Owners & Guides Discuss Trips Along The Missouri River Of The Exact Path Lewis & Clark's Expedition Took Place In 1804
In the wilderness of Missoula, Montana exists an outfitter that specializes in trips based around the famous Lewis & Clark expedition that passed through the area over 200 years ago. Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures or LCTA, is the only group dedicated to placing you in the footsteps of America’s greatest explorers and the only operation allowed to take you to the White Cliffs and parts of the Lolo River. These are the areas through which Lewis & Clark traveled and camped on this leg of their famous journey across the continent.
Founded and operated by Wayne and Gia Fairchild, LCTA has been a labor of love since 1989. Wayne had a degree in Outdoor Recreation and Gia studied business, making it an ideal partnership, but that isn’t what held these two and their business together for all these years. Gia explains, “Honestly, we’re history freaks. We hike historic trails for fun when we’re not doing it for work.” Taking groups on a paddle on the upper Missouri River is a dream job for these two.
The Lewis & Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, left St. Louis in May of 1804. A year later they entered an area of present-day Montana known as the Missouri Breaks. Here, they paddled through the rugged topography and awe-inspiring scenery of what is now known as The White Cliffs. In Capt. Lewis’ own words, “The hills and river cliffs which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance. The bluffs of the river rise to the height of from 2 to 300 feet and, in most places, nearly perpendicular. As we passed on it seemed as if those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.”
It is no surprise that Wayne and Gia chose The White Cliffs as their main excursion, offering trips ranging in length from 2 to 6 days. The goal is two-fold. First, to immerse their clients in the world of Lewis & Clark, [and] secondly, to make visitors feel like personal guests in their home.
To accomplish the first goal, the couple decided to add special advisor/travelers to their team of guides who are tasked with bringing the myth of the area to life.
Ritchie Doyle is one such addition. He is a Historical Interpretive Specialist and Storyteller, who travels along with the group offering facts, anecdotes, and stories about the land and scenery passing by that Lewis & Clark once traversed: “We camp where they camped. We travel where they traveled,” he explains. “My job is to give people a smorgasbord of history throughout the day. [An example is like] ‘Here’s where the mud was so bad the team had to remove their moccasins and walk in bare feet for days” or “Over there is Horse Thief Haven where stolen horses would be hidden.’ With [these kinds of] stories, it’s easy to interest everyone.” Doyle’s favorite story time often occurs around the campfire after a long day of paddling along the river. “I like it when the coyotes interrupt me at the campfire. They tend to start yipping in the evening and they’ll [always] start in while I’m talking.”
Another guest who sometimes attends the excursion is Stephanie Ambrose Tubbs, daughter of Stephen Ambrose, the author of “Undaunted Courage”, a biography of Meriwether Lewis. With her father’s interest in the expedition, Stephanie literally grew up on the Lewis & Clark trail. “We used to take trips on the Upper Missouri when I was a kid,” she relates. “Coming back here almost feels like getting in touch with my childhood [and] my family. So when Wayne and Gia asked me to come along as a talking head guide I said ‘Yes!’”.
For Stephanie the appeal of these trips is clear: “It’s a basic American odyssey story. Anyone with a lick of adventure in them is interested [because it’s] still an engaging adventure to this day. Things have changed so much since they wrote in those journals. The idea that you can still do this kind of adventure in America is an uncommon [one].”
These kinds of ambitions have fueled her writing. She has authored the books “The Lewis and Clark Companion” and “Why Sacagawea Deserves the Day Off”.
It’s the details that people like she and Ritchie can offer that keep people coming back. “The level of detail you can have this story is appealing to people,” continues Ambrose. “They [Lewis and Clark] [themselves] were extensive writers and record keepers.”
As for attaining that personal touch on these tours, Gia explains: “Our guides and guests should feel like they’re on a trip together while also being provided a level of service that allows them to enjoy their experience. We want [them] to get to know each other. We meet everyone we can. We have [made] lifelong friends that started out by doing a trip with us somewhere.”
LCTA strives to provide what they call “outdoor luxury”. Tents and campsites are set up by staff before guests paddle up, which means after a long day in a canoe the beer is cold, the wine is opened, and a safari tent has your gear inside, ready to go. Great pride is also taken in the cuisine provided by LCTA’s very own chef, Ray Risho, who often provides a different style of food for each day on some of the 3 and 4 day trips.
The tours that Wayne & Gia provide are all about adventure but also contain a greater message: keep challenging yourself: “Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone because the rewards are huge. If you don’t know if you can spend two nights out on the river; you can,” explains Gia. “It will be super fun….I promise. You can always have a shower when you get back”
But, perhaps Ritchie sums up the role of LCTA the best when he says: “As long as there is genuine interest in Lewis & Clark, we’ll be here to keep the trail warm as it were.”
Michael Quinn
A graduate of St. Louis University in Communications with a focus in Advertising & Promotions, Michael has worked for Blue Man Group, Oito Zero Oito and Counts Media among others. His interests include DJing and Lawn Mower Disrepair.
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