In 1958, Fresno, Calif.-born Wayne Merry was part of the first climbing team to ever scale Yosemite’s indomitable El Capitan, the world’s tallest granite wall. Recalls Merry of his ultimate 47-day encounter with nature: "It was a dream...the biggest challenge we could see. And that unlikely success has influenced almost everything I have done since."
Treat attendees to the following California adventures, and the office may never seem the same again:
- Since 1969, the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service (www.yosemitepark.com) has taught the ropes to experts and novices alike. Overnight backpacking, group hiking and skiing are also available, and it’s ladies-only on the Girls on Granite program.
- In Palm Springs, Desert Adventures (www.red-jeep.com) offers programs that include eco-tours and excursions to the San Andreas Fault and Joshua Tree National Park. Plus, the company hosts events at its Old Mining Camp and Indian Village venues.
- Among its many offerings, Santa Barbara Adventure Company (www.sbadventureco.com) leads single-day and multiday kayaking expeditions in the offshore Channel Islands archipelago, where sea caves and secluded coves await visitors.
- The menu at Berkeley-based Backroads (www.backroads.com) includes five-day driving tours in Death Valley and multiday bike tours of Napa and Sonoma.
- At Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort (www.skiheavenly.com), the 3,100-foot-long Heavenly Flyer is a thrilling, tree-topping zip line ride (side-by-side seating available) featuring a steep, 525-foot drop. It lasts 80 seconds, but at 50 miles an hour, the experience is unforgettable.