HOW WE RATE OUR ADVENTURE TRIPS

All the trips that we promote are suitable for the novice paddler or hiker. It must be noted however, that suitablity has a preparediness ingredient. Participants must work to meet the physical demands of the chosen activity or risk one's safety and that of others.

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CANOEING
Physical requirements for river trips are generally modest. Rivers are ranked according to the difficulty of their most severe rapids.The scale is not linear, nor is it fixed. For instance, there can be hard grade twos, easy grade threes, and so on. The grade of a river may change with the level of flow.

Beginner/Class I: Easy flat water/lake and mild waves-current/river. Few or no obstructions, all easy to avoid. Some maneuvering may be required to navigate around log jams or sweepers. Risk to swimmers is slight. Self-rescue is easy.

Intermediate/Class II: Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels that are obvious without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-size waves are easily avoided with some training. Swimmers are seldon injured. Group rescue is seldom necessary.

If your question is not answered here, contact our office.

Q: What if I'm an experienced paddler?
The fact that you have had previous canoeing experience should in no way detract from your enjoying the trip.

Q: Can children come along?
Equipment and physical constraints may limit your child's participation. We can usually place youngsters in the middle of the canoe. Call our office to discuss whether the expedition is suitable for your child.

Q: What kind of canoes do you use?
We use, Clipper , 17' canoes, for expeditions. They have proven themselves to be stable and comfortable craft.

Q: Do I have to be in good physical shape?
There is a correlation between your physical readiness and your enjoyment of paddling. We will send home some conditioning ideas for you. Normal upper body strength and flexibility are key. Paddling is more technique than strength.

Q: How much paddling will I do?
Generally speaking we like to get going around 9 and get into camp around 4. This would be interrupted with lunch, shore breaks, drifting, wildlife viewing, photographic opportunities. Some days may find us setting camp early due to poor weather and other days extending our days to make up for lost time.

Q: When is the best time to do a trip?
We schedule all of our trips to coincide with the best weather and the best time to see wildlife.

Q: What are your guides' qualifications?
Our guides have a keen interest in the outdoors, love their work, and enjoy sharing their knowledge. They are certified in canoeing, wilderness first aid, and emergency procedures. They possess backgrounds in areas such as natural and cultural history, photography and low impact wilderness travel.

Q: What is the size of your groups?
Maximum of ten participants and 2 guides. A small group minimizes impact on the areas we visit, allows more individualized attention, develops group bonding, and better ensures safety.

Q: Can I join your expedition if I'm alone?
Yes, as many persons come to us on their own. Most groups consist of couples, singles and friends traveling together.

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HIKING
It is not simple to rate hikes, as most all will possess easy to strenuous sections, one hiker’s easy is another's strenuous. We have opted to rate the hikes by their overall character.

Easy: well maintained trails and/or mostly flat terrain.
Moderate: mostly good trails, with significant elevation changes of a gradual nature or short but strenuous.
Strenuous: will contain some or all of following conditions: off trail hiking, creek/river crossings, rough terrain, significant elevation changes, long hiking days.

If your question is not answered here, contact our office.

Q: How much weight will I have to carry?
This is usually the first question on most people's mind. And, it is difficult to give a blanket response, as many variables come into play. The number of days, where you are hiking, how many are in the group, what personal gear you bring, will all affect the weight you carry. As the guides carry most of the gear, you will have approximately 30-40 lbs (14-20 kg] to carry.

Q: Do I share in carrying the group equipment?
Our guides carry most of the group equipment such as pots/pans, stoves, tarps, major first aid kit, repair kit, fuel, kitchen set, bear spray, phone/radios. You may be asked to help with an item.

Q: How difficult are the hikes?
It is not simple to rate hikes, as most all will possess easy to strenuous sections, and one person's easy is another's strenuous. We have opted to rate the hikes by their overall character.

Q: What type of shape do I have to be in?
Because of the very physically demanding nature of hiking, you should be fit. We will supply you with a conditioning program to help you. Failure to adequately prepare will not only compromise your safety and enjoyment of the hike, but will also impact others in your group.

Q: When is the best time to do a trip?
We schedule all of our trips to coincide with the best weather for the area. Coastal hikes are always susceptible to rain and in the mountains evening temperatures can drop to freezing, especially in late season. You should be prepared with the right equipment and clothing for all extremes.

Q: What are your guides' qualifications?
Our guides have a keen interest in the outdoors, love their work, and enjoy sharing their knowledge. They are seasoned backpackers and possess wilderness first aid. They possess backgrounds in areas such as natural and cultural history, photography and low impact wilderness travel.

Q: What is the size of your groups?
Maximum of ten participants and 2 guides. A small group minimizes impact on the areas we visit, allows more individualized attention, develops group bonding, and better ensures safety.

Q: Can I join your expedition if I'm alone?
Yes, as many persons come to us on their own. Most groups consist of couples, singles and friends traveling together.

