Rock Rapid

» Rock Climb - 7 days:
Two technical climbing experiences will challenge us in the Arkansas River Valley and in Rocky Mountain National Park. Under the guidance of professional climbers, we spend five days learning to reach the top of each 5.4-5.10 pitch. Instruction focuses on proper equipment use and safety techniques, as well as belaying, rappelling and climbing skills. Participants only climb pitches appropriate to their ability. A service project puts into practice our AAVE philosophy of giving back to the wilderness areas we visit.

» Whitewater Raft - 5 days:
Two different raft trips assure a maximum amount of rapids. We spend a day acquiring paddling skills on an exhilarating ride through Clear Creek or the Arkansas River and two days on an overnight trip on the Gunnison River. Accessible only by foot, the narrow river gorge creates exciting thrills beneath the 2,800 foot high walls ofÊthe Black Canyon of the Gunnison River.

» Wilderness Living - 9 days:
We begin and end our adventure with backpacking through the Rocky Mountains. We learn about "Leave No Trace" camping methods as we set up our tents to sleep beneath the starry skies and gather around cook stoves to create tasty backcountry meals. This is our time to savor our group experience, learn backcountry living skills and enjoy the awesome challenges of the wild.

» Day 1:
After meeting the leaders and new friends in the Denver International Airport, we head to our campground where the leaders cook dinner and we get some time to hang out and relax. We discuss expectations, talk about and prepare for our upcoming backpack, and get to know each other.

» Days 2-4:
Our adventure starts as we backpack into the Rockies. Pike National Forest is home to alpine terrain, open meadows, breathtaking views, elk, raccoon, fox, and bear. We camp above 12,000 feet, waking refreshed from the night of sleep in the clean mountain air. Climbing even higher, we summit Mt. Silverheels reaching 13,822 feet! An afternoon of well deserved rest, a warm, delicious dinner and another great night sleep leaves us energized for the hike out and the move to our next adventure...

» Day 5:
WHITEWATER RAFTING!! We cruise through Class III & IV rapids with our guides as we splash our way down Clear Creek, surge over Nomad and power through the Phoenix Holes rapids on our way past the historic town of Idaho Springs.

» Days 6-7:
Day one of rock climbing adds another exciting component to our summer adventure. After learning how to safely belay each other we put on our helmets, harness up and hit the wall. We work on techniques such as edging, smearing, stemming and hand jams, just to name a few. The next day we work on longer, more challenging climbs and get more comfortable with the sport. Amazing views of the Arkansas River from the top of each of the climbs gives us the opportunity to look for eagles, deer and bighorn sheep. Evening activities include bowling and/or a soak in the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

» Days 8-9:
Get ready for more whitewater thrills as we raft the world-class Arkansas River. We shoot through Class III & IV rapids down Brown's Canyon. Watch out for Zoom Flume, Big Drop, The Staircase and Seidel's Suckhole rapids!!! We camp on the banks of the river and fall asleep under twinkling stars after a well-deserved dinner feast! We rise early for some more paddling and then head to our next camp.

» Days 10-13:
Prepare for another fantastic backpack! We spend three days soaking up the beauty of the Rockies. Alpine ridges, glaciated granite peaks, and quickly changing weather make every day different and exciting. Our elevation ranges from 8,400 to 13,502 as we trek past lodge-pole and bristlecone pine and timberline-alpine tundra. We practice the Leave No Trace ethics we learned on our first backpack to reduce impact on this pristine wilderness.

» Days 14-15:
We enjoy a night's rest to recover from our backpack and take a day to relax and enjoy the stunning Rocky Mountain National Park. Elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, eagles and hawks abound in the park. Sweeping grassy meadows and trickling streams lay at the base of Long's Peak, one of Colorado's most famous at 14,259 feet. During our visit the wildflowers are in full bloom and there are 359 miles of trails to choose from!

» Day 16:
Today is our chance to give back to all of the spectacular parks we've been enjoying. Whether it's clearing invasive species, forging a trail or reducing the risk of forest fires, our positive attitude and dedication to a day of hard work make this a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

» Day 17-19:
We continue with three days of rock climbing with Colorado Mountain School, one of the state's leaders in climbing. Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National, is our backdrop for practicing and expanding on techniques such as smearing, jamming, and finger locking. A 500-foot muliti-pitch climb finishes off this exhilarating section, an accomplishment of a lifetime!

» Day 20:
We take the time to clean all group and personal gear and equipment, enjoy a nice dinner and enjoy the faces of our new friends at the last meeting

» Day 21:
We drive to the airport bright and early, say goodbye and begin planning our next adventures with AAVE for next summer!!