Unique Experiences

Item Description

Gather up 7 of your favorite people and prepare to bid on this wonderful opportunity! You'll spend 3 days of paddling in prime orca whale habitat and scenic waterfront camping on islands only accessible by boat.

Visit some of the remote sites used for Nor'wester overnights and Big Trips. Along the way, tides permitting, put in on Johns Island to visit Nawalagwatsi (the bighouse) and take a tour of the property!

Nor’wester alumni have won this item in the past, and Mollie was good enough to share this review of their “adult Big Trip”:

Getting to go on an "adult Big Trip" with camp friends was amazing! Not to mention getting to go on a kayak trip led by the premiere kayak guide company in the San Juans: we knew we were in good hands! Great friends, great food, great experience, priceless memories!

Bring the appropriate clothing, an appetite and a sense of adventure and we’ll provide the rest. Check out what people have to say about their tours at www.outdoorodysseys.com

Lest you think you'll be eating typical pack-out type food, we include a sample of possible menu items to give you a sense of what you can expect.

• Breakfast could be: Dutch Oven spinach goat cheese frittata with caramelized onions
• Lunch could be: Goat cheese, cashew, strawberry and fresh spinach wrap with clementine vinaigrette
• Dinner could be: Smoked salmon pesto linguini with sun dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives
• Desserts could be: Double chocolate brownies with fresh whipped cream, or seasonal fruit fondue dipped in a bittersweet chocolate ganache

Review from Cathe, a past auction winner: 

Our crew of four 20-somethings and four over-50s had a true adventure!  The San Juans, as campers know well, is such a special group of islands and waters. The boats and equipment are solid, which soothed those who had never kayaked before.  One can't beat eating gourmet food for three days with no cooking. The group of eight will never forget this weekend!

Item Special Note

Trip must be scheduled during September 2018, Labor Day weekend excluded. A May 2018 trip might also be a possibility for the donor.

About the donor: Tom Murphy is a past Nor'wester waterfront instructor (2001-2003) turned professional kayak guide, and owner of Outdoor Odysseys in the San Juan Islands.