Welcome to the Fall 2009 College Outdoors Trip Schedule.

Please note that this list is updated frequently throughout the semester. Trips here are open to Lewis & Clark College students (undergrad, graduate, and law), faculty, staff, alumni, and their guests only. Please contact our office for more details on any of these trips. Last Update: August 25, 2009.

BACKPACK MT. SAINT HELENS

Friday evening, September 11 to Sunday, September 13
Signup Begins: Friday, August 28
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 8, 5:30pm

Explore the trails of the Northwest’s most active volcano; observe close-up the aftermath of the 1980 eruption and the area’s natural recovery. Backpack to a nearby lake on Friday evening by headlamp. The next day, you will continue through islands of old growth forests, shielded from the volcano’s fury by lucky geographic placement. Discover great views, ripe huckleberries and stunning scenery at this national monument, known to Native Americans as “Loowit.”

SURFING AT THE OREGON COAST

Saturday, September 12
Signup Begins: Friday, August 28
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 8, 5:00pm

College Outdoors is contracting this one day course though the Cleanline Surf Shop. Join the folks at Cleanline, representing nearly 30 years of professional surf instruction, at Oswald West State Beach. This trip will be physically demanding! Participants need to be good swimmers, since ocean currents are strong, water temperatures are cold, and paddling in the surf is difficult. You will also be hiking about two miles roundtrip with your surfboard and gear. Fee includes transportation from campus, surfing equipment rental fee, and instruction. Though this trip may seem a little expensive, this is the best deal for any all day surfing lesson you can get. A comparable surf lesson is $199 without transportation to the coast!

DESCHUTES RIVER RAFTING #1

Sunday, September 13
Signup Begins: Friday, August 28
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 8, 6:00pm

Central Oregon’s Deschutes River features seven major rapids (rated Class 3+) in twelve miles, making this one of the premier rafting rivers in the state. This beautiful river runs through juniper and sagebrush country in the rainshadow of the Cascade Mountains.  You will get wet, and you need to paddle hard!  If you like whitewater, this is an awesome time!

WALDO LAKE SKEA KAYAKING SERVICE PROJECT

Friday evening, September 18 to Sunday, September 20
Signup Begins: Friday, August 28
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 15, 5:30pm

Imagine floating on water so clear it looks like you’re flying! Waldo Lake, perched at an elevation of  5,400 feet in the Cascade Mountians, is the second clearest lake in the world. On this trip we’ll kayak across the lake to work with the Forest Service on a service project for half the day, like repairing their winter shelter or stocking wood. The other half of Saturday and on Sunday, we’ll explore this beautiful body of water by sea kayak before returning Sunday evening.

DESCHUTES RIVER RAFTING #2

Saturday, September 19
Signup Begins: Friday, August 28
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 15, 5:00pm

Central Oregon’s Deschutes River features seven major rapids (rated Class 3+) in twelve miles, making this one of the premier rafting rivers in the state. This beautiful river runs through juniper and sagebrush country in the rainshadow of the Cascade Mountains.  You will get wet, and you need to paddle hard!  If you like whitewater, this is an awesome time!

DESCHUTES RIVER RAFTING #3

Saturday, September 26
Signup Begins: Friday, September 4
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 22, 5:30pm

Central Oregon’s Deschutes River features seven major rapids (rated Class 3+) in twelve miles, making this one of the premier rafting rivers in the state. This beautiful river runs through juniper and sagebrush country in the rainshadow of the Cascade Mountains.  You will get wet, and you need to paddle hard!  If you like whitewater, this is an awesome time!

KAYAK ESTACADA LAKE

Sunday, September 27
Signup Begins: Friday, September 4
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 22, 5:00pm

Paddle this narrow, steep-walled lake near the town of Estacada.  Because the lake lies in a gorge, we'll see dense vegetation, mossy rocks, little waterfalls, and cold, clear water.  We'll be on the lookout for native populations of beavers, osprey, and eagles, and enjoy a day paddling and exploring, seemingly far from campus and its stresses.

DAYHIKE INDIAN HEAVEN WILDERNESS

Saturday, October 3
Signup Begins: Friday, September 11
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 29, 6:00pm

This sub-alpine environment just north of the Columbia River Gorge is dotted with dozens of fascinating lakes. Fall colors will brighten the trailside, featuring unbeatable views of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Hood. We’ll explore some of the trails and lakes of this high plateau.

FALL BREAK:  RAFT GUIDE CLINIC

Wednesday evening, October 7 to Sunday, October 11
Signup Begins: Friday, September 11
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 29, 5:00pm

This clinic is the first step to becoming a professional guide, for those of you who’d like to captain a whitewater raft. You’ll learn technical knowledge and gain valuable experience in the art of running rivers, at a fraction of the cost of similar courses run by other groups. This trip takes place on the Maupin section of the Deschutes River, at Wapinitia, Box Car, and Oak Springs rapids.

