Karen from Carlisle, PA Date attended: August 14-25, 2012 Program design: excellent/great sites and pace Information packet prior to program: excellent Leader Timothy Rabin from Rapid City, SD: This trip was Tim’s first time to the area so he relied on the notes given to him and on the coach driver for logistics. I was disappointed there were not local native guides for seven days of the trip to share their experiences in the area; provide an educational interpretation of the area, people, economy, history; and make suggestions for free time. Coach driver: Mike Pahl from Missoula, MT excellent/advised the leader; knew sites for stops; where to view wildlife; provided excellent narrative for those in front seats and the leader. While driving the 1,600 miles Mike was not permitted to use a microphone to share his narrative with all on the coach. Mike kept the coach clean and stocked with bottled water. A 2-door coach would have enabled faster loading/unloading. Dr. Keith Watts from Wilson, WY – step on guide 1-day Jackson Hole and lecture on geology excellent/educational & fun Mike Stevens, a senior guide working in Yellowstone, – step on guide 1-day Yellowstone excellent/educational & fun Rich Aarstad – 1-hour presentation on Montana’s fur trade excellent Dan, a Blackfoot - driver of 20-passenger bus Going-to-the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, and provided commentary excellent Ashley Mason – 1-hour presentation on Glacier National Park at Lake McDonald excellent Jereme Arsenauft, musher, presentation on Snowy Owl sled dog tours. Brought Megatron, a husky & sled excellent Meals: convenient locations I liked that alcohol was not covered. Hotels: good locations Each of the other 35 interesting participants enhanced the journey

Great programs. Intense at ties but you get a lot for your money. Great teachersm fun people to travel with.

This trip opens up the wonder of the Northwest area and the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. You will be forever changed by all the experiences of this trip.

A beautiful itinerary! Though I had been to most of the places included, there were new insights and experiences. Glacier National Park and the Athabasca Glacier were totally new. We had an excellent coach driver who helped the tour leader, new to this tour, with some of the places to see.

This is a wonderful tour for anyone wanting to see beautiful scenery and appreciate the fact that our governments saved this land for us to see. It was the first trip for this program so there were a few kinks regarding timing, etc. that will probably be worked out for future trips. Our tour leader was called to do the tour when the scheduled leader fell ill. He did a good job and tried to make sure the company was notified of problems.

The step-on and local guides were good. I am a former earth science teacher so I was particularly impressed with Keith Watts in the Tetons and Ashley Mason in Glacier.

Accommodations and food were OK. We pre-ordered some meals at the start of the trip and although the food was good the service was poor. We had a variety of dining experiences, from cafeteria, hotel, and good restaurants.

Regarding a comment from another tour member. Breakfast was often AVAILABLE at 6:30, but no one was required to be there at that time. This allowed plenty of time for those of us who liked more time before getting on a bus.

Although there were few organized long walks or hikes, there were ample opportunities for people to hike if they wanted to. (Jackson, Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, Waterton Lakes, Glacier, Banff and Lake Louise were the places I took the extra time to walk.)

I truly learned a lot and enjoyed this trip.

NOTE: I was unable to post my comments directly in the review section. Several other members have also noted this. Go to your account and do it there.

This inaugural trip had lots of bugs. A substitute leader was unfamiliar with trip; group size was larger than limit of 38; some lectures were excellent, some were substitutes, one did not show up, but Keith Watts was the low ebb - treated us as 5th graders! Black Hill Educational Institute who ran the program was not up to date, apparently the program was planned without field visits, travel times were incorrect. Only one facility had grab bars in the showers. We were required to have breakfast at 6:30 each morning, but did not leave until 8:00. Program should NOT be rated as ACTIVE, only two days did we walk 2 miles, hiking sticks were not needed; lack of long walks was a disappointment in such a beautiful area. Too much time was allotted to looking at grand hotels (45 minutes to 1.5 hours). At Old Faithful we were not even directed to the wonderful new museum, some of us found it on our own. The low point in the meals was at the Silver Grill in Ft. Macleod, it was unacceptable. Much works needs to done to make this the wonderful trip that it could be. The scenery is spectacular.