While flipping through her boyfriend Aaron’s new O.A.R.S. catalog one day, Erin landed on the Fiji trip page. “Let’s go here! It looks amazing!” Although Fiji was not in the budget at that time, the two adventurers settled on the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer for their summer vacation. Why not take a trip to Wyoming and visit two national parks? Perfect. Fiji could wait until another time.

During a hike to Bearpaw Bay and Trapper Lake the group crested a rise and was witness to a breathtaking view before them, which nearly brought tears to Erin’s eyes. Someone called, “Hey, look at this dead crow!”  “Stop the celestial harp music,” she thought, “There goes my transcendent moment touched by the hand of God. I guess nature will be nature.”  

The remainder of the trip was just the adventure they had hoped for, with stunning scenery, good company provided by the other guests, and guides in particular, with whom they felt an easy friendship, and an overall “it-feels-so-wonderful-to-get-away-from-it-all” theme. Aaron says, “It was during this vacation that I decided I wanted to marry Erin.” In fact, they casually browsed for rings in Jackson Hole on their way out of town, and unbeknownst to Erin, he special-ordered her wedding ring and had it shipped to him once they returned home.

Once the engagement had been set, the two went about planning the details for the upcoming wedding. One night over beers at a local watering hole, they were lamenting the fact that they wanted a small intimate wedding—which would for all intents and purposes eliminate Aaron’s rather large family—and their friend suggested they just elope. The thought was more than a little appealing and when they got home later that night they agreed that they would love to return to Wyoming and get married in the little meadow overlooking Trapper Lake.

In the back of his mind Aaron remembered that one of their guides from the Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip, Matt Parker, was an ordained minister of the Church of the Latter-Day Dude. He sent Matt an email who happily agreed to officiate the ceremony.

On 7.7.11 after a four-and-a-half-mile hike in, Aaron and Erin were officially married by Matt in front of 12 close friends and family on a little rock in the meadow, exactly one year after their first journey to Wyoming. A picnic lunch followed. Afterward Mr. & Mrs. Sullivan and their guests hiked out for a small reception at Q Roadhouse in Jackson Hole.

Families love O.A.R.S. Lower Klamath River rafting trips. This scenic, forested river trip features beach campsites and rafting and inflatable kayaking in warm gentle water.

Lower Salmon River, ID

Fun, exhilarating rapids, huge sandy beaches through four separate gorges… O.A.R.S. Lower Salmon River rafting trips offer something for everyone.

Rogue River, OR

Raft through forests, meadows and narrow gorges, and enjoy beach campsites and wildlife viewing. The warm water makes it ideal for swimming and inflatable kayaking.

Green River through the Gates of Lodore, CO/UT

Raft through Dinosaur National Monument, hike along rippling creeks to side canyon waterfalls, and look for petroglyphs and fossilized remains of dinosaurs preserved in ancient rock walls.

Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer, WY

Sea kayak, raft and hike the pristine wilds of Wyoming's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks on the most comprehensive, all-access multi-sport tour available.

SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED ARE A FEW PIECES OF GEAR AND A RUGGED LANDSCAPE TO ESCAPE and sometimes all you need is a sea kayak on the open water.  Some of the most beautiful places on Earth are best seen from the quiet solitude of a kayak.  

Whether it’s discovering a hidden cove, a secluded trailhead, or a secret river canyon, exploring by paddle can take you into areas that are often times inaccessible by land, and can offer you a true calmness that one finds only after a few disconnected days in the great outdoors.

Imagine yourself here…

You’ve just flown into some remote part of the world, or perhaps one of the most impressive National Parks known to man.  You packed up everything you’d bring on a backpacking trip, but instead of throwing everything on your back and heading out on foot, you toss the gear into a boat so you can make your mileage by water.  

Day one on the open water is spent unwinding.  Yes, your arms have to work to move you along, but each stroke of the paddle takes you further and further into a meditative place where the burn doesn’t exist.  Your arms quickly become a part of the boat and your mind begins to escape to the place where your body has already arrived. You’re finally away from it all.

By day two, the sunrise is on your mind, not the to-do list you left behind.   As you sip your morning coffee, or maybe tea, and stare out at those pristine waters watching the sun rise, you realize that you’re finally ready to take in everything that this trip has to offer—the spectacular scenery, the quietness, the wildlife.  You’re determined to access that deep place you haven’t been able to get to lately while living on auto-pilot.  You come out of your thoughts for a moment.  Is that a moose off in the distance?  Or perhaps it was a whale?  (Depends on where you are.)