FALL BREAK:  CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK AND BEND, OREGON

Wednesday evening, October 7 to Sunday, October 11
Signup Begins: Friday, September 11
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Sept. 29, 5:30pm

Come see Crater Lake National Park (Oregon's only National Park) and learn to paddle a sea kayak on the mountain lakes by Bend, Oregon.  On this trip, we'll stay in nice, new cabins (with hot showers, even!), visit Crater Lake National Park for a day (weather permitting), paddle lakes in the Central Oregon Cascades (near Bend, Oregon) and hike some spectacular trails.  Cost includes all the gear you need, kayaks, transportation, food, and lodging.

ROCK CLIMBING AT SMITH ROCKS

Friday evening, October 16 to Saturday, October 17
Signup Begins: Friday, September 25
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Oct. 13, 6:00pm

Start scaling some of Oregon’s best rock by joining us at Smith Rocks, one of the most well-known sport climbing areas in the country. This course will be contracted by a professional rock climbing company in the Bend area and sponsored by Student Activities. They will provide the appropriate gear and lessons for a full day of climbing at Smith Rock over near Bend. Be aware that climbing has risks of injury or death, and you will have to assume those risks to participate. This is an opportunity for you to learn technique, visit a new climbing area, or take your gym climbing outdoors.

CAVING & CAVE CONSERVATION

Saturday, October 17
Signup Begins: Friday, September 25
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Oct. 13, 5:00pm

Thousands of years ago the lava from a spectacular volcanic eruption created these lava tube caves at the base of Mt. Adams. These awesome natural formations stay relatively dry and at a constant temperature of about 50°, making them ideal for caving.

Friday evening, October 23 to Sunday, October 25
Signup Begins: Friday, September 25
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Oct. 20, 5:00pm

Improve on your current skills, paddle under adverse conditions, learn about leadership and how to teach others to kayak. We will tackle challenging wind and waves by the time the weekend is out (weather permitting), and we guarantee you’ll learn a lot. This clinic takes place at various lakes and bays on the Oregon coast, and we’ll be staying in dry yurts at night. Prerequisites: You must know how to swim, and you should have done kayaking, canoeing, or other paddling before. Due to strong currents and long days, participants need reasonable upper body strength (such as being able to do a minimum of 15 pushups).

YOGA & MEDITATION COAST RETREAT

Friday evening, October 23 to Sunday, October 25
Signup Begins:  Friday, September 25
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Oct. 20, 5:30pm

Come have a relaxing weekend doing yoga and Zazen meditation with College Outdoors. Zazen meditation is an excellent way to focus, relax, reduce stress and is great combination with yoga. It’s also an opportunity to spend some time on the Oregon coast. We plan to do short hikes mixed with relaxing yoga sessions. Depending on weather, we might do our yoga and meditation outside. On Friday evening, after classes, we’ll go to the Oregon coast, stay in yurts and we’ll return by Sunday afternoon. Come relax, unwind, and join us on this unique, popular College Outdoors trip. No prior yoga or meditation experience is necessary.

FALL MUSHROOM HIKE

Saturday, October 31
Signup Begins: Friday, October 2
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Oct. 27, 5:00pm

Oregon has an enormous number of mushroom species and it’s no wonder, with all this rain! As long as you’re living in Oregon, and since they taste so good, you might as well be introduced to some of them. On this hike, we’ll spend the day searching a coastal forest near Tillamook for all sorts of fascinating fungi, culminating in a mouth-watering feast (weather and mushroom crop permitting).

GORGE WATERFALLS HIKE

Sunday, November 8
Signup Begins: Friday, October 23
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Nov. 3, 5:00pm

Come join us on an excursion to see some of the Gorge’s lesser known falls, and take in the autumn scenery. The natural power and beauty of these waterfalls has to be seen to be believed. Plus, getting there is half the fun - we’ll roam the trails of the Gorge with plenty of time to stop and enjoy the view.

WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER RECERTIFICATION

Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15
Signup Begins: Friday, September 4

Saturday, November 14
Signup Begins: Friday, October 23
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Nov. 10, 5:00pm

On the Central Oregon Coast lies an area of huge Sitka trees, ferns, cascading streams and waterfalls. We’ll hike through old growth forest to a secluded bay where we can watch sea lions. The seven-mile round trip hike traverses some of the most productive rainforest on earth, showcasing Oregon’s natural treasures.

MAP & COMPASS CLINIC

Saturday, November 21
Signup Begins: Friday, October 30
Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM): Tues, Nov. 17, 5:00pm

This clinic establishes an understanding of the tools and basic navigation skills required for outdoor exploration. The knowledge you gain can form an important part of your leadership development, and is useful for anyone who loves to take outdoor trips.

WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER COURSE

Thursday, January 7 to Saturday, January 16, 2010
Signup Begins: Friday, September 4(for LC Students); Friday, November 6 (non-LC Students)

This ten-day, intensive seminar on wilderness medicine is becoming the standard training for Outward Bound instructors, National Outdoor Leadership School instructors, and other outdoor professionals.  Improve you resume for that ideal summer job, and be ready for any emergency that might happen to you and your friends in the outdoors.  The workshop is taught by NOLS/Wilderness Medicine Institute.  This course can count towards 1 PE/A credit required for graduation.