Check it out: during this great camp our goal is to visit at least one of all the following wonders of nature, found right here in Western Washington:

• Alpine Glaciers
• Desert Canyonlands
• Sand Dune Oases
• Old Growth Temperate Rainforests
• Mt. St. Helens Volcano & Hardened Lava Tube Caves
• Columbia River Gorge flowing into the Pacific Ocean
• The Puget Sound, which we call the Salish Sea around here, and which is a beautiful protected part of the Pacific which is bordered by Vancouver Island in Canada, and the Olympic Mountains on our side of the border.

The GeoTRIP begins with group planning and the gathering of resources to learn all the geology we can while experiencing it first-hand during our trip. Right after that, we'll head over the mountains to Icicle Canyon where we'll receive guided rock climbing instruction for those who wish to learn this fun skill. We'll also investigate all the exposed rock that this beautiful canyon offers, learning how the Cascade Mountains continue to form, and study the mind boggling geology of the sagebrush steppe which was carved by biblical floods which swept the area during the last ice age.

Next, we'll scale the slopes of Mt. Ranier to reach the base of glaciers on this perfectly cone-shaped volcano which towers over Seattle. Then very exciting this year will be our visit to the active Mt. St. Helens volcano, which as you probably know, blew its top in 1980, and is now actively spewing lava to create a new dome. We'll get as close as we are allowed to the crater and later climb into the lava tubes on its remaining north slope.

Next, we'll follow the Columbia River Gorge as did Lewis & Clark 200 years ago, and then turn north along the shores of the Olympic Peninsula to witness the standing monolyths formed by pounding waves of the Pacific. We'll explore the coastal Sand Dunes and take our high-powered halogen spotlight with us to view all the animals who are so abundant there.

We will continue our journey into the Old Growth Temperate Rainforests of the Olympic Mountains, with its gigantic trees and lush mossy beds to camp on before crossing the Salish Sea by ferry and returning to Wolf Camp.

Again, in addition to learning the skills involved in rock climbing, we’ll intimately explore the geology of our region to achieve an appreciation for the workings of stone, water, soils and fire that created these mountains and inland seas. After climbing in this volcanic range, and hugging its cliffs with trust in your equipment, you’ll feel a liberating confidence that can extend to all areas of your life back home. Gain a heightened awareness of hazards in nature, and overcome any obstacle with teamwork in this exciting camp.