Three days in and your mind is wandering.  You just pulled the kayak onto shore for a hike to a vantage point that very few people experience each year.   When you reach the top, you can see a hundred miles around in every direction.  Now you start to daydream about leaving the rat race and finding your roots again. Remember when you had time on the weekends to go for hikes?  You need that back.  But for now, you need to remember this moment and this amazing vista that you feel lucky to be seeing.  

On day four, you’re feeling like a changed person.  Your body is stronger, and paddling takes little effort.  You could do this forever.  And that’s not all, your head is clear too.  This was exactly what was needed—deep meditation by kayak.  

Unfortunately, it’s time to head back to reality.  But not before seeing a few more rare birds and dipping into one more remote cove.  The past few days will stick with you longer than you can imagine.  And as you unload the kayak, you begin to start thinking about where you’ll head next time.

This essay was originally created for the 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog. For more compelling stories from other renowned writers, click here to request your copy today!

It only took ten minutes. Just out of Jackson, a moose and her calf graze at their breakfast, barely registering our presence as the van sped past toward Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, A.K.A. "American's Serengeti." The game, it seems, is afoot. Let the wild life begin.

We (myself and five other adventurers, plus Danny and Ali, our trusted guides) are heading into Wyoming’s wilderness for a week of solitude, sea kayaking and scenery. Everyone else is a seasoned outdoor-person. I, like Dave Barry, have always seen camping as nature’s way of promoting the motel industry. It promises to be an interesting week.

Passing Isa Lake, I crane my neck in hopes of spotting more animals. Choked with yellow water lilies, the lake straddles the Continental Divide, draining into both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Conversation in the van is centered around bears, who’ve been appearing in the headlines with alarming regularity this summer. Ali assures us that she’s never lost a guest to a grizzly. I resolve not to be the first.

The journey starts from the ground up at our arrival in Yellowstone. The ground, in this case, being Old Faithful, the most famous attraction in the world’s first national park. Wildfires engulfed much of the surrounding area in 1988. Charred trees near the sprawling Old Faithful Inn are a chilling reminder of how close the historic structure came to being destroyed.

Danny and Ali direct us down the slippery boardwalk, away from the crowds queuing at the “front” of Old Faithful. Just a few hundred feet away, there’s an unobstructed view of the eruption. The air is thick with sulphur and a boy walks by holding his nose. A hawk poses haughtily on a fossilized tree. Hoof prints inside the barriers mark where elk and bison have broken through the brittle igneous rock. The earth’s crust here is thin, the molten magma closer to the surface than any other place on the planet. Dragonflies flit among the fumerols, their rust color matching the reddish iron oxide deposits.

We bid goodbye to the geysers and head to Yellowstone Lake for a quick kayak introduction. Nicknamed “divorce boats,” tandem sea kayaks are nonetheless known for their stability. But wind has whipped up 4-foot whitecaps on the lake, so the paddle is postponed in favor of a trip to geothermal paint pots. Rain clears the modest crowds, who stream back to their cars as we make our way along the jewel-toned craters. Mayflies flutter, making the most of their 24 hours of life. Mud ponds belch “bloop bloop.” If a dinosaur appeared in the midst of this landscape, no one would be surprised.

And no one is more surprised than me the next morning. Danny’s cry of “Good morning, campers! We’ve got coffee! We’ve got cocoa! We’ve got teas from around the world!” rouses me from a sound sleep. We’d camped at Grant Village, only to be immediately joined by a young elk who stretched out behind us, making her bed in a patch of wild strawberries. After dinner around the fire—pork loin and asparagus—I’d settled my sleeping bag atop a thick foam pad and had a five-star slumber. Surprise!

Refueled with bacon and blueberry pancakes, we make for Leeks Marina and make our first foray onto the water. Even in mid-August, the lake is numbingly cold, the kayaks’ stability reassuring. Ali heads off in the motorized support raft that holds our gear while we get to know the lake. Soon paddling basics have been mastered, and we skim smoothly across the clear waters, under the watchful Tetons. It’s like paddling in a postcard. Scenery: we’re soaking in it!

Two bald eagles monitor our approach to Colter Camp, on the lake’s western shore. We make camp in a flower-strewn clearing next to a small icy pond. After dinner, an animal approaches loudly through the brush. A small doe appears in the firelight. She circles the perimeter for most of the night, and well-guarded, I sleep.

