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Tales from the Trail
Share your trip stories with the world! We invite you to submit your experiences from your Wilderness Inquiry trip.
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Have a photo to go with your story? |
| Story by: Vision Loss Resources, 06/30/2009 |
| Twelve enthusiastic clients participated in a 4 day camping trip on Lake Superior in June. The group explored the Apostles Islands, by kayak. Everyone, in some shape or form, joined this trip with some trepidation surrounding this new experience. On Lake Superior, we were all to participate in a “tip-test”. Read more » |
| Story by: John Engstrom, 03/28/2009 |
| On our Kenya Safari Adventure, we had seen all the animals I had dreamed of seeing except the male lion. We were in Masai Mara, our final game drive, and had only 1/2 hour to go before having to be out of the park. With such a short time to go, I was resolved that I wouldn't see the male lion and felt that my trip was complete anyway. Then the mad scramble over the drivers's radios! A mad dash through the dirt roads, guinea fowl and wart hogs getting out of the way. Read more » |
| Story by: Rodney Daly, 03/13/2009 |
| Baltimore to Belize My friend Susan and I took off from Baltimore with high expectactions, yet uncertain what to expect. We changed planes in Atlanta and then ventured on our way to Belize. As we came off the plane in Belize we were greeted enthusiastically by a waving crowd from the second floor lookout tower at the airport. This would be our tour group we would spend the next 7 days with exploring Belize and Guatemala together. Read more » |
| Story by: Monica Gomez, 03/05/2009 |
| There is no greater fun than to experience something new and exciting through someone else's eyes. The 10,000 islands adventure allowed three guys who had different abilities than others in the group to be in control. To see Jason, Steve and John's face all smiles and feeling accomplished was a tremendous treat. Thanks to those who helped them lift themselves up a notch or two. Read more » |
| Story by: Desiree Greene, 03/01/2009 |
| I had a great experience at my Wilderness Inquiry trip. I hiked about 5 hours to Canada, a different country. It was tough to keep up with others; I was walking but sinking into the snow every step. But I am in great shape. Read more » |
| Story by: Rodney Daly, 02/15/2009 |
| We headed out to an area where we might be able to see the scarlet macaws. We got to hang out by a wonderful stream with smooth colorful rocks for part of the day, and we got to go hiking for the other part of the day. Our first hike was supposed to be to the macaw "lookout". Our only instructions to get to the macaw "lookout" were just stay right. Read more » |
| Story by: Rodney Daly, 02/15/2009 |
| We were in beautiful Belize paddling down a jungle river, bird watching. The birds that flew overhead and hopped along the trees and shoreline were numerous and varied. I personally loved just sitting in the quiet and watching and listening. It was especially fun to listen to the parrots "talk" to each other up in the trees. Read more » |
| Story by: Kathy Schroeder, 09/15/2008 |
| Our story is that of 8 ER nurses {seasoned} that decided to head out into the wilderness. The 1st hour was filled with anxiety and apprehension, but as time and slow paddling in the afternoon sun continued, everyone relaxed and talked about doing this again. We had terrific guides that I believed enjoyed the tails from the ER, They cooked us wonderful meals, showed us the wilderness of the ST. Croix River and helped those that needed extra help. Read more » |
| Story by: Margaret LeBien, 08/14/2008 |
| Yesterday you had a stiff neck and a sore back from huddling into your computer screen for 7 hours. Today you wake up to the chill of a fresh breeze off the lake and the sound of mourning doves calling. You open your consciousness to the enticing smell of fresh brewed coffee. Welcome to your Wilderness Inquiry adventure. Read more » |
| Story by: Vincent Mangual, 07/25/2008 |
| For me, it was simply magic. To be in such beautiful awe-inspiring place such as Yellowstone Park and sharing it with twelve other people, who feel the same way, it was truly a marvelous adventure. Our guides, Cory, Cory and Kya led us from one great adventure to another. The people in the group and our guides got along so well, that it was as if we were 13 old friends hanging out on a camping trip. Read more » |
