We get lots of questions about what exactly do our 8-day mountain trips look like. Well... let me tell you!
Currently, our mountain adventures take place in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. We drive out there in one day, stay in a hotel overnight, spend 6 days in the mountains backpacking and then head out, spending one night in a hotel on the way home.
The areas in Colorado that we really like include the Holy Cross wilderness, the Collegiate Peaks area near Buena Vista and also the San Juan mountain range area near Ouray, Colorado. We choose one of these areas for your adventure. How we decide where we go depends on the time of year, the weather, fire restrictions, the ability of the participants and road conditions. All of these areas provide you with a quintessential Rocky Mountain experience!
The vast majority of folks who desire to go on one of our mountain adventures have the ability to backpack. We choose routes that are very doable for most people. Of course, we are carrying everything we need on our backs so you will need some level of physical ability to do so. You'll need to be able to carry a full-size backpack for several miles each day. Again, most people, unless they have specific injuries or physical issues that prevent them from carrying a backpack or hiking 3-4 miles a day, are very capable of doing this.
Also, it is important to note that we will always adjust our routes and daily hiking to accommodate the abilities of the group as a whole.
Sure, backpacking in the mountains is work. You will definitely feel that each day. That said, we have a lot of fun and we do our very best to make sure that folks are having a great experience and are having fun along with that work. A big part of each day is making sure that we keep our hiking to a few hours so that when we get into camp each day, you have plenty of time to relax, explore, connect with others and, again, have some fun!
There is nothing that can compare with the experience of a true wilderness adventure! The combination of some hard work, including summiting a 14,000 ft mountain peak, the incredible beauty of our great outdoors, the fresh air, learning to set up and break camp, cooking meals outdoors and experiencing the solitude of the wilderness will bring you a level of inspiration and encouragement you may have never felt before. You'll realize there some things you can do that you never thought you would be able to. You'll learn things about yourself you may have not known. And, working as a team and connecting with others will lift you up and you will lift others up!
I've actually heard this statement quite a few times! For some folks, they are talking about equipment and clothing. For others, they are meaning that they aren't sure they're capable.
Equipment: We provide everything. Really... everything. We have all the equipment and food, along with amazing guides. We also provide transportation. Our equipment is top notch and you don't need to bring any. Now, if you have some personal equipment that you love and it meets our criteria for the type of adventure we are providing, you will be allowed to use some of your own equipment.
Clothing: We don't provide clothing with the exception of having some extra necessities such as mid-layers and raincoats. Most people already have acceptable clothing in their wardrobe but, if not, we can help you find what you need and find it inexpensively. You don't need to dress like Bear Grills or the participants of the show, "Alone"! We'll guide you with the basic necessities and, like I said, you probably have quite a bit of it already.
Capability: I get it. If you've never done something like this before, it can be intimidating. That said, most of our participants haven't done this before so you're in good company. And, we prepare our adventure and our routes for newbies. You can do it. Like I mentioned before, the only barrier is if you have a physical limitation that doesn't allow you to carry a full-size backpack and hike 3-4 miles per day. If you feel like you are not quite in the physical shape you should be in for this type of adventure, here's some simple advice... go hiking, do some squats, and if able, start carrying a backpack when you hike or walk. Start light and build up.
Probably one of the most expressed concerns! Yes, there are bears where we go. No grizzlies though, just black bears. And, you most likely will not ever see one. They really don't want to be around us, they don't like groups and we take all the precautions to make sure we don't have an encounter. To this date, we have never had a bear encounter. If, in the rare event that we do, we are prepared. We carry supplies to repel bears and we take care to prevent animals from accessing or being tempted by our food.
Yes, you should go! You will have fun, you will be inspired and encouraged, you will connect. You will love it!
"Connection through Adventure"
