As we enter two decades as one of the oldest and most respected kayak companies in the San Juans offering sea kayaking with orca whales and wildlife viewing, we've learned a few things about what makes for a quality outing. Here are a few factors to consider when making your vacation plans...
Experience
We have been in business since 1987 and have built a well-deserved reputation for offering quality, hand crafted kayak tours. Clark Casebolt has made a personal decision to keep Outdoor Odysseys a relatively small company that concentrates specifically on sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands. Unlike some other island companies, we don’t offer trips in the winter to Baja or Costa Rica. This focus and personal involvement results in quality trips with a high degree of customer satisfaction.
Our level of commitment begins with your call or e-mail to our office. As a native of Washington, Clark and his staff can make recommendations about planning your trip to the San Juan Islands and other things to see and do in the Pacific Northwest. When you sign up we’ll send comprehensive trip information ranging from travel logistics, clothing and equipment lists to detailed natural history information. Our goal is to ensure that your vacation with us is effortless and hassle free from start to finish.
Safety
To ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip we use double kayaks - which are wider and much more stable than single kayaks. Our guides will provide you with a very thorough on-land kayak and safety orientation teaching the basics of paddling, steering and fitting the kayak. We won't get on the water until everybody feels comfortable about paddling!
Outdoor Odysseys takes particular pride in our mature and professional guides. They have been specially trained to handle emergency situations and routinely carry both cell phones and VHF radios as well as an expedition first aid kit on our overnight trips. With close to 20 years in the business we have an impeccable safety record.
Our Guides
All things being equal, (good food, beautiful paddling location, etc.) the single most important factor in determining whether or not you will have merely an "OK" trip or a "GREAT" one is going to depend in large part on your guide.
A good guide should be safety oriented, knowledgeable regarding all aspects of kayaking, informative about the local area and environment and, most importantly, they should genuinely like and enjoy people and their work. Outdoor Odysseys prides itself on hiring excellent guides that come back year after year. We hire guides who have grown up in the Pacific Northwest and tend to look on it as their backyard - which it is quite literally. Over 90% of our guides for the 2006 season call this area their home.
Knowledge
We typically hire guides that have degrees in the natural history disciplines. For 2006 two of our current staff members, Aya and Tom have degrees in biology. Steve, David, Ryan and Nikken have degrees in environmental science. Jennifer has a BS in zoology. What we all have in common is the ability to share in a fun and engaging manner our knowledge of the local flora and fauna as well as the cultural history.
You’ll learn about how to tell the difference between an immature and mature bald eagle or what the irrepressible American Oyster Catcher does with its bright orange bill. You’ll come to appreciate the natural history of the area while enjoying the incredible beauty of the San Juan Archipelago.
Good Food!
Preparing quality food while sea kayaking can be a challenge and a way for some outfitters to trim costs by serving the same thing every night. We pride ourselves on serving quality food and pay special attention to our meals.
Whenever possible, we use fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Typical dinner entrees include a smoked salmon pesto fettuccine and a Thai dish utilizing savory brown and wild rice and our own special ginger peanut sauce. The gentle art of Dutch oven cookery is used to bake entrees as well as mouth-watering desserts such as our ‘killer’ apple/pear crisp. Add a glass of one of Washington's premium wines; a view of the setting sun, great company, and well, life doesn't get much better.
Environmental Guidelines
Our trips have always been designed with an abiding respect and concern for our environment. Our guides share their passion for the unique ecosystem of the San Juan Islands in a variety of ways.
We practice low impact camping, make a habit of leaving any campsite cleaner than we found it and follow accepted wildlife viewing ethics. We also grow some of our own organic fruits and vegetables as well as support local island farmers. Outdoor Odysseys is an active member of a variety of local environmental organizations working to protect the islands including the San Juan Preservation Trust, People for Puget Sound and The Whale Museum.
When comparing outfitters, bear in mind that food and other amenities are areas where some outfitters tend to cut costs.
Consider some of our value added differences
- We provide dry bags for your convenience on our overnight tours
- We provide lunch on all of our sea kayak trips
- We use only high quality ingredients in our exceptional camp cuisine including organically grown produce, real butter, real maple syrup, good coffee and bottled wines.
When you combine delicious food, friendly, knowledgeable customer service and great guides, the bottom line is that with Outdoor Odysseys you receive a quality, memorable vacation.
