What a thrill is a snowshoe on a moonlit starry night in the Wood River Valley. To do this for a cause is doubly satisfying. On Saturday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. Expedition Inspiration will host its annual Moonlight Snowshoe Celebration on the Elkhorn Golf Course. The Elephant's Perch will donate the use of snowshoes for participants who do not have equipment.
Snowshoeing is great exercise for anyone in fairly good condition. All that's needed are the sleek lightweight snowshoes, a good pair of insulated hiking boots and clothing layers that can be removed easily as you heat up.
In case the exercise proves thirst-making, there will be a champagne "ice bar" set up along the course. Now that's my kind of workout.
Indoor festivities including a tapas-style dinner, drinks and fun with master of ceremonies Mike Murphy, will begin after the hearty snowshoers arrive back to the at Elkhorn Golf Club at 7 p.m.
Among the many auction items that can be snapped up by attendees are an opportunity to literally walk on the "Wilde" side with licensed outfitter Buck Wilde, who has led more than 1,000 adventurous guests to Katmai National Park in Alaska since 1991. In filming the BBC documentary about Wilde's treks, English director David Attenborough said, "Most Alaskans avoid grizzly encounters. Not Buck Wilde. We've come here to meet the Bear Whisperer."
Donated by Wilde, the four-day expedition includes a bush flight from Kodiak, sleeping and dining tents inside bear-resistant perimeters, "Eating Like A Bear" home-cooked meals and guided walks. This once-in-a-lifetime experience retails for $4,000.
Other featured items include an exotic African photo safari, with a choice of several luxury four-star accommodations. a romantic excursion to an exclusive Polynesian-style condo on Kauai, and a limited edition Gibson SG guitar custom decorated and autographed by actress and author Brooke Shields.
Money raised during Expedition Inspiration's Moonlight Snowshoe Celebration will support promising young researchers in the field of breast cancer as well as fund the 12th annual Laura Evans Memorial Breast Cancer Symposium to be held in Sun Valley March 5 to March 9. This year's symposium, featuring pre-eminent doctors and scientists from around the world, is entitled "New Therapeutic Approaches to Breast Cancer."
Fun in the snow
What: Expedition Inspiration Snowshoe Celebration.
Where: Elkhorn Golf Club.
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, snowshoe, 6 p.m. Indoor activities, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $125 per person; Expedition Inspiration, 726-6456 or www.expeditioninspiration.org.
Courtesy Buck Wilde
A grizzly bear checks out the scenery in Katmai National Park.
