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The Benefits of Journaling in the Outdoors

Self-care doesn’t have to pause while you are on an Adventure Treks trip (#treatyoself). Some of the regular practices that we keep in our daily lives can carry us through tough days on trail so we have the energy and mental fortitude to be our best outdoor adventuring selves. I am a big cheerleader of writing in a journal. This is something that I do before bed every night, and I have found many benefits from extending this habit into my Adventure Treks trips as well.

What are some of the benefits of journaling?

There are so many!

How do you journal?

I remember getting stuck on this seemingly simple question at the beginning of my journaling days. I had a few close friends who I considered to be journaling experts, and I asked them this question, wanting to be sure I was also on track to expert level. But, of course, there is no right or wrong way to journal. The art or practice of recording things on the written page can be customized to be of ultimate value to the individual.

Journaling can be about processing your day, setting intentions for the day ahead, tracking your thoughts and emotions to look for patterns—or whatever else you want it to be. What works for you? If you want to write in your journal every day, that is awesome! However, if this does not fit into your schedule, then this goal is probably going to stress you out more than be beneficial to your overall well-being.

What I have learned: Set realistic goals for yourself and be open to the creativity and flow of each entry. Even on days when I thought I had nothing to say, I have been able to find some interesting insights to reflect on.

Where do I start?

A blank white page can be intimidating. I know this on a personal level; every time I start a new writing project (like this blog), it seems like I suddenly have the energy and focus to do anything but write. But never fear! I have compiled a few tips and tricks to help you embark on your journaling journey.

Keep it simple: When I started out, I bought a small 3.5” x 5.5” journal. A smaller page is less overwhelming to fill. I began with bullet journaling (i.e., quick, short line entries), and often go back to this method when I don’t have a lot of time but still want to capture memories or thoughts while they’re fresh.

Utilize prompts: You can create a “cheat sheet” of prompts at the front of your journal. The ideas can set creative boundaries for those times when you can’t decide where to even begin. Below are a few of my favorite prompts that help me process my thoughts.

  • What are you grateful for today?
  • What emotions came up for you in unexpected places today?
  • Describe something you experienced for the first time recently.
  • How did you challenge yourself today, and how do you plan to challenge yourself tomorrow?
  • How did you show up for yourself today, and how do you plan to show up for yourself tomorrow?
  • What are three new things you learned this week?

Create space: Like any new activity, journaling can easily integrate into your daily life if you set yourself up for success (that is, make it a habit). I like to spend 10 to 15 minutes in my tent jotting down thoughts from that day before I fall asleep. I find this is the easiest time for me to journal, and therefore has the highest likelihood that it will actually happen.

Make the experience comfortable with a cup of tea, wrap up in your sleeping bag, or find something soft to sit on. You can also ask yourself these questions to help you figure out your plan of action. “Do I process my thoughts better when I wake up or before I go to sleep? Do I need to be alone or can I do this in the company of others? How much time do I need for each entry? What would block my ability to journal and how can I prevent those barriers from getting in the way?”

Add the “WOW!”

At Adventure Treks, we love adding the “wow” to everything and anything. Wow is the special magic added to events that would otherwise be just everyday activities (this is one reason you’ll see us wearing silly flair at Costco). Journals can also have the AT wow factor. Try adding stickers to the cover of your journal from the locations of your AT trips. Or take scenic photos of all your journal spots during the trip. Wow, like journaling, is all about creativity, so make it personal to you!

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10 Things You Didn’t Know about Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the neatest things about Adventure Treks is the places we get to visit. In all of our backpacking areas, we have permits from whoever owns the land—often national parks and forests—to recreate (permits are crucial because the most pristine places need the most protection in order to keep inspiring nature lovers!).

Here are some interesting things you might not know about Rocky Mountain National Park, where our Colorado Explorer trips spend a few days backpacking and summiting 12,720-foot Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain.

1. The Continental Divide of the Americas runs through Rocky Mountain National Park. A continental divide is a natural land feature that separates watersheds—rain that falls on the western side of the Rockies flows towards the Pacific Ocean, while rainfall on the eastern side flows towards the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico! Try it out on this neat map by dropping a raindrop in Grand Lake (west side) or Estes Park (east side).

2. If you’re extra curious, the Continental Divide Trail (or CDT) is a 3,100-mile trail that traverses the spine of the Rockies and is popular for thru-hiking. The CDT is part of the “Triple Crown” of hiking trails, along with the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail. All three are National Scenic Trails, which means that they are designated outstanding natural areas with additional environmental protections. Lots of AT instructors have hiked these trails!

