:59pm ET on June 22, 2013, (the “Giveaway Period”), you may log onto EverettPottersTravelReport.com to enter this Giveaway. To enter, fill out your full name and email on the entry form and click “Submit Now.” Entrants may enter once a day, each day, during the Giveaway Period.
All entrants must have a valid e-mail address. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted. All entries become the sole and exclusive property of EverettPottersTravelReport.com and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Delivery of prize will require a street address (no P.O. Boxes) upon winning. EverettPottersTravelReport.com is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed entries are eligible. Proof of submission is not proof of receipt by this web site. This giveaway is not connected, sponsored, endorsed, administered or associated with Facebook. All information provided by participants is for EverettPottersTravelReport.com and O.A.R.S and not for Facebook.
2. Eligibility. Participation is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada who are 21 or older as of date of entry. Proof of age and legal US residency may be required. Void outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Employees and partners of EverettPottersTravelReport.com, O.A.R.S., its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouses) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such employees/partners are not eligible to enter. This Giveaway may only be entered in or from the United States and entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry. You are not authorized to participate in the Giveaway if you are not located within the United States. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Note: Minimum age to participate on this trip is age seven (7).
3. Random Drawing/Odds. One (1) winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the Giveaway Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Drawing will be conducted by EverettPottersTravelReport.com on or about July 15, 2013. By entering the Giveaway, you fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these official rules (“Complete Rules”) and the decisions of EverettPottersTravelReport.com, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Giveaway.
4. Prize. The prize will be given to one (1) winner. This prize is for one six-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer trip for two (2) people (sharing) with O.A.R.S. in Wyoming. The winner can choose any scheduled trip departure in summer 2013 or 2014. The winning prize is valid through O.A.R.S.’s 2014 Yellowstone and Grand Teton Explorer season, which ends in September 2014. The prize is subject to regular booking policies and availability.
What’s Included:
•Skilled professional guide service
•5 nights catered camping
•All Meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day
•Expedition equipment, splash jacket and dry bags, two-person tents on a shared basis
•High quality inflatable rafts, sea kayaks, and related equipment including paddle
and personal flotation device
•All transfers from Jackson to Yellowstone and return from the river
What’s Not Included:
•Transportation to and from Jackson, Wyoming
•Pre-and post-trip accommodations and meals
•Sleeping bags and pads (these items may be rented from O.A.R.S.)
•Insurance of any kind, including travel insurance
•Alcoholic beverages
•Items of a personal nature (an equipment list will be provided)
•Gratuities
Winner’s certificate is for (2) two people sharing the same accommodations. No credit will be extended for unused portion of the package. Package may not be redeemed for cash, resold or transferred. The prize may not be sold on eBay or any other auction site. Otherwise, the offer becomes invalid.
The total cash value of the prize is approximately $3,078.
5. Notification. The winner will receive a prize email which must be submitted at time of booking or the space is not valid. The letter will contain instructions for redeeming the prize. The winner will be notified by e-mail on or about July 15, 2013. In order to redeem the prize, the winner must contact O.A.R.S. after notification from Everett Potter’s Travel Report. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Trip dates are subject to approval by O.A.R.S..
If the winner does not respond to our e-mailed notification within seven (7) calendar days of first notification attempt, if the prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if the winner rejects his/her prize, or in the event of noncompliance with these Complete Rules, such prize will be forfeited and EverettPottersTravelReport.com reserves the right to select an alternate winner from all remaining eligible entries. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.
6. Conditions. By entering, you agree to opt-in for weekly emails from Everett Potter’s Travel Report and occasional emails on special offers, promotions and news from O.A.R.S. All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Participation in this Giveaway and acceptance of prize constitutes the winner’s permission for EverettPottersTravelReport.com, and O.A.R.S. to use his/her name, address (hometown and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information and/or any statements made by each winner regarding the Giveaway or EverettPottersTravelReport.com for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. EverettPottersTravelReport.com and O.A.R.S. are not responsible if the prize cannot be awarded due to delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism. Entrants who do not comply with these Complete Rules or attempt to interfere with this Giveaway in any way will be disqualified. There is no purchase or sales presentation required to participate.
7. Additional Terms. In case of dispute as to the identity of any entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning e-mail addresses or the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Any potential winner may be requested to provide EverettPottersTravelReport.com with proof that such winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry. Any other attempted form of entry is prohibited; no automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. EverettPottersTravelReport.com, its affiliates, partners and promotion and advertising agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Giveaway, including any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Giveaway or downloading any materials in this Giveaway.
EverettPottersTravelReport.com reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Giveaway should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of this Giveaway or for any other reason EverettPottersTravelReport.com deems it necessary. In such case, EverettPottersTravelReport.com may, at its discretion, select the winner from all eligible entries received unaffected by the problem. EverettPottersTravelReport.com reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of this Giveaway or web site. EverettPottersTravelReport.com may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Giveaway or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of this Giveaway by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or EverettPottersTravelReport.com representatives.