| Story by: Annie Hickman, 07/17/2008 |
| Dear Greg, This is just a quick note to thank you for having an organization so absolutely committed to making the outdoors accessible and enjoyable for all people. I recently went on my 2nd trip, 5 day Apostle Island Kayaking; both trips I have gone on have been marvelous! I was very nervous at first because I have a degenerative neurological disorder, and need to use a crutch and foot brace, and could not possibly imagine how I would be able to keep up and do everything everyone else was doing. On each trip the staff was accommodating without being annoying, and they made me feel like a valuable member of the trip. The adjustment to having limitations has not been graceful or easy, and it continues to evolve, but being able to participate fully in the kayaking trips has done more for my mental health and acceptance of this new self than anything else. Read more » |
| Story by: Judy Fahl, 07/07/2008 |
| What a great trip I had to South Africa and the Kruger National Park! Bill and Reid did a wonderful job of making it enjoyable and kept us all organized while making it look simple. The group of people on the trip were just very interesting and easy to travel with and I was sorry to say good-by to them all in Amsterdam when we parted ways. The animals exceeded all of my expectations because I thought we\\\'d drive around for a few days and then see an elephant on the horizon. Read more » |
| Story by: Len Price, 06/13/2008 |
| Thank you to you and your outstanding staff for helping at the Minnesota Conservation Corps event at Phalen Lake in St. Paul on June 8, 2008. The canoe rides were a great event. I saw many families in them having a wonderful time. Read more » |
| Story by: Amy Buesker, 06/12/2008 |
| I had the wonderful pleasure of joining W.I. for one of the Florida Everglades trips in March. It was an incredible experience. Read more » |
| Story by: Marc Bogursky, 05/14/2008 |
| Excerpt from a speech to Blake Upper School Students from Upper School Director Marc Bogursky: Seventeen members of Blake’s Lead Administrative Team, a body consisting of administrators from all of Blake’s campuses and offices, were engaged in a co-curricular activity of a different kind last August. On Wed. Aug. 15, we set off to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin so we could travel along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Superior on a kayaking expedition. Read more » |
| Story by: Peggy Martinez, 04/11/2008 |
| I'm writing to let you know what an amazing time I had on the recent trip I took with WI to the Everglades Ten Thousand Islands area of Florida and to compliment you, trip leaders Rob Rossi, Rebecca Barnes and John Jewell and the entire organization. I am also interested in learning how to become a WI Ambassador and the incentives WI offers as per your letter in the post trip packet. I first heard of WI about three years ago through a friend, Richard Rueda, who had been on a few trips with WI and told me what a blast he had had. I was instantly intrigued as I love nature and the outdoors. Read more » |
| Story by: Kristen McGivern, 03/06/2008 |
| Top ten favorite memories of 10,000 islands, Florida. 10. A long hard day’s worth of canoeing to get to a spectacular key to camp for the week. 9. Read more » |
| Story by: Mary Grove and John Ingham, 01/26/2008 |
| Memories of Prince William Sound: WI did a wonderful job of putting together an extraordinary trip to this very remote area. Magnificent mix of alpine and maritime scenery with lots of wildlife (and thankfully no brown bears). Highlights included whales, leaping pink salmon, Chenega Village, beautiful cliffs and shoreline, scenic oceanside campsites kayaking among icebergs, picnicking on a warm black sand beach in Nassau fjord, riding swells created by calving Chenega glacier, and being close enough to appreciate the beauty and immensity of it and far enough for safety. Dave Sanders is an exceptionally competent and amiable guide. Read more » |
| Story by: Anna Petra Liebenow, 01/23/2008 |
| I have always enjoyed having interactions with nature. Multiple sclerosis seemed to quickly chip away at the ease of doing this. A few months after I started using a wheelchair, I heard about Wilderness Inquiry and immediately knew it was something I wanted to participate in. Shortly after this lucky discovery, I met both my sisters in the Vancouver airport to go on a sea kayaking trip at Clayoquot Sound. Read more » |
