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.
Cari Morgan is a freelance writer and founder of Evoke PR. She currently lives and plays in the Sierra Foothills.
Wyoming’s Wilderness Never Fails to SurpriseIt 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.
Cynthia Barnes has trekked to Timbuktu and Tibet, writing for National Geographic, Slate, Endless Vacation and other newspapers and magazines. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and former resident of Bangkok, she now names Wyoming as her new favorite place.
We rose about a half hour before first light. As we put on our warm layers and lifejackets, the first light creeps over the hills. We push off one by one in our blue kayaks, there are only three of us on this excursion to the lily pad pond. We paddle across the calm bay to a little inlet. As we creep along in the clear channel, a flock of Merganser ducks squawks by us. Very slowly and quietly we enter into the lily pad pond.
Read the rest of this entry »
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.
The first light of the rising sun creeps over the Eastern mountain range. A silhouette of a moose swimming across the lake can be seen. The water is so calm that it barely leaves a ripple. A mating pair of Sandhill Cranes flies low on the horizon. Dawn is stirring.
Read the rest of this entry »
Those of you who have traveled with O.A.R.S. on previous rafting or multi-sport adventures are undoubtedly familiar with the efforts we take to create a comfortable camping experience for all our travelers. However, for those who have yet to experience the art of camping with O.A.R.S., allow us to share a few examples of what you should expect on a multi-day adventure:
First off, our guides are experts at finding the best camp spots away from other groups. You may often feel as though you are the only ones on the river. Camp may be at a still, sandy alcove on the water’s edge, or a sunny, green clearing among mammoth cedars and towering cliff faces. There are trailheads, fishing hideaways and swimming holes just a few moments away.
Upon arrival at camp, your guides will set up comfortable camp chairs, drinking water, a “loo with a view” (placed at a discrete location away from camp generally with a scenic vista), a hand-wash station, and a full-scale kitchen.
Read the rest of this entry »
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
Ali McNabb is one of our adventurous Wyoming guides, a BBQ-loving gal originally from Austin, Texas. In addition to kayaking, she also enjoys bike riding, hiking and reading in her down time. McNabb worked previously at Trek American and has traveled abroad extensively in between seasons, mainly in Mexico, but also throughout South America, Turkey and Ethiopia.
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
Waterblogged in your inbox
Subscribe to Newsletter -
Blog Feed -
Bloglines -
Waterblogged in your inbox -
O.A.R.S. Guides Blog
