Adventure Collection

A conversation with George Wendt, Founder and President of O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists).

DG: How and when did O.A.R.S. get started?

GW: O.A.R.S. got started as an outgrowth of my good fortune to be able to do a float trip through Glen Canyon on the Colorado River -- a beautiful section of river in Utah -- with the UCLA Bruin Mountaineers just before that section of river was flooded by a major new reservoir.  I was immediately hooked on the new sport of "river running" and I teamed up with a fellow teacher from the junior high school, where I began working, to start running river trips through the Grand Canyon.  We also ran trips in Central California on the rivers coming out of the Sierra Nevada, including the very beautiful Stanislaus and Tuolumne.    What year did you take that first float trip, and when did you start running the river trips?  The first trip I did in Glen Canyon was in 1962, then in 1965 I was able to begin running other river trips.   

Was that actually the beginning of O.A.R.S., or if not, when was O.A.R.S. actually founded? 

Well, initially we called ourselves "Gooch-Wendt Expeditions."  But since whenever we told people this, they invariably said, "What?" I decided that a name change would be wise.  "O.A.R.S." technically was incorporated in 1972. 

How has the company evolved through the years? 

Over the years, O.A.R.S. has slowly expanded to other rivers all around the western U.S. and to a few rivers and sea kayaking experiences internationally.  We now operate more 4- to 6-day river trips on the major wilderness rivers of the West than any other company.  We feel privileged to have been able to share the rivers and sea kayak trips we operate with over 400,000 passengers over the years. 

What are the hallmarks of O.A.R.S. journeys?  

O.A.R.S. has specialized in small groups going into marvelous outdoor settings. These initially involved only rivers -- hence our name, Outdoor Adventure River Specialists -- but now increasingly include coastlines and other beautiful multi-sport venues where we can provide an overall quality program of discovery with excellent guides and top-notch equipment.  Our goal is to help facilitate the best outing experience of our clients' lives. 

How would you describe the typical O.A.R.S. traveler?

We actually facilitate travel for a variety of "typical O.A.R.S. travelers."  For example, in the early 1970s, soon after we started our operation, most of our clients were 26-36 years of age and were quite adventurous.  We still get many of these clients, but we also now get lots of professional people in their 40s -- who quite often are bringing their families on our trips.  Now we also get a substantial number of travelers aged 55-70, who are in good health and want to complete major accomplishments on their "life lists."  Our reputation has been built on having knowledgeable reservations people as well as capable and enthusiastic guides who work hard to ensure that every passenger has a quality trip.

What are the prime challenges facing O.A.R.S. today?

The big challenges facing O.A.R.S. probably are much the same as those faced by any travel business.  We continually strive to employ the best possible guides and we spend a lot of time training them.  Some of the many other facets that we have to cover professionally include: good food handling practices, safe vehicle maintenance and operations, working to minimize our environmental impact through Leave No Trace practices and offsetting our energy use through Native Energy, human resource responsibilities for hundreds of employees, maintaining a well-functioning web site with online reservations, and communications with close to ten thousand passengers per year.  Additionally, working with over 20 National Parks, U.S. National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management offices to maintain the federal permits that allow us to conduct trips in western U.S. wildlands becomes a major part of the work that we attend to during the course of the year.

What are the prime challenges facing the larger travel industry?

The biggest challenges that we think face the travel industry revolve around the sustainability of natural resources, soaring costs for fuel, and the possibility that terrorism might impact operations.  Fortunately, our river trip and sea kayak operations are inherently low carbon producing.  We do need to transport passengers and gear to remote river launch points, however, and we need gasoline or diesel fuel to allow this to happen. In terms of the risk of terrorism, we are fortunate that most of our operations are in areas that are politically stable. 

How are you addressing these challenges?  

In the interest of conducting our operations responsibly, we are working to convert more of our fuel use to bio diesel and, as part of an effort launched by the rafting companies operating in the Grand Canyon, we are helping to fund a long-term research effort seeking to develop alternative engine technology. We are also embarking upon a major solar energy initiative. Our first solar projects -- for our main reservations office and our primary Californian operations warehouse as well as our Grand Canyon office and warehouse in Arizona -- have encouraged us to do more. This year, we expect to install additional solar capacity to cover all of our operational  warehouse needs in Idaho, Wyoming, and northern Utah.  We are working hard to stay at the leading edge of improved environmental practices and we know that other members of the Adventure Collection are also working hard on initiatives that, hopefully, will be followed by other companies in the travel industry.

Here is a quote from my statement in our 2008 catalog: "The last few years have represented a period of change in our country – an awakening to the significance of sustainability – where ‘being green’ is not only cool, it’s expected.  At O.A.R.S., we’re thrilled to see such progressive movement, but then again, conservation is the foundation of our company and the lifeblood of our future, so let’s hope the new attention to environmentalism isn’t just a fad; let’s hope it’s here to stay."

How do you see O.A.R.S. evolving in the future, and how do you see the larger travel industry evolving?

I envision that our established base in six of the West's premier National Parks -- Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, and Glacier Bay -- as well our base in Dinosaur National Monument and the river operations we currently run all over the western U.S. and Canada in a variety of protected areas will continue to be the mainstay of our business.  We are experiencing a continuing growth in our family and charter business and I anticipate that these trends will continue.  We are also seeing a growth of interest in lodge-based and multi-sport trips.  I anticipate that in the future, our business in Latin America -- especially with our trips involving the Galapagos and Machu Picchu -- will continue to grow.  In general, however, with the public's growing awareness of environmental consciousness, we believe that our trips closer to home will gain in popularity.  We anticipate that companies with well-established conservation principles which are perceived as being environmentally sensitive will be increasingly sought out by the public.

What’s the greatest pleasure of your work for you?

I gain my greatest satisfaction from hearing clients tell us that the trip they recently did with O.A.R.S. was the best vacation they’ve ever done!  We hear that often enough that this continually reinforces our commitment to provide the best possible overall experience for passengers -- with the right mix of passengers, the right guides, the best equipment, in the perfect venue.  I know how much I enjoy standing at the side of a river as the evening fades into night and thinking of the simple joys of life and the canyon's beautiful scenery that enhanced that day, knowing that all of the days of the trip blend together as a wonderful unit -- with a definite beginning and a definite end -- that is truly magical and quite unique in life.

Is there one moment or anecdote that captures the rewards of your work?

Just over a year ago, I had the good fortune to escort an IMAX film group on a 15-day river trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.  A lot of preparation went into making all of the arrangements for this dramatic film shoot in one of the world's most special places.  The resulting movie, which is to premier in New York this March, is then scheduled to open in IMAX theaters all around the country and a number of other places around the world on World Water Day, March 22nd of this year.

In many ways, this dream-come-true project captures the essence of my entire river rafting life.