| Story by: Joe & Cindy Walz, 12/28/2007 |
| Dear Greg, Cindy and I want to let you know what a wonderful experience we had on our Wilderness Inquiry trip to Kenya. One of my colleagues at our hospital had been on the previous trip and I asked her to be honest with me about her "evaluation" of her experience. She is a very seasoned traveler and she told me, "any one day of the safari would have made the entire trip worthwhile." We agree. Read more » |
| Story by: Nancy Marshall, 11/20/2007 |
| My sister asked if I would go with her on a Wilderness Inquiry trip back in 1985. As a person with C-7 quadriplegia, she had learned about the new organization in a "disability rag," as they were called then. We had a wonderful time canoeing in Maine with Betty and Doug as leaders. I still have the tee shirt I got back then, and I've worn it on nine trips since then. Read more » |
| Story by: Vicki Jett, 10/22/2007 |
| I can only tell you that my experience with Wilderness Inquiry on Lake Powell contributed more to my well being than what little I was able to do for my fellow adventurers. Every individual, leaders included only added to my experience. People questioned my sanity over my enthusiasum about a trip where there were 4 people with disablities and the fact that we would be camping and kayaking. But I can only tell you that each one of them added to my experience in very different ways. Read more » |
| Story by: Robyn Alexander, 10/18/2007 |
| 10/5-10/7 Wilderness Inquiry Hiking trip on the North Shore COLORS OF LIFE Rain, rain, go away. Then after it's gone we'll see what nature has to say. All the fall colors coming out, Try and figure out what nature is all about. Tough walking on wet leafy trails, so need to walk slower to avoid slipping spills. Read more » |
| Story by: Marg Coole, 10/01/2007 |
| What a great time we had on our recent Apostle Islands adventure! It was hard work, mind you, but wonderful fun. Highlights were perhaps Sand Island, the hike to the lighthouse- a beautiful structure, full of history. Or maybe the surreal crossing back to the mainland, when the often wild waters of Lake Superior were reduced to a quietly undulating surface as smooth as silk. Just a little bittersweet because our adventure was ending. Read more » |
| Story by: Greg Keller, 09/10/2007 |
| Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know Brandon & I had a great time on our Boundary Waters canoe trip. It is indeed a beautiful area. Patrick, Angela, and Kelsey were outstanding group leaders. You could tell each of them loved what they were doing and did everything possible to see that each of us had a wonderful time. Read more » |
| Story by: Karen Mappin, 08/06/2007 |
| To know Donatus Gadiye, the trip leader for Tanzania Tours with Wilderness Inquiry, is to know one of the kindest, funniest men on the planet. He's helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about his country. In fact, most Tanzanians are kind and thoughtful and willing, ready, and able to help anyone. My friend uses a wheelchair and on a our recent Tanzanian trek, she found sitting in the car most days to be not quite enough exercise. Read more » |
| Story by: Karen Mappin, 08/06/2007 |
| The Roads Are Rough! Anyone who has ever been to Africa will tell you that most of the roads are bone-jarring, potholed, dirt or mud tracks. Although there are paved roads, they are few and far between and have their fair share of potholes, speed humps, and large populations of walkers, riders, carts, and any number of animals. So on our July 2007 Tanzanian trek, we were already accustomed to the mode of travel when we attempted to get to Empakai Crater. I'm pretty sure the grader hadn't been along that way in about 3 years and the most recent rainy season had carved new ruts in the river bed that they called the road to Empakai. Read more » |
| Story by: Jennifer Fitz-Roy, 08/02/2007 |
| During my recent Apostle Islands trip, the most memorable moment for me was the first night we camped on Oak Island and went down to the beach to see the sunset. The beauty of that moment left me in awe, not only for the breathtaking view in the sky, but for the company that I was with. In between admiring the sunset we'd laugh, chat, our leaders skipped stones and it seemed like time had stoped in that moment and we were the only people on earth. In the past, I've only done camping trips with other people with disabilities, never with a blended group of people with and without disabilities. Read more » |