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KAYAKING
Different categories can be present on a trip. We have attempted to give an overall sense of what you will encounter.

Class 1: Gentle tours in non-challenging, protected waters with limited wind effect, little or no current, easy landings and ready a access to land-bases assistance.
Class 2: Tours in lightly populated areas with short crossings, moderate potential wind effects, gentle to moderate non-turbulent currents, easy to moderate landings and light surf beaches.

If your question is not answered here, contact our office.

Q: Do I have to have kayaking experience?
No. Ocean kayaking is easy to learn. The kayaks have a rudder system controlled by foot pedals allowing easy maneuvering. Our guides will give you instruction basic paddling techniques to enable you to paddle with confidence and ease.

Q: What if I'm an experienced sea kayaker?
Our experienced guides can assist you with fine tuning you're navigation, route selection, reading tide and current tables skills and more.

Q: Can children come along?
Our sea kayaking expeditions are best suited to teenagers. Equipment and physical constraints limit who we can take. Call our office to discuss whether the expedition is suitable for your child.

Q: What kind of kayaks do you use?
We use Seawards double and single sea kayaks for our expeditions. We ask that paddlers who want to use a single have previous kayaking experience and be a strong enough paddler to keep up with doubles.

Q: Do I have to be in good physical shape to kayak?
Our trips are meant for those in reasonably good shape. Paddling does not require great strength as much as it requires technique. We will send home some conditioning ideas for you. Normal upper body strength and flexibility are key.

Q: How much paddling will I do?
Many factors such as currents, tides, winds, animal sightings, group ability and what the group wants will determine this. Generally, you can expect to paddle for about four hours a day. Flexibility is the key to a great kayaking experience.

Q: When is the best time to do a kayak trip?
We schedule all of our trips to coincide with the best weather and the best time to see marine wildlife. Coastal conditions however are always unpredictable, so you should be prepared with the right equipment and clothing. Marine wildlife is also very unpredictable. We do not give any guarantees that you will see whales, seals, eagles, etc. but we will do our best to find them.

Q: What are your guides' qualifications?
Our guides have a keen interest in the outdoors, love their work, and enjoy sharing their knowledge. They are certified in sea kayaking, possess wilderness first aid, and emergency procedures. They possess backgrounds in areas such as natural and cultural history, photography and low impact wilderness travel.

Q: What is the size of your kayaking groups?
Maximum of ten participants and 2 guides. This is the standard client to guide ratio recommended by both the B.C. Alliance of Sea Kayak Guides and the Canadian Association of Sea Kayak Guides. A small group minimizes impact on the areas we visit, allows more individualized attention, develops group bonding, and better ensures safety.

Q: Can I join your sea kayaking expedition if I'm alone?
Yes, as many persons come to us on their own. Most groups consist of couples, singles and friends traveling together.

Q: What do I have to supply?
We supply kayaks, paddles, pfds [lifejackets], dry bags for storing clothing, tents, cooking and eating utensils, solar showers, major first aid kit, paddling jacket. You provide sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and personal clothing/toiletries/etc.

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RAFTING
Rafting in British Columbia/Yukon is regulated by the Government. These regulations have a reputation as being the strictest in the world. All of our raft Guides are certified and carry BC/Yukon Rafting Licenses. In addition to paddling skills, guides must have a minimum 80 hour Standard First Aid course and a Swiftwater Rescue Technician course. Our boating and camping equipment is top-of-the-line, and for added safety the guides have short-range radios for communication between boats. All trips carry a satellite phone for communication with "home-base" in the event of an emergency situation.

If your question is not answered here, contact our office.

Q: Do I need to know how to raft?
Not at all. We assume that this is a new experience for everyone. Before you ever step into a boat, your Guides will give you a full explanation of the raft and all of the associated gear to make sure that you are comfortable and feel completely safe. The first day of our trips is planned to be easy-going to allow you time to adjust and soak in your new surroundings.

Q: How fit do I have to be?
Our trips are designed for the person who wants to explore the wilderness and be a part of the experience, not just watch it go by though a bus window. You will be paddling, hiking and living outdoors, so you do need to be healthy…but not a triathlete.

Q: Are there any age restrictions?
Travelers have ranged in age from 10 to 72 years old. We do require that all participants under the age of 19 be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Q: How many people are on a trip?
On the expedition trips, we take a maximum of 12 travelers per trip. This translates to better service and the ability to accommodate different activity levels and interests.

Q: How's the food?
Our menus have been designed by an experienced chef with years of outdoor cooking behind her. All the guides are trained in preparing great, hot, wholesome food.

Q: What does my trip include? What do I need to bring?
On all trips you are provided with: * All specialized clothing. * Professional and certified guides * All necessary transportation and logistics * All the appropriate permits and licenses * All food and beverages for the trip * High quality camping equipment

From the time of our official "meeting" until we drop you off everything is included. All expedition trips include dinners at the end of the trip. You need only bring your personal camping/active clothing for which we will send you a complete packing list.