Morning comes with an osprey’s cry, and a hummingbird dive bombs the clearing as I’m folding the tent. The day’s paddle starts with a short detour north, where Ali guides us into the pond beside the campsite. A frigid stream burbles up to the surface. Heading south, glacier-fed waterfalls crash down to the lake. Ali stops and picks wild berries while telling tales of the area’s nature and history.

Heading across Moran Bay to Grassy Island, the wind picks up and the waves rise. Fighting our way across the water we arrive at Grassy Island, our base for two nights. Danny makes hot tea and cocoa while we hastily erect tents. When the rain stops, we feast on steak and salmon while mosquitoes make a meal out of me. The group takes turns testing insect repellents, and soon they’re (mostly) repelled.

So far we’ve been traveling by paddle power, but the next morning it’s time to hike. Or bushwhack, actually, as Danny and Ali lead us up a steep trail that threads through dense undergrowth. I scramble over a freshly-fallen tree that is promptly named “Pants the Ripper.” A swift snowmelt-fed stream cascades besides the trail. This is prime bear territory (bearitory, if you will) so we make plenty of noise on the way to the summit. At the top, we’re rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks.

After lunch, a quick paddle through Bearpaw Bay brings us to a trailhead leading to Leigh Lake, where we spot our first humans. Ranger Philips comes from his cabin to tell us about the black bear and 2 cubs he’d spotted shortly after dawn.

Leaving Leigh, we wander through a “Sound of Music” alpine meadow, laden with lupine and other alpine wildflowers, before returning to the island. Morning means saying goodbye to Grassy, as we head to the final campsite.

Danny and Ali have saved the best for last. Spalding Bay is exceptional even in a jaw-dropping landscape, and my tent window faces what must be the most spectacular mountain view in North America. The site is littered with age-polished bones and eagle feathers, and watched over by 2 sandhill cranes. Tomorrow we’ll raft the Snake River, floating back to civilization. But today I can call this spot “home.”

This essay was originally created for the 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog. For more compelling stories from other renowned writers, click here to request your copy today!

There is perhaps no better way to experience the breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and geothermal wonders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks than from the cockpit of a one- or two-person sea kayak. Even with no prior experience, this low-impact, non-technical, self-propelled craft requires only mild exertion and is perfectly suitable for first-time paddlers. The techniques are relatively simple and easy to learn and the sea kayak offers a welcome reprieve for hikers with weary knees. Sea kayaks also allow visitors to reach areas that would be otherwise inaccessible and serves as an excellent and unobtrusive platform for wildlife viewing.

Yellowstone Lake
You’ve done the tourist thing, and you’re tired of the runaround. You could do without the crowds that seem to accompany almost every national park. You’d rather be in the middle of it all for your limited time in Yellowstone—out in the open with a side order of quietness and fresh air. A half-day sea kayaking adventure along 4-5 miles of Yellowstone Lake’s West Thumb Geyser Basin is an ideal way to escape the crowds, get a little exercise and gain a new perspective on one of the most popular parks in the U.S. After all, you came here to see the wild side of Wyoming…

As you pack sunscreen into the hatch of your kayak, you realize just how much there is to take in around you. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America (above 7,000 feet) and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera—the largest super volcano on the continent. The park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the "Lower 48" including black bears, wolves, pronghorn antelope, moose, bison, otters, fox, trumpeter swans, eagles, and close to 500 grizzlies and one of the largest herds of elk in the United States. Don’t forget your camera, as you’ll want to capture any unplanned interactions with these creatures.

There are no kayak rental options available inside Yellowstone National Park, but licensed outfitters, O.A.R.S. and Snake River Kayak & Canoe lead professionally guided tours every morning and afternoon from mid-June through mid-September—from $99 adult / $76 youth. If you prefer the do-it-yourself approach, Snake River Kayak & Canoe also offers equipment rentals which allows you to pick up a single or tandem kayak (includes lifejacket, paddle, skirt, bilge pump, roof pads and tie down straps) in Jackson Hole on your way into the park—from $65/day. More information on boating in Yellowstone National Park can be found on the NPS website (www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/boating)

Jackson Lake
On a Jackson Lake kayaking excursion, you’ll be immediately immersed in the wildness of Grand Teton National Park beneath the towering, snowcapped peaks of the Tetons. Jackson Lake's calm waters are perfect for paddlers to learn their first sea kayaking stroke. Hikes, waterfalls, fishing and ultra-photographic landscapes surround you with countless inlets and miles of shoreline that beg to be explored. Bald eagles, moose and elk are often as abundant as the park’s stellar vantages and there are more than 300 species of birds here, most of which are migratory and a beautiful sight to see soaring above your kayak.