3. A number of trails in the park, including the Tonahutu Trail (where many AT groups backpack), were originally used by the native inhabitants of the land. The two major tribes in the area were the Ute and the Arapaho, whose main lands were separated by the Continental Divide but who competed for hunting territory in the mountains. They were hunter-gatherers who moved between grassy plains and higher elevations in search of larger animals.

4. Glaciers played a huge role in the formation of the steep peaks and valleys that characterize the park today. A glacier is a large chunk of snow and ice that doesn’t completely melt during the warmer months, and is so heavy that it constantly shifts downhill. Rocks picked up by the slow-moving ice scrape against the ground under and beside the glacier, carving out valleys over long periods of time.

5. All of the glaciers in Rocky Mountain National Park are cirque glaciers, which are the small leftovers of much larger glaciers from long ago. But the glacial habitat is just one of four found in the park. The montane ecosystem is defined by meadows and hills and supports a wide variety of plants and animals; subalpine forests consist mostly of evergreen trees and host beautiful lakes and wildflower patches; and the alpine tundra ecosystem allows only the hardiest of plants to survive harsh temperatures and weather conditions.

6. A single step can destroy hundreds of years of plant growth in alpine environments. On any AT trip, you’ll learn about the principles of Leave No Trace hiking and camping. In the alpine areas of the Rocky Mountains, many of the plants able to survive extreme cold and high winds grow very close to the ground and are quite fragile. It is extra important to stay on established trails so that our feet don’t squish and damage these plants and the soil they grow in.

7. Rocky Mountain National Park is known for big animals: Moose, elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, and deer are some of the largest. The park is likely to pop up on lists of the best places to view wildlife because these big species are so visible, but there are a whole host of tiny animals in the park as well…

8. … Such as the pika! Pikas live in the alpine tundra ecosystem and look like wild hamsters. These tiny mammals call and sing to each other across their territory, so they are more likely to be heard by humans than seen. Pikas are considered an “indicator species” for climate change because they are so well adapted to the cold that they cannot survive in warm temperatures. The National Park Service is monitoring pika populations in Rocky Mountain National Park to see whether rising global temperatures is affecting them. 

9. Longs Peak is the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park, though it doesn’t actually make the top 10 highest peaks in Colorado! Climbing to the top is a true mountaineering adventure–usually, even in the height of summer, the summit is covered in snow and ice and requires snow tools to climb!

10. In 2009, most of the park became a designated wilderness area, meaning that extra precautions are taken to make sure it is not permanently impacted by humans. As long as good ethical practices are used, people can still visit the furthest reaches of the wilderness to experience solitude within the beautiful landscapes that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer. 

Interested in seeing Rocky Mountain National Park firsthand? Check out our trip options here!

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10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Salmon River

The Yellowstone Teton Adventure might start in the two national parks that give the trip its name, but the second half of the adventure involves a multi-day raft trip on the Salmon River. This section of river is so popular with rafters and kayakers that there is a lottery system that awards permits to a limited number of floaters each year.

Here are some of the things that make this trip such an awesome experience:

1. The Salmon River is 125 miles long. As one of the original eight rivers protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968, 79 miles are designated “wild” river, and 46 as “recreational.” The “wild” miles are not accessible by road and draw from an unpolluted and undeveloped watershed.

2. The wilderness area that the Salmon flows through is called the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness… what?! Frank Church was a senator from Idaho and an author of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The area is named for him and the river itself, as the Salmon was once known as the River of No Return.

3. What an imposing title! This river has traditionally been a one-way passage, due to the frequency and difficulty of the rapids. There are now boats that can successfully navigate upstream, but for most of its history, once someone floated down the Salmon, they didn’t return (at least by water).

4. Traditional landowners in the Salmon River watershed include Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Flathead tribes. These peoples were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who regarded the Salmon as a sacred place and valuable food source. One important thing to know about the Nez Perce tribe is that they call themselves Nimipuu—the name most people now know them by was given by French Canadian traders and means “pierced nose,” although the tribe never practiced body piercing.

5. Do you remember learning about Sacagawea in history class? She was a very young Shoshone woman who aided Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the Pacific Ocean, and she grew up near the Salmon River. Her story has been rewritten to cast her as a Native American “princess,” but her skills as a naturalist, translator, and navigator are what actually make her legendary.

6. Did you know that the Grand Canyon in Arizona is not the deepest canyon in the U.S.? The deepest is actually Hells Canyon on the Snake River, which is geographically close to the second-deepest canyon in the country—the Salmon River Canyon. For about 180 miles, the canyon created by the Salmon is more than a mile deep.

7. Canyons are formed by a river eroding through many layers of rock. In the case of the Salmon, much of the rock is gneiss, schist, and quartzite, and the oldest of these rocks were formed about 1.5 billion years ago. The canyon was formed 35 to 45 million years ago as the Salmon started to wind its way across and through the area’s interesting geology.

