Things We Love About Colorado

Colorado is one of the most picturesque states in the US, with its magnificent mountains, serene lakes, and breathtaking vistas. The state offers some of the most challenging and rewarding hiking and camping experiences in the country. Whether you're an avid hiker or just looking to escape the city, Colorado has something for everyone. Here are a few things we love about hiking and camping in Colorado.

The views in Colorado are endless

The Views

Let’s be honest- a good meal with a great view is the best reward after a hard day on the trail, and the vistas and landscapes in Colorado are breathtaking. From the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies to the rolling foothills, the state has something for everyone. The stunning beauty of this landscape is ever present, and the reason we return year after year. 

The Wildlife

Colorado is home to a vast array of wildlife, including elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, and black bears. We’ve seen plenty of each over our many years spent in Colorado’s backcountry, and consider it a privilege to share some space for a short while with them. 

The Trails

Colorado has some of the best hiking trails in the country. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it's no surprise that the state has such a vibrant hiking culture. In our opinion, there simply is no better place for human powered adventure in  the mountains.

A trip into the backcountry provides solitude

The Adventure

Hiking and camping in Colorado is an adventure. With fifty eight (or 53, but who’s counting?) 14,000+ foot peaks to climb, world class whitewater, and endless backcountry to explore, the state offers a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts. 40+ state and national park lands make adventure accessible to every skill level.

Did someone say adventure?

The Seasons

Colorado experiences all four seasons, sometimes all in the same day! In the summer, the wildflowers bloom, and the lakes are crystal clear. In the fall, the aspen trees turn a stunning golden color. In the winter, the snow-covered mountains provide a winter wonderland, and in the spring, the mountains come alive with new growth.

The Solitude

While Colorado is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, there are still plenty of places to find solitude for those who know where to look.  We typically travel on less well known trails, discovered over years of backcountry exploration, to ensure that our hikes aren’t too crowded. 

The final frontier

The Night Sky

The clear skies in Colorado offer some of the best stargazing in the country. With little light pollution in many parts of the state, you can see an amazing array of stars and constellations. The Colorado backcountry provides the perfect opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the night sky.

The Silence

In the mountains, the only sounds you'll hear are the rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds. The silence is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life and offers a chance to reconnect with the natural world and oneself.

Lifelong memories are made here

The Memories

Hiking and camping in Colorado create memories that will last a lifetime. Our first trip here was over 30 years ago, and those memories are as vivid now as they were back then. What memories will you create on your Colorado adventure?

8 Fun Facts About Maine

We love summer in Maine. In addition to great weather, the accessibility of mountains, rivers, and coast are second to none (ok, maybe California, but… fires). Below are some of our favorite fun facts about Maine.

Image courtesy of Daniel Norris

1. Maine is the largest producer of lobsters in the world. In 2019, the state harvested over 130 million pounds of lobster.

A typical scene along the coast

2. The state is known for its rugged coastline, including its 65 lighthouses along its coasts and inlets.

3. The town of Bar Harbor was once a summer destination for wealthy industrialists and is now a popular tourist destination as the gateway to Acadia National Park.

4. Speaking of Acadia, it was established in 1919 as the first national park east of the Mississippi River. It receives over 2,000,000 visitors per year. 

5. Maine is the only state in the U.S. to border only one other state, New Hampshire.

Maine has a rich boat building history

6. In the 19th century, Maine was a leader in shipbuilding, producing thousands of vessels including clipper ships, schooners, and steamships.

7. Maine was the first state to pass a state law protecting the rights of people with disabilities.

8. The state is known for its production of blueberries, which are grown on over 15,000 acres of land in the state.

Free snacks along the trail!

5 Things We Love About Western North Carolina

We’re a pretty lucky family. This business allows us to hike and camp in some pretty spectacular places; from the coasts of Maine to the mountains of Patagonia and LOTS of places in between, we’ve seen a lot in our 30+ years of adventure travel. 

One of the places we return to again and again is the mountains of western North Carolina. Below are just some of the reasons that North Carolina is on our regular rotation.

The Smokies are drivable for 2/3 of the US population

1. Its proximity makes it a perfect getaway for a long weekend or week-long trip. The Smoky Mountains are considered driving distance for two-thirds of the US population Because of this, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the nation’s busiest with over 12 million visitors each year.