During the warm summer months the clear, glassy waters of Jackson Lake offer a popular spot for locals and visitors alike and an ideal location for watching the sun set over the Tetons.  Although jet skis are prohibited, Jackson Lake is the only lake in Grand Teton National Park that allows water-skiing and wakeboarding so watch out!

Kayaking on Jackson Lake is an ideal activity for families, couples or groups of friends. O.A.R.S. is an authorized concessioner of Grand Teton National Park and offers 1 day/1 night or 2 day/2 night tours that include expert kayaking guides, top-notch kayaks and expedition gear and all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on the last day—from $273 adult / $222 youth. You can also rent kayaks and canoes on a first come, first serve basis from Signal Mountain Lodge or Jenny Lake Boating—from $15/hour. More information on boating and floating in Grand Teton National Park can be found on the NPS website (www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/boat).

Explorers’ Tip: for a unique backcountry experience, overnight camping on Jackson Lake is not to be missed and can offer a much more affordable option than a hotel stay. With an idyllic island camp and departures every Friday and Sunday, O.A.R.S. guests are the only outfitted paddlers authorized to spend nights on Jackson Lake. Group size is limited to a maximum of 12 paddlers.

The pond is misty and full of huge green pads loaded with yellow flowers. The center of which contains swirls of orange and black. We hear an eagle over head. Ever so gently, we glide across the pond scanning the water’s edge and look into the woods for wildlife.

Suddenly we see a little red fox, it sees us and is not bothered, but instead begins to hunt for breakfast. It hops along the bank, over and across fallen trees. Then it pounces, catching a vole. As we continue to watch the fox, a great blue heron swoops down on the beach. The heron struts through the marshy edge, stretching its neck with each step and scanning the water, looking for fish. As we twirl through the lily pad pond in awe of our surroundings, our senses are aware of something large walking deep into the woods. Twigs snap and shadows dance while the sun shines light on Mount Moran. What will we see next?

As we slowly head for the inlet, a doe elk jumps out on the shoreline. It looks at us and runs back into the woods. More branches snap, it must be the elk making all the noise. Then a huge bark echoes across the pond causing the water to ripple and me to nearly fall out of the kayak. It’s no elk barking, but a black male bear letting us know it sees us. We float through the lily pads and wait a little longer, there’s no sign of an emerging black bear from the woods. It stays elusive, teasing us with its sounds but never showing its face. We paddle on, excited by the life we saw and those that hid from us.  Upon reaching camp, coffee awaits us and we get to share our morning adventure with our family and friends. Thank you lily pad pond for the magical moment.

By Ali McNabb

Our paddle across Jackson Lake on the first day of an early season trip this year was one to remember, an epic tale of man verses the forces of nature. The morning kicked off with classic blue skies, sunshine and a calm lake.  However, while we were beached on a little island for a picnic, the clouds grew and billowed over the peak of Mt. Moran.  Zac and I gave each other a look as if to indicate, “Look at that weather, we’d better start rolling,” so we did.  The sky above continued to shine, but the clouds were darkening as they grew closer.  We had half a mile before reaching camp on Grassy Island at the southern tip of Jackson Lake.  I thought we could make it, but the weather had other plans.  The wind picked up and within seconds it started to hail; it took all the energy we had to remain accurately pointed in our kayaks.  We were all flailing about, and now the storm was nearly on top of us.  We still had to get to camp, which I then noticed was conveniently located in the eye of the storm.  Zac came rushing over and started helping each guest as we hauled the boats out of the water and on to our JRig (also known as, “Fatty,” the support boat for our operational equipment here in Wyoming).  I remember struggling to communicate with folks in the water, paddling and talking while keeping an eye out behind me.  All I saw was the silhouette of Zac lifting gear out of someone’s kayak and onto the rig.  It was bright and shiny a half mile behind us, yet furious ahead and the lighting was remarkable.  Once we were all safe on the JRig, we were able to motor to camp. 

Tents were set up quickly and we built a fire stat.  Zac and I set up the ‘bat wings’ for shelter and got the water boiling.  Camp was tightly tied down and everyone was safe and warm within minutes of our arrival.  Then, like the flick of a switch, the storm stopped. It came, stirred up the lake, and moved on.  By the next afternoon, we were enjoying bluebird skies.  The rest of our trip was flawless, with unbelievable views of the Teton Range surrounding us with waterfowls cruising by.  Some even engaged in a game of bocce ball, while others flipped off rocks and into the bay.

