Wilderness Adventure: Threatened Gems of the Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem
Join us on an expedition into one of the most celebrated regions of wild Wyoming: The Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem. Here in the Wyoming Range and adjacent Upper Green River Valley, you'll explore a land of sage covered valleys, rugged alpine peaks, verdant meadows, and clear mountain streams that is currently under attack from an unprecedented increase in oil and gas drilling development.
Wilderness Adventure Trips 2009
From grassroots organizing to Capitol Hill advocacy, The Wilderness Society has joined our local partners to engage in the fight against this critical threat, and together we have celebrated several notable accomplishments over the past year. We invite you to see first hand the beauty of this land while learning about the ecology, the politics, and the diverse perspectives that inform an intense debate about land conservation in this region. You can't miss this unique opportunity to discover the wilds of Wyoming that you have helped preserve through your support.
June 18, 2009 - Day 1 - Arrive at Jackson Hole Airport, WY - Overnight in Jackson
Upon arrival at the Jackson Hole Airport, you'll enjoy a comfortable first night's stay at the Rusty Parrot Lodge. Your accommodations are just three blocks from the restaurants and night life of Jackson's Town Square. Relax in the spa, explore historic Jackson Hole, and to get to know your guides and TWS staff.
June 19, 2009 - Day 2 - Eco-Flights from Pinedale/Tour of the Upper Green River Valley
Depart for Jackson Hole Airport to meet Bruce Gordon, founder of Eco-Flight for an early morning fly-over of the wildlife migration routes south of Jackson, the Wyoming and Gros Ventre Ranges, and the Upper Green River Valley; then visit the sprawling oil and gas fields southwest of Pinedale. Dive into the northern portion of the Upper Green River Valley for an introduction to this biologically-diverse landscape. The Wilderness Society is involved in a crucial oil and gas campaign in this area of Wyoming; we are working behind the scenes to provide policy and communications support for many local grassroots partners.
June 20, 2009 - Day 3 - Horseback ride into the Wyoming Range
Awake to a view of the Wind River Range after a cozy night's sleep at a working outfitter's ranch - The Flying A Ranch. Then meet with Dustin Child of Trophy Mountain Outfitters and begin your guided pack trip into the Wyoming Range. Located to the west of the encroaching drilling we explored the day before, the Wyoming Range towers over the landscape, sheltering some of the region's richest wildlife habitats and most pristine mountain streams. This wild landscape has also been a prominent setting for the lives of area residents and explorers for over a century; from our guide Dustin and his wife Laura, to the nineteenth-century explorers and Shoshone tribe that came before them. This evening, dine at the home of local rancher J. J. Healy for an informed conversation about the land, its need for protection, and the threat just over the horizon.
June 21, 2009 - Day 4 - Hiking
Take advantage of the variety of activities that the Flying A Ranch has to offer: explore on foot the many hiking options that are available nearby; ride on horseback through the surrounding mountains; or enjoy a restful day on the property.
June 22, 2009 - Day 5 - Depart
Time to head back to the Jackson Hole Airport - or add on a day or two to your adventure. There is so much more land to see: the Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, the Wind River Range, the Gros Ventre Range; it's all just a short drive from Jackson Hole.
Trip Details
Cost: $2495 per person, double occupancy; $290 single supplement
Number of Spaces Available: 12
Fitness Level: This trip is designed for participants in good health who are able to perform 4-6 hours of physical activity each day (the equivalent of walking up to five miles at 2.5 mph pace over uneven ground and varied terrain).
For more information or to ask any questions you can email Sean Bowie, The Wilderness Society's Development Coordinator, or call Sean at 202-429-2680.
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