All-Female Adventures in Montana
AdventureWomen Also Offers Journeys to Amazon, Machu Picchu, Tibet
Trips for women are focus of outfitter celebrating 25 years; owner Susan Eckert says 7 out of 10 clients are repeat visitors who enjoy "Grand Dame of Adventure Travel"
Adventurous women have abounded in the American West. No surprise, then that AdventureWomen, an outfitter now based in Bozeman, Montana is a pioneer in female-only adventure travel, which this year celebrates 25 years of exploration.
A good way to see if you'll flourish in an all-female environment would be to sign on for its fly-fishing and horseback riding week at the historic 320 Montana Guest Ranch June 30-July 6, or the Glacier National Park hiking trip that is planned for August. If that sounds too close to home, AdventureWomen also offers exotic destinations, including Tibet, the Amazon, Costa Rica, Peru, Botswana and Dubai.
“For 25 years I’ve never lost my focus and my passion for new and exotic adventures, and I select destinations that I’ve always dreamed of exploring," says founder Susan Eckert.
"I keep my groups small. I personally research and plan every detail of each trip and I’ve hand-picked all of my guides, outfitters, associates, and trip escorts, who set the tone for each adventure.” Many of her clients have become lifelong friends, with her and with each other. “One of the best parts of owning an adventure travel company,” Eckert says, “is that as the business and I have grown older, my repeat client base has grown to nearly 70%.”
The two Montana trips are each priced at under $2,500 and include classic Rocky Mountains activities. On the ranch journey, clients can learn to fly fish, take a horseback riding jaunt across Montana fields then enjoy whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River.
Also included: a safari to Yellowstone National Park to see big game and Yellowstone's unique ecosystem, a history lesson, disguised as a visit the Missouri River headwaters made famous by Lewis and Clark, and an expedition through historic gold rush towns of the 19th century.
The Glacier vacation is primarily hiking, so female dudes can observe bear, bighorn sheep, moose and eagles, and cross the border into Canada’s equally grand Waterton International Peace Park. In addition to hiking, the group on this trip stays in comfortable park lodges-- the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and Glacier Park Lodge. For added excitement, there is whitewater rafting on the Flathead River.
"On the Glacier Hike, the ages range from 38 - 65 for those already registered this year," says Susan. "On the Guest Ranch trip, ages are ranging from 34 - 62. The average age for all of our groups is about 55 now."
