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for the most difficult and technical routes to ascend (as rock climbers often do). The national parks of the West are a great training ground for potential mountaineers who want to climb higher peaks in Alaska, the Andes, or the Himalayas. Booking a two- to four-day Mount Rainier summit climb with experienced guides is a great start. The remote peaks of North Cascades and Olympic national parks also are good bets, providing a true wilderness experience.

TAKE A TOUR

Whether you want an experienced guide for an active-sport trip, or an educational but leisurely program that takes the planning out of your hands, tours can be ideal for all ages and life situations—families, outdoor enthusiasts, and retirees.

ADVENTURE TRIPS

Many trip organizers specialize in only one type of activity; however, a few companies guide different kinds of active trips. (In some cases, these larger companies also act essentially as a clearinghouse or agent for smaller trip outfitters.) Be sure to sign on with a reliable outfitter; getting stuck with a shoddy operator can be disappointing, uncomfortable, and even dangerous. Some sports—white-water rafting and mountaineering, for example—have organizations that license or certify guides, and you should be sure that the guide you’re with is properly accredited.

Tour Operators Backroads (801 Cedar St., Berkeley, CA 94710 | 510/527–1555 or 800/462–2848 | www.backroads.com). The Great Canadian Adventure Co (6714 101 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6A OH7 | 780/424–9034 or 888/285–1676 | www.adventures.ca). Off the Beaten Path (7 E. Beall St., Bozeman, MT 59715 | 800/445–2995 | www.offthebeatenpath.com). REI Adventures (P.O. Box 1938, Sumner, WA 98390 | 253/437–1100 or 800/622–2236 | www.rei.com/adventures). Sierra Club Outings (85 2nd St., San Francisco, CA 94105 | 415/977–5522 | www.sierraclub.org/outings). Timberline Adventures (7975 E. Harvard, Suite J, Denver, CO 80231 | 303/759–3804 or 800/417–2453 | www.timbertours.com). Trek America (P.O. Box 189, Rockaway, NJ 07866 | 973/983–1144 or 800/873–5872 | www.trekamerica.com). The World Outdoors (2840 Wilderness Pl., Suite D, Boulder, CO 80301 | 303/413–0938 or 800/488–8483 | www.theworldoutdoors.com).

SENIOR TOURS

Those in their golden years can join special tours, some of which are quite adventurous, such as Elderhostel’s grandparent-grandchild river rafting trip on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River.

Tour Operators Elderhostel (11 Ave. de LafayetteBoston, MA 02111 | 800/454–5768 | www.elderhostel.org). Walking The World (P.O. Box 1186, Fort Collins, CO 80522 | 970/498–0500 | www.walkingtheworld.com).

SINGLE-PARK TOURS

If you want to concentrate solely on one park, contact the park directly to learn about organized tours they may have. Or look into one of these organizations:

Tour Operators Glacier Park, Inc. (P.O. Box 2025, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 | 406/892–2525 | www.glacierparkinc.com) offers weeklong excursions specifically in Glacier and Waterton that include meals, narration on rides in vintage Ford Jammers, and time for play away from the group. Grand Canyon Tour Company (4343 N. Rancho Dr., Ste. 230, Las Vegas, NV 89130 | 702/655–6060 or 800/222–6966 | www.grandcanyontourcompany.com) provides tours of the park from Las Vegas. The Yellowstone Association Institute (P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 | 406/848–2400 | www.yellowstoneassociation.org) offers guided tours and trips in Yellowstone, ranging from backcountry expeditions to "Lodging and Learning" experiences.

TOURS WITH ACCESSIBILITY

Tour Operator Access Tours (P.O. Box 499, Victor, ID 83455 | 800/929–4811 | www.accesstours.org) leads nine-day trips for people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility impairments and can customize trips for groups of five or more.

CAPTURING THE PARKS ON FILM

Today’s digital cameras make it difficult to take a truly lousy picture, but there are still some things even the best models can’t do without your expertise. The tips below (some of them classic photography techniques) won’t turn you into the next Ansel Adams, but they might prevent