| Story by: Annie Hickman, 07/06/2007 |
| I went on my first kayaking/camping/wilderness trip to the Apostle Islands this summer (2007). The people in charge were wonderful, and it was something I was not sure I could (or should!)do since I have a disability. The guides made me feel like I could do anything, and I finished the miles of paddling and a 12 mile hike with more feeling of accomplishment than anything I have done in a long time! Having to deal with the shift in thinking that comes from being an athlete to needing help can be tough, but on this trip I learned that I can still do highly physical things with adaptations. Walking slowly instead of rushing through the woods made me actually look and see things around me, and the support available made me realize that it was OK that I need a little more help to do the things I have discovered I love. Read more » |
| Story by: Dawn Cardelli, 05/31/2007 |
| Three girlfriends and I went on the Superior hiking trip over Memorial weekend and we had a blast! Trish and Danielle were terrific trip leaders. There were two assistants, Sherry and Lisa, they were humorous and knowledgable about the area. We learned alot about the plants, trees and rock formations. Having them in the group was an added value. Read more » |
| Story by: Anthony Nunn, 05/29/2007 |
| Thank you Wilderness Inquiry for the experience on the Mississippi River. I was kinda nervous, it was my first time and I had fun on the big 'ol canoe. I liked the locks the best. I learned how to kayak with Ms. Read more » |
| Story by: Jim Bultman, 05/01/2007 |
| Clayoquot Sound "Minnesota doesn't have any taxes?" a graying Arizona man eagerly inquired after viewing our tax-exempt license plates. The Wilderness Inquiry van with enormous kayaks in tow always attracts some curiosity. Our group was waiting to board the ferry to Lopez Island. "No, we like our taxes in Minnesota," I replied. Read more » |
| Story by: Greg Keller, 04/22/2007 |
| This story is about the Brandon you see on some of the Moose River page pictures. Our trip was the summer of '04. Brandon was on the only canoe that tipped the week of our trip. Quick reactions by several men on the trip got his head out of the water before he ingested too much of the "Moose". Read more » |
| Story by: Roger & Harriet Flashinski, 04/20/2007 |
| I can sum up our Flash Kenyan Safari in one word – Phenomenal! Incredible! Awesome! Sorry, I couldn't control myself. When I arrived at the Kenyan airport, I noticed a number of different tour vans picking up people. I joked with Muthoga, one of our guides, that maybe I should check to see what they offer in their tours. I distinctly remember Muthoga smiling (of course, he smiles all the time anyway), and saying, "none of them will offer what you're about to witness". Read more » |
| Story by: Pattye Snyder, 04/18/2007 |
| I've been a budding professional nature photographer for many years so I knew that the 10,000 islands canoe trip through the Everglades would be heaven for me. I've met many new friends on WI trips and always learn a great deal (a passion of mine)! A few years ago, a fellow traveler and I ventured out early in the morning as the tide receeded to explore the mysteries of the tidal pools on White Horse Key. I had been doing macro-photography in the pools for at least a couple of hours, when my friend started humming a soft tune without really thinking about it. I was glad to hear that others do the same as I do---when she started humming "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" as we hiked, I unconsciously joined in with a quiet "woo, woo" between verses---. Read more » |
| Story by: Geoff Barnard, 04/18/2007 |
| The Bizarre and Wonderful Circumstances Of Grandpa's Trip and Claire’s Birth Claire was due on February 4, 2007. Grandpa Geoff had a trip to Costa Rica for Wilderness Inquiry led by Tom and Amy Gode, scheduled to leave the U.S. on February 10th. Read more » |
| Story by: Harry Bostic, 04/16/2007 |
| This year will mark the 7th annual Memorial Day I will spend with two amazing friends I made on the Moose River in 2000! The WI experience played a huge role in helping me overcome my disability so that after 9 years I was able to return to work in a field where I can assist others. On the two trips I took with WI I learned what abilities I have and have focused on these. If you have an opportunity to go with these folks don't pass it up. Read more » |
