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2008 Biking and
Hiking Tours
Simply stated, we believe our tour leaders are the heart and soul of our tours. These very special men and women are chosen by , not only for their obvious love of cycling and hiking and the outdoors, but also because of their caring manner, competence and enthusiasm, and their desire to share some extraordinary experiences with a wide variety of people and personalities over the course of a season. Approximately 60 percent of our staff are returnees from prior seasons and several have been a part of the family since our earliest days. Two leaders will be assigned to each group. In addition to extensive cyclotouring and hiking experience, each leader will have completed a leadership training course and will have received certification in first aid and CPR. Our bicycle tour leaders are competent bicycle mechanics and will be equipped to assist with repairs and maintenance.
A bicycle that is properly conditioned is essential (for bicycle
tours only). Bring your own bicycle or rent one of our triple chainring
touring or hybrid (upright handlebars) road bikes, or off-road mountain
bikes. All rental bicycles are equipped with touring saddles, water
bottles, toe clips, rear pannier rack and rack-top pack, at a cost of
$125 per tour. We urge all cyclists to wear helmets, which are available
for use at no charge. Rental bicycles and helmets will be available at
all tour locations, but must be reserved in advance.
All tour assembly locations are clearly indicated in each tour description and all are served by commercial airlines and other forms of public transportation. We will provide transfers to and from transportation facilities at all tour assembly locations during the day prior to, and immediately following the conclusion of each tour. Certain locations may not be as economically attractive as other nearby locations. For example, airfares to Denver, Calgary and Las Vegas are far more attractive without additional connections beyond those points to Aspen, Banff and St. George. In these instances, shuttle service will be available between those major terminals and tour assembly sites. Cost increments for this service are indicated in tour descriptions where applicable. Hiking programs assemble early-afternoon of the departure date and conclude by late-afternoon of the tour's final day. Participants can schedule arrival at assembly locations for hikes by noon of the departure date, or, of course, anytime during the day prior to departure. We suggest contact with our office prior to finalizing travel plans, particularly if a van shuttle will be needed between a transportation terminal and tour assembly location.
The van will be utilized for trail head shuttles and transport of luggage for hiking programs, but obviously will not accompany the group on the trail during each day's hike. Two group leaders will hike with the group, not only to provide any assistance that may be needed along the way, but also to offer interpretive substance that hopefully will enhance each hiker's enjoyment and appreciation of the experience.
Tour groups will range in size between 8 and 20 participants (normally 8-12). Participants should be 15 years of age or older, unless traveling with a parent or other responsible adult. The majority of tour participants fall within the 25-55 age range,
although we’ve had many both older and younger. Our groups generally are
comprised of a reasonably even mix of singles and couples, males and
females.
Our initial dinner on the departure date for all hiking programs will
include an orientation session for these groups.
Our hiking days are exciting and exhilarating, but we believe that your evenings on tour will be equally memorable. We have arranged lodging along the way that will enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of the region through which we tour. We'll overnight in several of the historic inns that we encounter along our many routes and spend other evenings in the excellent accommodations offered by a variety of inns and mountain lodges that are marked by the characteristic warmth and hospitality of the West. Most of these lodges offer swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and other amenities necessary to soothe any lingering memories of that day's mountain ascent. A special word is in order concerning the lodging that has come to characterize our tours through our national parks. We believe that an essential feature of a visit to a national park is the experience of spending overnights in the magnificent hotels and lodges that constitute an integral element in the lore and fascination of these regions. For example, in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we'll overnight in the Old Faithful Inn, Mammoth Springs and Lake Yellowstone Hotels and the Jackson Lake Lodge. In Glacier, our overnights include the Lake McDonald and Glacier Park Lodges and Many Glacier and Prince of Wales Hotels. In Mesa Verde, it's the beautiful Far View Lodge and in Rainier, the Paradise Inn. Standard lodging accommodations are included in the cost of all tours
for every night on tour. Not included in the cost of the tour package is
lodging for the nights prior to, and following the conclusion of the
tour. We can arrange lodging for you for those evenings upon request.
Standard accommodations consist of two persons per room with your choice
of one double bed (generally queen or king-sized), or two single beds.
For participants traveling solo, we'll pair singles of the same sex as
roommates. If we are unable to do so, there is no single
surcharge. Single occupancy rooms, though, are available at an
additional cost.
In our many years of cycling and hiking throughout the West, we've discovered the secret that motivates our guests to commit their vacations to the wonders of human-powered travel. Few pursuits in life offer the opportunity, and the need to consume enormous quantities of food with impunity as do cycling and hiking. We are not about to squander such a fantastic opportunity. We consider our meals on tour to be an integral and essential aspect of our overall touring experience. We may joke about quantity-we're often thankful for the next day's climb to burn away some of the previous evening's calories. But we never joke about quality and our meals will always rank highly among your fondest recollections of our tours. The tour package cost includes all all meals Hikes while on tour. A
varied menu is available at all meals to accommodate virtually every
dietary preference and need.
Hiking and Biking programs assemble late-afternoon of Day 1 and orientation dinners are planned for that first evening. Guests for hiking programs should plan their arrival at assembly locations not later than 1:00 p.m. of Day 1 All tours will conclude by late afternoon of the final day, although
times vary according to tour. If you plan to travel on the day the tour
concludes, we recommend that you contact to determine whether a
particular travel connection is workable.
Trip cancellation insurance provides reimbursement for non-refundable airfares and tour deposits should you have to cancel a tour due to personal or family illness or accident. That insurance also can provide reimbursement for non-refundable airfares should we cancel a tour. Insurance information will be included in your post-registration packet. |
Canada
