O.A.R.S. Reinvents the Travel Catalog for 2012
Stories of adventure, guide interviews, travel tips, eye-catching photography, and articles penned by award-winning travel writers make the 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog one of a kind.
Veteran adventure outfitter — and Adventure Collection member — O.A.R.S. has just published its 2012 catalog, and it’s a stunning re-envisioning of what a catalog can be: a content-rich, magazine-style publication that bucks the conventions of the traditional travel catalog and captures the culture and evocative nature of the O.A.R.S. experience. Within its pages readers will find a compelling collection of whitewater rafting and sea kayaking adventures, interviews with larger-than-life river guides, travel tips, recipes from the river, and a wide range of stories and articles penned by travel writers. According to O.A.R.S. Director of Marketing Steve Markle, “Our intention was to reinvent the traditional catalog and increase the value to our travelers while engaging them emotionally by giving the O.A.R.S. book a more sincere and authentic third-party voice.”
The catalog succeeds robustly in this regard, with great features by travel writers Everett Potter on Butch Cassidy and the Outlaw Trail in the Wild West and Cynthia Barnes on hiking and sea kayaking in Yellowstone and Great Teton National Parks. Blogger Kristin Mastre’s narrative of her first-time rafting experience on Oregon’s Rogue River offers a glimpse of the trepidation and transformation that many reluctant rafters must feel on their maiden voyage.
Other subjects covered range from fly fishing and star gazing to craft beer in a can and family-friendly adventures. Journalists John Muncie and Katie Arnold write about introducing kids to the outdoors, while other contributors offer photography tips, useful advice on traveling abroad, a guide to the birds of western river corridors and destination guides to the classic western towns of Moab, Jackson Hole, and Salt Lake City.
The catalog also gives readers a chance to get to know some of the unique guides and personalities within the O.A.R.S constellation of companies. An interview with river legend Martin Litton, the founder of Grand Canyon Dories, gives readers insight into the history of rafting in the Grand Canyon and the sublime art of rowing whitewater in a dory. Bob Anderson, executive chef and host of O.A.R.S.’ popular Wilderness Gourmet Series, serves up some of the secrets of cooking gourmet meals on the river. And veteran guides Basilio Cakaunivalu, Stephen Kenney and Natali Zollinger share their passion for river guiding. Complementing the text throughout are stunning images from photographers such as Justin Bailie, whose images appear regularly in Outside, Backpacker and Sunset.
The 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog should serve as a resource that travelers can turn to again and again when dreaming about and planning their next adventure. Concludes Markle , “Our hope is to give people a glimpse of the culture and adventure of the O.A.R.S. experience and to inspire people to visit the destinations where we lead trips. In the end, we hope people enjoy the catalog and that the new approach results in a longer shelf life, more sharing with friends and family and, of course, more people enjoying the incredible adventures we have to offer.”
The 2012 O.A.R.S. catalog is available free of charge at oars.com/catalog or by calling (800) 346-6277. The digital version can also be viewed on any desktop browser or mobile device at http://ow.ly/6VeNw.