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8. List of Winners. To obtain the name of the winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by July 30, 2013 to: Everett Potters Travel Report Attn: O.A.R.S. Giveaway Winner, 146 Third Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803.
What’s the Deal: O.A.R.S. is one of the leading rafting companies in the world and their Grand Canyon trips tend to sell out a year in advance. But there’s now space available on their September 3 to 9, 2012 trip.
What Can I Expect: Hike 9.7 miles into the heart of the Grand Canyon, raft some of the biggest whitewater in North America and spend a week experiencing the beautiful side streams and waterfalls. Daily adventures may include the fern grottoes of Elves Chasm, the 100-foot drop of Deer Creek Falls, the limestone chutes of Matkatamiba Canyon, and turquoise pools of Havasu Canyon. This section of the canyon concludes with a spectacular helicopter flight to the rim.
Most folks make the mistake of driving to Grand Canyon, take a peek down at the mile-deep canyon and then leave. To truly appreciate the Grand Canyon, you need to spend some time at the bottom of that hole, rafting on the Colorado River. Whitewater enthusiasts take two weeks off to do the entire canyon run via paddles. If you don’t have that luxury of time, grab one of the six or seven-day motored trips that speed up when the river gets too mellow. That doesn’t happen often because this portion of the Colorado is an adrenalin-pumping Class IV run with some Class V rapids thrown in for good measure. Realize that the water on the river in the Grand Canyon is dam released and ice cold. To get excited for the journey, read The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons by John Wesley Powell.
Steve Jermanok As a columnist for National Geographic Adventure, adventure travel expert at Budget Travel, and regular contributor on outdoor recreation for Outside, Men’s Journal, Health, and Sierra, Steve Jermanok has written more than 1,000 articles on the outdoors.He’s also authored or co-authored 11 books, including Outside Magazine’s Adventure Guide to New England and Men’s Journal’s The Great Life. His latest book is Go Now! Put Your Life on Pause and See the World. He’s currently an adventure travel expert at Away.com and blogs daily at Active Travels.
It was 1997 when I first met Brian McCutcheon, owner of Rivers, Oceans,
and Mountains, or simply ROAM. I had been hired by Men’s Journal
magazine to write about the first descent of the Klinaklini River in
British Columbia. It was a spectacular journey down a rip-roaring river
dwarfed by snowcapped peaks and glaciers. I was accompanying Johnny
Morris, the owner of Bass Pro Shops, who came to the Northwest with his
entourage to hook salmon on the fly. The fish weren’t biting but the
scenery and excitement of riding the Klinaklini more than made up for
the lack of salmon.
About six years ago, when I first met George Wendt, the founder and president of O.A.R.S., I knew I was in the presence of a legend. But you wouldn’t know it from talking with this tall, soft spoken man with a quirky sense of humor. George is one of the godfathers of adventure travel, one of the first people to raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon back in the 60's. It was a word-of-mouth trip back then, but in 1969 he officially got into the rafting business. That first company, Gooch-Wendt Expeditions, ran the first professional trips on the Colorado River and was selected as the first exclusively oar-powered rafting operator in Grand Canyon National Park, when it was renamed O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists). O.A.R.S. is now the gold standard for rafting companies. When George is not in a raft, he can be found at home in the small northern California community of Angels Camp in Calaveras County.
Rafting the Grand Canyon. Photo by James Kaiser.
George, how did you get into river rafting?
I got into river rafting as a component of my educational studies at UCLA in the early 1960s. Because of my interest in the outdoors – honed through my time as a Scout as I earned the rank of Eagle, I joined the Bruin Mountaineers – a group that did hiking, rock climbing, caving, skiing and mountaineering. One summer, one of the group organized a trip on the Colorado River going through Glen Canyon. Right after school got out in June, we headed to Utah for a 10-day river trip. This experience changed my life!
The Deal: ROW Adventures' " Bitterroot Bonanza" multisport The Backstory: Named one of the "25 Best New Trips in the World 2010" by National Geographic Adventure, ROW Adventures' " Bitterroot Bonanza" is a multisport trip that features biking, lake kayaking and whitewater rafting in Washington, Idaho and Montana. The Idaho-based ROW, one of the best outfitters in the world, says that it's the first trip in history to link the region's world-class bike trails. What's the Deal: The five-day camping trip is $1,395 per person and the lodge version is $1,595 per person. Trips begin and end in Spokane, Washington Caveat: It's a short season. There are just five departures scheduled in July and August. Details: ROW Adventures
Planning your next adventure? Regardless of whether you’re going hiking in Chile’s Atacama Desert, kayaking in the Sea of Cortez or biking in Vietnam, there are five questions you should ask yourself before you commit with your credit card.
