If you have ever taken in the view atop a high mountain peak, or breathed the thick, misty air inside a moss-laden forest, you will already have experienced the power of nature to touch and inspire your life.
Vernon’s Elements Adventure Company hopes to offer outdoor experiences that harness nature’s ability to do just that.
“Our wilderness expeditions are designed for people who want an unforgettable adventure where they just show up and the important planning is taken care of,” said director Charles Ruechel.
As a certified Paddle Canada instructor, Ruechel selects rivers that permit individual opportunities to learn new paddling and outdoor-living skills.
Elements Adventure Company’s signature trip is a two-week, 300-kilometre canoe expedition on the upper Stikine River in northern B.C.
In addition to being trained paddlers, EAC’s guides spend time teaching those on the expeditions about local culture and ecology.
“There is something deeply inspiring about paddling a powerful, clear river, that flows for hundreds of kilometres through nothing but pure nature – vast mountain peaks, rich forests, and iconic wildlife such as wolves, moose, and caribou,” said Ruechel.
“It refreshes and renews your outlook on life.”
For Ruechel, the most rewarding part of the business is witnessing some of the more unexpected side benefits that can come out of an expedition.
He remembers a past participant, a busy entrepreneur, saying, “I was shocked at how truly alive and connected I felt on the trip — a feeling that was dreadfully lacking in my life. This experience was the catalyst for me to make significant changes in my personal life.”
Elements Adventure Company also offers shorter-term programs, including canoeing courses ranging from flat water to class four rapids, a circus and canoe camp for teens and wild mushroom tours.
“Small group sizes allow for individualized instruction and personal connection so space is limited,” said Ruechel.