Rocky Mountain Leadership
- How do I know if this adventure is right for me?
- What is the best part of this adventure?
- What kind of service project will we do?
- Is it hard to get certified in First Aid/CPR?
- What is the backpacking like?
- What if I have never whitewater kayaking before?
- What is the weather like on this adventure?
How do I know if this adventure is right for me?
If you have gone on an ARCC adventure or a similar wilderness program this may be the trip for you. Rather than being a student of a backcountry class you will be the teacher. Rather than wondering what you will be eating, you will plan your own meals. If you are wondering what it takes to lead a wilderness trip and are ready to take a more active role in your trips decisions, this is the adventure for you.
What is the best part of this adventure?
For many students, the best part of this trip is climbing the Grand Teton. Our world famous Exum Mountain Guides will safely lead the way up this impressive peak. Once you reach the top you can look down and see how far you have come. The feeling of accomplishment once you ìtop outî is indescribable.
What kind of service project will we do?
Every year we set up a service project with the National Forest Service. Last season we helped restore trails and protect them from further erosion. We design these projects to help give back to the land we use on our adventure. The hours we spend mending the land can be used as service hours required by many schools. The work is hard but very rewarding, not to mention the beautiful areas we will be doing this in.
Is it hard to get certified in First Aid/CPR?
No. This requires about a days worth of classes culminating in a written and practical test. You will learn the basics of first-aid and how to properly perform CPS. The skills you will learn could save someone’s life one day.
What is the backpacking like?
We will be backpacking in the Bitterroot Range, hiking on the border of Eastern Idaho and Western Montana. This jewel is very secluded and rarely do we see other hikers out and about. Here on the Continental Divide, we’ll develop our leadership skills and become experts at backcountry wilderness travel. We’ll hike below towering peaks, along alpine lakes, through wildflower filled meadows, and through forests of fir and pine. Because this is a leadership and challenge based program, we’ll be hiking 5-10 miles a day, for 9 days. Backpacking in a secluded wilderness is an experience not soon forgotten.
What if I have never whitewater kayaking before?
That won’t be a problem. We are enrolled in three days of kayak school. We will learn everything you need to start running whitewater. You will have a choice of learning in an inflatable kayak (very forgiving, recommended for someone who has never been in a river), sit-on-top kayaks (these are made of hard plastic but the cockpit is completely open), or hard shell kayaks (you actually sit inside these and have a spray skirt to keep the water out).
What is the weather like on this adventure?
The Rocky Mountains are beautiful during the summer. When the sun is out it will be hot and dry. In the afternoon it will usually cloud up and an afternoon thunderstorm will occasionally blow through. At night it will clear up and we can watch the stars as we sit in our sleeping bags.