AGE GROUP: 16-18
21 DAYS
$2450

SKILLS: Backcountry Basics, Map and Compass, Alpine Hiking and Route Finding, Ice Axe Use and Snow Travel*, Mountain Weather and Hazard Evaluation, Rock Climbing, Kayak Strokes and Rescues, Ocean Travel, Marine Navigation and Weather, Surf Landings and Launchings

*depends on snow conditions

Dates:
July 3-22 , 2007
Spots Available: 10

IMPORTANT: All camps need a minimum enrolment of 6 to run. Each expedition has a maximum of 10 participants.

A WYLD EXPEDITION demands a lot from its participants. It asks you to lead your group and to follow, to be resourceful and creative and to explore and discover. It requires you to learn and master new skills, to build your level of fitness and confidence, and to work together with your team. In return, it gives you the opportunity to see and do things that you once could only dream of. It offers you the chance to push your self to the limit, and bring home more than you left with.

SEA KAYAK NOOTKA SOUND – HIKE STRATHCONA PARK - CLIMB CREST CREEK CRAGS
This course takes place in and around the spectacular region of Strathcona Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park in British Columbia. From alpine peaks to remote ocean inlets, there are infinite possibilities in this 250,445-hectare wilderness park. It is truly an adventurer’s paradise.

The 21-day Mountains and Oceans course is a multi-element course that brings you through all of the incredible places that Strathcona has to offer. From the ocean to the mountains, this is our longest and most challenging course.

Like every WYLD EXPEDITION, your group fully participates in every aspect of traveling and surviving this wilderness experience. This includes setting up and breaking down camp, planning and cooking meals, learning about your natural surroundings, and navigating/route finding over land and sea. Good leadership and the willingness to work together are definite prerequisites.

ITINERARY

DAY 1
Your adventure officially begins as your team meets in Campbell River. From here your instructors drive you to your first campsite on Upper Campbell Lake. This first afternoon is spent getting to know the group and instructors. Time is also be spent talking about some of the group's goals and objectives for the next three weeks.

DAY 2
This day is devoted to preparing for your trips. There are many logistics that go into extended backcountry expeditions and it is important that everything be organized. The group plans menus and packs food, with nutrition and weight being key elements in your decisions. Once everything is in order, it is time to head out to the coast.

DAY 3-8
Your first trip takes place in magical Nootka Sound. The coming days are filled with lessons introducing you to your sea kayaks and to the Backcountry Basics, which include outdoor cooking, campsite selection, shelter building, paddle techniques, and minimum impact camping.

On a typical ocean day, everyone is up early to pack up camp and get some food prepared. There is a lot to do and everyone is busy. After breakfast and once all the gear is packed up and loaded into your kayaks, your group is ready for the day’s adventures. You may spend time fishing for dinner or scrambling around tidal pools, teeming with new and exciting sights, or you may just lay back and float, enjoying the peaceful solitude of the wilderness. Once you have found another site for camping, you begin to prepare for the night. Tarps need to be set up, dinner must be organized and prepared, and a fire lit for warmth. During your explorations of Nootka, you have the opportunity to visit Friendly Cove where you see firsthand the history of Captain Cook. The history of this region is rich and exciting.

DAY 9-16
After your ocean adventure, it's into the mountains. You are re-supplied with food and dropped off at the trailhead. The land portion of your adventure brings you deep into the heart of Strathcona Park's pristine wilderness. You will traverse one of the spectacular mountain routes in the park. As you travel off-trail, you learn to read topographic maps and to use a compass. Your journey also takes you over snowfields and glaciers. By now, your team has honed many of its camping skills, allowing you to take over more of the responsibility from your instructors. You have become a self-sufficient expedition group, and the final phase of your mountain expedition is your chance to fully manage the navigation, campsite selection/set-up, and meal planning/preparation. It is your opportunity to use everything you have learned to finish your journey and succeed, as a team.

DAY 17-21
For your expedition finale, you are shuttled to Crest Creek Crags, where you spend the next two 2 days rock climbing. Your instructors teach you all the basics of climbing including knot tying, rope systems, belaying and rappelling. Most of all, you are learning to trust yourself and your teammates as you help each other succeed. Rock climbing is a unique experience that is intensely rewarding and absolutely unforgettable.