Mother Nature lets us know she is in charge.  Nonetheless, we persevered and were rewarded the opportunity to explore and ponder one of Earth’s most beautiful places.  The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park combine together to infuse big beasts, powerful rivers and jagged mountain ranges.  The unpredictability of this place is part of the wonder and magnificence of its playground borders.

As summer begins and wildflowers dust the meadow, bears are out grazing while bison wander in herds.  I invite you to join us here in Wyoming, where you too may experience life’s natural dramas firsthand in the real outdoors.
 

1.  How long have you been a guide?

I have been a guide for 5 years and been lucky in my guiding experience to have traveled throughout most of North America, exploring the most amazing National Parks and Provincial Parks imaginable.

2.  What is it that makes Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks so special?

The Greater Yellowstone Area is one of the most awe-inspiring places I have ever visited. The meadows, meandering streams, geysers, big wildlife and the abrupt Teton Mountains make for mother nature’s version of Never-never land. It’s a place full of adventure and mysticism. Other than seemingly countless days of rain in the spring and fall, it’s one of the greatest places on earth.

3.  What is your favorite local wildlife and why?

One of my favorite local wildlife creatures is the moose. I love them because they are huge and imposing while at the same time they are super goofy (Bull winkle-style).

4.  What do you bring to the adventure travel experience for O.A.R.S. travelers?

I like to think that I bring to O.A.R.S. travelers a way of guiding by educating them to explore and appreciate the wonderful place that they are visiting.

5.  What is your most memorable guiding experience?

One of my greatest trips took me south of Prudhoe Bay Alaska and along the haul road to tiny, backwoods Alaskan towns and back down to Valdez, Seward and Anchorage. It was so amazing to meet folks that live by subsistence living who follow the pipeline and along the tundra, not to mention the beautiful scenery and wildlife. I also had the best group of people for those two weeks and couldn’t have asked for a better trip!

6.  We hear you’re quite the world traveler. Tell us about some of your most interesting travel experiences?

My most recent trip took me to Ethiopia. Everything from that trip sticks out in my mind, namely one memory in particular. My friend and I went to the southern region to go on what I called, ‘a people safari.’ Ethiopia is not known for big animal safaris, but it is famous for tribes of people that still live the way they have lived for hundreds of years. They dress in cowhide, collect water from rivers, cover themselves with 100% organic material and live in mud huts. When we were there, one of the tribes performed a harvest ritual, which consisted of the women dancing around, shouting and stomping. They fought each other to be one of the women whipped by a few of the shepherds. It was nuts to see them all plead to be beaten solely for the sacrifice of a good harvest! Tribal members were consumed in this ceremony for hours until it ended with a young male running across the backs of 5 cattle, completely naked. I have never seen such energy from a group of beautiful people coming together to make an offering for their future, it was unbelievable and I’ll never forget it.

7.  What is the one item you can’t leave home without?

I would never leave home without my headlamp!

8.  Is everything really bigger in Texas?

Texans have a saying, ‘Everything is bigger and better in Texas,’ and I have to admit it’s true. The trucks, the houses, the sunset and the rainstorms come to mind, and don’t forget the big hair and the Texan hospitality.

9.  We understand you love to read, what is your favorite book?

I have two favorite books, "Where the Red Fern Grows," and, "Undaunted Courage."

10.  What do you enjoy most about your work?

I love the open skies, sun and getting dirty, but another great thing about my job is connecting people to nature and teaching them that there is life outside of the city walls that is worth exploring and protecting.
 

Book before March 31, 2009, and receive $250 off a Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer trip

Rick Sheremeta will be joining a 6-day Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer trip beginning June 21, 2009 (Summer Solstice!).  Rick is a frequent contributor to Outdoor Photographer and he is currently under contract as a photographer for the Associated Press, as well as a photography instructor for the Glacier Institute. 

 RICK SHEREMETA:  This scene reminded me of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.  The shade covering the hull created a challenge.  With uneven lighting, one of the problems is the difference in dynamic range between the exposure of the sky and that of the foreground.  I metered on the sky and water, which were pretty much about the same exposure value while giving them about a +1/3 compensation – so they would render correctly and not appear blown out.  This was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II, 17 mm lens with ISO400, an aperature of f/22 @1/80 second.