8. Where does the water in the Salmon River go? It flows into the Snake River at the border of Idaho and Oregon, then into the Columbia River in Kennewick, WA. The water travels along the border of Oregon and Washington, passing through Portland, before becoming the Columbia River Estuary and draining into the Pacific Ocean. It’s more than 900 miles from source to sea.

9. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Chinook salmon live in this river. Salmon return to the place where they hatched to spawn, so if a fish is born in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho in the Salmon River, it swims all the way to the sea and then back to reproduce. Salmon are endangered here, and in most rivers where they live, hydroelectric dams block their ability to swim upstream.

10. Finally, one neat addition to a Salmon River rafting trip is the ability to soak in natural hot springs! Students might not have time to stop and hang out on every trip, but the Salmon runs along a geothermal hot zone, resulting in multiple pools and even waterfalls of hot water alongside the river’s cool flow.

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Gear Series: Tips for Buying Rain Gear

Interpreting the language of outdoor retail

When it comes to buying outdoor gear for Adventure Treks (or even for a personal trip), there’s nothing more daunting than trying to decipher every obscure label, material, fabric, and technology that comes with buying even the simplest outdoor item these days.

But Adventure Treks is here to help! This spring, we’re launching our Gear Series: Tips for Buying Outdoor Gear. We’ll discuss some of the materials, technologies, labels, and other features commonly found on outdoor equipment, and attempt to clarify their meaning, use, and how they’re helpful on an AT trip.

Waterproof rain gear

Waterproof rain gear is an essential item on any outdoors packing list; no matter the weather, it’s an indispensable piece of your personal gear kit. With that said, it can be confusing to know if you’re purchasing the right item. “The list says rain coat; this one looks good, but it says it’s a hard shell, not a rain jacket. Will that work? Oh, it’s GoreTex; do I need GoreTex? Wait, what is GoreTex?”

To make your shopping easier, we’ve included some helpful terminology below with advice on choosing the right rain jacket and rain pants.

(Note that while we mostly talk about rain jackets, the following applies almost identically to rain pants.)

Rain gear glossary

Waterproof: An item that’s truly waterproof means it’s made from PVC vinyl or fabric that’s treated with a rubberized coating, creating an impermeable layer that water can’t get through. While these products are indeed waterproof, they’re heavy, bulky, and don’t” breathe” for hiking or other activities (the classic yellow fisherman’s coat comes to mind).

Because we’re so active in the outdoors at Adventure Treks, we need something that’s both waterproof and breathable (backpacking in a rubber coat would cause a swampy, sweaty mess).

Bottom line: Don’t buy this kind of jacket or pants for an AT trip.

Waterproof-breathable: The magic phrase! This describes technology built into a garment that prevents water from seeping through the fabric on the outside, while allowing water vapor from your body (i.e., sweat) to escape. Essentially, the “pores” in waterproof-breathable materials are small enough to keep water out, while still allowing vapor to escape. This means you can hike in this kind of jacket and not worry about sweating or getting that clammy feeling—while being protected from the elements.

Many companies have proprietary waterproof-breathable technologies such as Polartec’s Power Shield, Marmot’s PreCip, Patagonia’s H2No, or The North Face’s DryVent— but they’re all just different names for the same thing.

Bottom line: A waterproof-breathable jacket and pants are a MUST for any Adventure Treks trip—or if you live in a humid, rainy climate where you’ll spend a lot of time moving around outside.

Hard shell vs. soft shell: Hard shell simply refers to a waterproof-breathable fabric that has no insulation (like a heavier ski jacket). It doesn’t keep you warm and dry, just dry. We like to layer fleece jackets or comfortable baselayers under a rain jacket to keep warm.

A soft shell is a pliable fabric made from woven synthetic fibers that is, well, soft and feels more like a sweatshirt than a rain jacket. While not waterproof, these fabrics are often treated with DWR (see below) to provide some protection. While they provide some insulation and protection from the wind, they’re not acceptable substitutes for rain protection.

Bottom line: Your Adventure Treks rain jacket should be a hard shell jacket. 

DWR (durable water repellent): This is a treatment applied to a fabric to create a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) surface. This is what causes water to “bead up” on the surface and roll off instead of soaking in. However, DWR does not mean it is waterproof!

Bottom line: DWR does not equal waterproof-breathable; make sure you purchase waterproof-breathable.

GoreTex: Similar to Kleenex or Velcro, GoreTex is a brand name commonly used as a “catch-all” for waterproof-breathable technology. GoreTex  is widely considered to make the most effective waterproof-breathable membrane, and therefore can be commonly found on many different brand-name clothing. GoreTex is durable and reliable; if you plan to spend many hours being active outdoors, then it makes sense to spring for GoreTex.