2. Even with this high visitation rate, the western side in North Carolina is the “quiet side.” While Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge receive the bulk of visitation, those seeking a more serene experience can head to North Carolina for more than 900 miles of hiking and biking trails. With all this room to spread out, one rarely feels crowded out on the trail or in the parking lot!

A familiar scene in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

3. The Cherokee Museum in Cherokee, NC.  There is a huge collection of artifacts and a timeline which lays out the history of the Cherokee, including their forced removal to reservation lands in Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. This is a can’t miss stop as it supports a fuller understanding of the history of this region.

Isn’t the idea to stay IN the boat?

4. Water, water, WATER. Seemingly every hike leads to a waterfall or swimming hole. There are whitewater runs on the French Broad, the Pigeon, and the Nantahala. You can paddle any number of lakes, such as Fontana, Junaluska, Hiawassee, or Bear Creek. And for an idyllic lazy summer day, we love tubing on Deep Creek.

5. The wildlife is pretty spectacular. From the Elk in Smokemont to the bears and salamanders everywhere, the Smokies are teeming with wildilfe. And because of its quieter character, your chances of seeing something new is much greater on this side of the national park.

For these reasons and many more, we believe our five day North Carolina trip is the perfect introduction to overnight camping. With no extended backcountry camping, our campers have a consistent home each night (and running water and flush toilets!), while still being able to sample the variety of some of our longer trips. For those who have done day camps or sleep away camps and are ready for a little more, our North Carolina trip can’t be beat!

10 Benefits of Summer Camp

Travel offers myriad benefits, but where do we begin? How do we learn to go confidently beyond the horizon? Overnight summer camps are a good start. WIth great guides providing a safe environment in which to explore new places, summer camps can lead to a lifelong love of travel and adventure. Below is our list of the top benefits of joining a summer camp. Let us know in the comments which resonate with you, and if there are any you would like to add. 

Climbing in Colorado

10. Learn new skills. From knot tying and paddle strokes to learning a new recipe, outdoor travel offers the opportunity to try new things with expert guidance. Who knows, maybe the next new thing you try may become a lifelong passion!

No porters, no housekeepers!

9. Make screen-free connections. Summer camps are the original “unplugged.” Hike, bike, climb, paddle, and swim your way through the days while reconnecting with the natural passage of time. 

8. Meet new people who aren’t just like you and learn respect for those differences. The world becomes much more interesting and has a lot more to offer when we learn that we are not the center of it. The perspective gained through traveling with new people is addictive, though, so don’t be surprised if one trip leads to the next, and the next… 

You meet all types…

7. Become more organized. Take ownership of your own comfort. Knowing where each piece of gear is at all times makes for a successful trip. You’ll find that these skills transfer over to your day to day life. Now where did I put that rain jacket?

6. Feel small and foster empathy for the natural world. For most of us, “being green” was not inspired by fear of losing the rainforest to deforestation, but leisurely floats on a local creek or family trips to the mountains or lake. There is nothing like an expansive view or an encounter with wildlife to remind us that we are merely a piece of the puzzle. 

Contemplating feeling small.

5. Gain independence. For many adolescents, overnight camps are the first opportunity to spend time on their own. Practicing personal decision making, all while considering the needs of the group, is a powerful tool for growth. 

4. Be stimulated intellectually and learn to be a problem solver. Any program worth joining will offer the opportunity to learn and even present to the group about local cultures, flora and fauna, and natural history of the area. Solving group initiatives and learning to orient using a map are other challenges to be solved.

3. Earn some grit by doing hard things. Earn your stripes while having some type II fun. Every time we persevere and push through difficulties, we are learning to face and overcome new hardships in the future. 

A well deserved break after a looooong hike up.

2. Become valorized by contributing to your community group. Learning to contribute to our social group through our own abilities, ie. to make and keep promises, is vital to becoming fully adapted adults. 

“It is the ‘valorization’ of the personality, to become aware of one’s own value… he is independent, he is sure of his own actions and knows how to act. This is the basis and law on which the soul must stand...  For the ‘valorization’ of the child’s personality there must be very definite basis in social experience.” (Montessori, “Moral and Social Education” 86).

1. Improve your mental health by gaining a broader perspective. We live in challenging times for adolescents. We’re bombarded with messages from parents, friends, and social media about who and what we should be. Taking time for ourselves in our natural surroundings allows perspective on life and time for reflection. We often return to daily life with clearer priorities.

There are no strangers at summer camp!