If you know where to hike in Missoula, Montana, you’ll occasionally find yourself standing over several markers which indicate the high-water level of what was one Glacial Lake Missoula. Standing on top of Missoula’s peaks, it’s hard to imagine that once upon a time you would be standing on an island and everything you see below used to be underwater, but it’s true. Glacial Lake Missoula was a prehistoric lake at existed periodically at the end of the last ice age and held approximately half the volume of Lake Michigan.
Where am I going with this, you ask? On numerous occasions throughout the years, the ice dam responsible for creating the lake failed. The resulting floods - known most commonly as the Missoula Floods, are responsible for much of the Columbia River Gorge we see today. Historians and scientists estimate that over the course of 2,000 years, cataclysmic floods swept over Idaho, Washington and Oregon at least 40 times.
I found it particularly fascinating to hear about the floods. I had previously known that Glacial Lake Missoula once existed but (call me crazy), I had always assumed it disappeared through a much more normal means: evaporation.
As we sailed up the Columbia River, our guides would point to narrow canyons and jagged rock formations and remind us that such features were formed by a rush and wall of water so great that rock was quite literally carved away. Though the sight would have been terrible to behold (not that you would have beheld it for long), the ending result is truly GORGE-ous (yes, I went there).
This is an amazing company to work with. I generally do not use tour companies as I am more of an independent traveller so I was slightly reticent. They were fantastic from the start - 10/10 - from lining up a phone call to discuss requirements, then their ongoing communication in the lead up to the tour and during it (thank you, Franny and Phen). They also explored cost-effective options (eg group transfers). The tour was in Patagonia so Adventure Life organised a pickup from the El Calafate airport to the El Chalten accommodation, two day hikes with a private guide and then to the El Calafate accommodation. A tour coordinator came to the hotel to explain, using the maps, what was involved in each day tour and what should be expected, and patiently answered all questions. The tour guide Marcos was excellent - very professional, knowledgable, communicative and at all times felt very safe with his navigational skills (important in the Patagonian wilderness). On the second day I forgot to take hiking poles so Marcos kindly gave me his. I honestly wouldn't have changed a thing and would happily recommend and book through them again.
Petrina Sta
2 days ago
Adventure Life has been great throughout my planning process for our up and coming Galapagos cruise. Kevin Moore, in particular, was very helpful in assisting me in making choices and providing me with options. He was also very patient, as I worked through figuring out what I really wanted in this vacation.
Lucy Greenway
2 days ago
Adventure Life was a pleasure to work with. They helped us find different options for our charter and answered a lot of questions with patience and clarity.
Brooke Hopper
3 days ago
Excellent service, great hotels and well organized excursions with expert guides! Highly recommended!
Shadi Dalili
4 days ago
Clara Tort has been our Travel Advisor for Buenos Aires, then for Iguazu, then for Mendoza and Aconcagua Trekking, and then for Patagonia and Fitz Roy trekking. She has navigated with us through our travels, and now we are coming back for more- onto Machu Pichu and Peru.