| Story by: Joe Moran, 04/16/2007 |
| In August of 2006, my youth group and I along with 6 volunteers took a trip to Voyageurs National Park near the Boundary Waters. So many great exciting things happened while we were there, I wish I could share them all. But one story sticks out in my mind. A young man in the youth group who had never been more than a half hour away from home, got the oppertunity to go fishing for his first time while we were camping on one of the Islands ( which later was named Bass Island). Read more » |
| Story by: Bob Reynolds, 04/10/2007 |
| Two years ago I went on WI's Colorado 14'er trip to atempt to climb a 14,000 foot peak with Bill Simpson. Bill was a inspiration to us all. We climbed Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in the range and the second highest in the continental U. Read more » |
| Story by: Dick Robison, 04/09/2007 |
| I went on my first trip in 1979 with WI 2. I met my fellow travelers in Duluth for the 100-mile trip to the boundary waters. I was introduced to the van occupants and we started out. I was amazed at the folks and their abilities and wondered how in the world were we going to make it anywhere let alone across portages and paddling across rough water. Read more » |
| Story by: Kelly Mortenson, 03/29/2007 |
| Way back in 1994, I went on your float trip down the Missouri River through Montana, where I met my future husband and paddle mate. We’ve now been married since September of 1995! We moved to Montana, where we lived for 10 years, did some wonderful canoeing and ended up back in the Midwest two years ago to be closer to family. Our memories of the trip we met on are wonderful and it was so well organized, fun and informative, despite the blasting heat and dry conditions and each person's different abilities. We kept our spirits up and the entire group had a wonderful chemistry. Read more » |
| Story by: Diana Ingraham, 03/22/2007 |
| Jambo Mr. Lais: I want to thank you and your staff for offering one of the best travel adventures that I’ve ever had the good fortune to experience. My husband and I consider ourselves seasoned travelers who enjoy learning about new cultures and countries. WI’s trip to Kenya was well planned, well rounded with both challenging and relaxing encounters, and consistently full of new, exciting experiences. Read more » |
| Story by: Melodie Morstad, 03/22/2007 |
| Sleeping outside in the snow as great. The staff went out of their way to make the experience special. They lit candles in the snow all along the trail to our campsite and had fire lit by our campsite. They read poetry by Rober Service and Sig Olsen. Read more » |
| Story by: Catherine Scherman, 03/22/2007 |
| Hiking through the woods in -25 was amazing time. I felt safe wiht the guides Chris and Angela. The most memorable moment was when Chris turned around and said "have I said how much I love this" Chris loves her job! Read more » |
| Story by: Richard Rueda, 03/22/2007 |
| I want to Thank WI for offering such an exciting hiking and exploration adventure to Costa. The people, food, culture and active outdoor activities provided me the opportunity to learn and engage in a menaingful vacation in a place that I have never ventured. This trip offered me the opportunity to snorkel for the first time, hike rugged terrain and at the same time be told of the plants, animals and insects roaming the part of the country. CR also provided me with the taste of a new culture. Read more » |
| Story by: Sandi Johnson, 03/22/2007 |
We just wanted to thank the Wilderness Inquiry Staff for making our summer a great one. John, Morgan, Ginny and Kaiwyn really worked hard throughout the trip to show our children the beauty of the outdoors and how to treat the enviroment. As we were lucky enough to win this trip through the passport program it has really been a positive experience for the kids. The leaders were also excellant role models for them. Read more » |
| Story by: Robin Hasenfield, 03/22/2007 |
| thank you for your note. i am happy to make a donation to your organization; please keep me on your list. about andy. my brother was a brilliant physicist who was diagnosed with ms in his senior year at princeton. Read more » |
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