Page 313 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

OUTDOOR A C TIVITIES  311

Rock Climbing Whale-watching
and Mountaineering
Whale-watching is one of the
The Pacific Northwest’s Cascade, most popular outdoor activities
Coast, and Rocky Mountain in the Pacific Northwest,
systems offer innumerable particularly during the
possibilities for rock climbing spring and summer. An
and mountaineering. off-shore show, courtesy of
In Oregon, Timberline more than 20,000 gray whales
Mountain Guides offer that migrate every year from
instruction and guided climbs Alaska to California and Mexico,
on rock, snow, and ice. Rock can be seen from boats or from
climbers will want to visit the the shores of the Pacific Ocean
world-renowned Smith Rock in Oregon, Washington, and
State Park, near Redmond, to Sailboats on Burrard Inlet, with West British Columbia. A number
check out its 1,300 climbing Vancouver in the background of charter companies run
routes, some of which are whale-watching cruises.
the toughest in the world. and the San Juan Islands in The best vantage points
Visitors to Washington can particular, offer scuba divers in Oregon include Cape
hire a guide or take lessons thousands of miles of ocean Meares, Cape Lookout, Cape
from outfits such as North flora and fauna. Visit 3 Routes Kiwanda, Devil’s Punchbowl,
Cascades Mountain Guides on the Internet to access Cape Perpetua, Sea Lion Caves,
and Rainier Mountaineering. comprehensive scuba-diving Shore Acres State Park, Face
The Peshastin Pinnacles State directories for Oregon, Rock Wayside, Cape Blanco,
Park was created especially Washington, and British Cape Sebastian, and Harris
for rock climbers. Columbia. There are also Beach State Park.
For information about many prime surfing spots along In Washington, orcas swim
climbing and mountaineering the Pacific coast, through the around the San Juan Islands
in British Columbia, contact Strait of Juan de Fuca, and and in the waters off Puget
the Federation of Mountain around the San Juan Islands. Sound; San Juan Island’s Lime
Clubs of BC or BC Parks. For windsurfers, the Columbia Kiln Point State Park is the
River Gorge, a stretch of the only park in the US dedicated
Columbia River which forms to whale-watching.
Water Sports a natural divide between In British Columbia, of the
The Pacific coastline and the Oregon and Washington, offers dozens of companies that
rivers and lakes of the Pacific ideal conditions and beautiful organize boat tours, most
Northwest attract enthusiasts scenery. The popular Columbia are Victoria-based. Both
of white-water rafting, scuba Gorge Sailpark in Oregon Seacoast Expeditions and
diving, swimming, boating, has a large shallow area for Five-Star Whale Watching
surfing, kayaking, kite-boarding, beginners. British Columbia’s aim to minimize the negative
stand-up paddle boarding, best windsurfing is near the impact of tourism on the whale
and windsurfing. town of Squamish, a Coast populations. The shores of
White-water rafting is one Salish word meaning “strong Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim
of the region’s most popular wind.” The sport is also popular National Park Reserve are
sports, especially in the on the Sunshine Coast, in also world-famous for whale-
waters of the Cascades range. White Rock, and at Jericho watching, making binoculars a
Destinations in Oregon include Beach in Vancouver. handy addition to the suitcase.
the Deschutes, Snake, and John
Day Rivers; in Washington, the
Wenatchee, Skykomish, and
Methow Rivers; and, in British
Columbia, the Mackenzie River
system. Basic training courses
are usually available for
inexperienced rafters. To book
a rafting trip in the US, contact
River Riders or Wildwater
River Guides in Washington.
To find out about BC’s outfitters,
contact BC Parks. Wedge
Rafting offers rafting as well
as jet-boating tours that whisk
passengers close to waterfalls.
The coasts of the Pacific
Northwest, and of Puget Sound White-water rafting the Nahatlatch River in southwestern British Columbia

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