Media Kit 2011

As the East Coast’s first outfitter, Wilderness Voyageurs made outdoor adventure accessible to the Eastern seaboard in 1964, and they continue to be a leader in safety, adventure and sustainability almost 50 years later.

Wilderness Voyageurs is based in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania in the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands along the Great Allegheny Passage and Youghiogheny River. Wilderness Voyageurs offers exciting adventures like whitewater rafting, fly fishing, kayaking, rock climbing and biking throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, all within a days drive for over 40% of the US population.

The Pioneers of East Coast Rafting

Wilderness Voyageurs pioneered East Coast whitewater rafting back in 1964 when Lance and Lee Martin ran the first commercial rafting trip on Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Youghiogheny River. Wilderness Voyageurs continues to lead the east coast rafting industry in terms of safety, trip operations, and diversity of offerings. Wilderness Voyageurs offers exciting whitewater rafting day trips and overnight trips on both well-known and obscure rivers throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, all ranging from Class I to Class V whitewater.

Upper Youghiogheny Class IV-V

Middle Youghiogheny Class I-II Lower Youghiogheny Class II-

III Cheat Canyon Class III-

IV Cheat Narrows Class I-II Tygart Valley Falls Class IV Tygart Arden Class III-

IV Savage River Class III-

IV Stoney Creek River Class III North Branch Potomac Class III Indian Creek Class IV

Rafting Rivers

Diverse Set of River Trips and Activities

In addition to their excellent whitewater rafting offerings, Wilderness Voyageurs offers a range of other activities and services. Wilderness Voyageurs’ three Outfitter Shops, located in Ohiopyle, PA, Friendsville MD, and Albright, WV serve as home bases and meeting place for all of their guided activities and instruction courses and offer a range of gear and apparel for sale. Fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and historical inn to inn bike tours and river floats are just a few of the unique activities that Wilderness Voyageurs offers.

Whitewater Rafting

Kayaking

Rock Climbing

Fly Fishing

Bike Tours

River Floats

Mountain Biking

Pedal & Paddle

Bike Rentals

Instruction

Historical Tours

Outfitter Shop

Lodging

Restaurant

Close to Home Adventures

Wilderness Voyageurs operates in southwestern Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region, home to the Great Allegheny Passage, the stunning architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, the beautiful Ohiopyle State Park and infinite opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Laurel Highlands region is within a day’s drive of 40% of the US population, easily accessible from I-70, I-68 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands are the perfect destination for an adventurous vacation, and Wilderness Voyageurs has the guides, gear and expertise to make a great family adventure a reality.

Unique Bike Tours

Wilderness Voyageurs specializes in unique bike tours throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.

• Great Allegheny Passage: This rail-trail tour takes cyclists on a 3 or 6 day ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC with natural, cultural and historical sites along the way

• The Civil War Tour: This 4 day historical tour through the rural countryside makes stops at significant Civil War sites like Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harper’s Ferry.

• Americana Bike Tour: This 4 day tour showcases covered bridges, cornfields, the Flight 93 memorial, 1700’s era taverns and Fort Ligonier

• Chesapeake Bay Tour: This 4 day tour along the shores of Chesapeake Bay offers some of Maryland’s best bike riding

Family Friendly Adventures Wilderness Voyageurs’ specializes in day-trips that are perfectly suited for families. These family adventures put an emphasis on more relaxing and easy going activities that are safe and fun for all ages. The Middle Youghiogheny and Cheat Narrow’s easy-going but fun rapids are perfect for a relaxing family river float. The Pedal and Paddle trip couples a Middle Youghiogheny float with a fun bike ride to and from the river. A family bike ride along the Great Allegheny Passage is a great option for those looking for a fun ride and great scenery.

Relaxing Family Activities Middle Youghiogheny Float Pedal & Paddle Cheats Narrows Rafting Great Allegheny Passage

Biking

Getting Kids Outdoors

Wilderness Voyageurs has been a longtime advocate for getting kids outdoors to learn about and enjoy our natural resources. As part of their commitment to getting kids to spend more time outdoors, Wilderness Voyageurs has put a large focus on facilitating programs for east coast scouting organizations. Over the past 45 years Wilderness Voyageurs has grown into the largest provider of high adventure scouting activities in the Mid-Atlantic. Wilderness Voyageurs facilitates instructional classes, gear rentals, guided adventures, and even merit badge programs for activities such as biking, paddling, rock climbing, and mountain biking . Wilderness Voyageurs Owner Eric Martin even sits on a Governor’s Task Force for getting kids outdoors.

Sustainability as a Way of Life

Wilderness Voyageurs is committed to finding ways to balance the inherent environmental impacts and energy usage of their operations with initiatives and policies that lessen those impacts and promote sustainability to their employees and customers. Some of their major sustainability programs include rural cardboard/paper and electronics recycling programs, a homebrew biodiesel program that dramatically reduces their fuel usage, locally sourced building materials that were produced within 30 miles, energy efficient building design that dramatically reduces energy consumption, and a large operation-wide composting program, just to name a few.

Sustainability Initiatives:• Brew their own Biodiesel, >7k Gals.• Eco-conscious construction

practices• Locally sourced building materials• Rural recycling programs• Friends of Ohiopyle Membership• Advocates for Sustainable

Practices

Media Contacts

Steve Szczecina

Adventure Media

steve@adventuremedianews.com

1.970.568.7423

Eric Martin

Wilderness Voyageurs

eric@wilderness-voyageurs.com

1.724.329.1000