Denier: This is a term that describes how thick a fabric is, and it often appears in a product description as a number followed by a “D” (e.g. 30D). The lower the number, the thinner and lighter the fabric. 10D is very light (think pantyhose); 300D is very thick (think heavy canvas). Most rain jackets are somewhere in the 30–50D range.

Rain gear styles
  • 2-layer shell: This refers to rain gear that comprises the “face” (outer) fabric and the waterproof-breathable membrane on the inside. These two layers are laminated together or sprayed on as a coating.
  • 2.5-layer shell: This is the similar to the 2-layer; these products are usually more affordable, but they are slightly less durable. Plus, people often report feeling a little clammy or moist on the inside.
  • 3-layer shell: The same first two layers are laminated together (“face” fabric and inner waterproof-breathable membrane), but they have an additional durable layer laminated on the inside of the jacket. This “fabric-membrane-fabric” sandwich creates a highly durable, 3-layer shell that feels like a single piece of fabric. This is often the most expensive option because of the extra material and higher quality fabric; it also has a more advanced look and design.

Suggested rain jackets
  • 2-layer hard shell: Marmot PreCip Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • 2.5-layer hard shell: Outdoor Research Apollo Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • 2-layer hard shell with GoreTex (my personal favorite and in my opinion the absolute best jacket for the money): Marmot Minimalist Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • 3-layer hard shell without GoreTex: Patagonia Torrentshell (men’s and women’s)
  • Other recommended brands: REI Co-op, Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, The North Face

Our rain gear takeaways

So, we just threw a lot of technical terms out there. What does it all come down to? For an AT trip, pick a waterproof-breathable hard shell that keeps you warm and dry. Rain jackets must have a hood and should fit comfortably over fleece and baselayers. Just like the jacket, the rain pants need to be a waterproof-breathable shell that fit over your hiking, fleece, or baselayer bottoms. You might consider full side-zippers to get in and out of them more easily.

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Adventure Treks’ Path: The Last 25 Years

We had a wonderful 25th anniversary celebration for Adventure Treks in October and spent the weekend with many of the “old hands” who helped steer Adventure Treks through the 1990s and early aughts. The reunion solidified our impression of the power of friendships made in the AT community. Even though people came together who hadn’t seen each other in years, we picked up right where we left off. (Above is the quick video we made for our 25th anniversary.)

We’re often surprised that what started with one trip in the Pacific Northwest in the early 90s has blossomed into being a leader in outdoor teen summer adventures and has served almost 20,000 students from all 50 states and more than 25 countries. Our success is due in part to so many capable people who shared great ideas and systems, making Adventure Treks the sum of the best practices from many folks. Had only one director controlled all the ideas, we would only be half the program we are today.

Over time, we have learned that about 450–475 students with 70–75 summer instructors is our optimal program size and ensures the highest quality and most consistent adventures. In the past, when we have grown larger, we felt we were beginning to lose a little of the special sense of community that makes us truly unique among outdoor programs. To this end, we have capped our size at Adventure Treks so it can always be a special program with a uniquely personal touch and a strong sense of community.

When you have this special a culture and you know it’s something people want to be part of, you must look for ways to transfer this philosophy to other aspects of the outdoor world in order to positively impact more teenagers. We also realize that as phenomenal and life-changing as AT is, it’s more rugged and challenging than some people desire. We know it’s not for everyone. Over the years, we have met many teenagers who love the AT community and philosophy but simply aren’t outdoor people. Our goal has been to create options in different frameworks for these wonderful students.

Our first area of expansion in the 1990s was educational programs for schools. Every fall at our base in the mountains of western North Carolina, we work with schools from as far away as Ohio and Florida, operating outdoor education and science programs at Camp Pinnacle and in the woods of Pisgah National Forest. In fall 2018, we welcomed more than 900 students and 14 schools over 10 weeks. In addition to becoming the best week of “school” ever, these programs create a tremendous opportunity to train our younger instructors to become even more effective in our summer programs.

In 2011, we were able to open our own traditional summer camp, Camp Pinnacle in Flat Rock, NC. Camp had gone bankrupt in 2010 after falling into disrepair, but we were able to adapt the AT philosophy and program to a more typical summer camp environment. We are also able to provide learning and growing opportunities as counselors for many recent Adventure Treks graduates who want to continue growing outdoors and retain the friendships they made at AT, this time as Pinnacle counselors.

In fall 2018, we formed a relationship with the Alzar School, a semester leadership school for 10th and 11th graders with campuses in Idaho and Chile. So many of our current Adventure Treks students have expressed the desire to attend a school that resembles AT (a one-week fall program simply can’t compare). Families had shared with us their positive experiences with the Alzar School, and so we reached out to founders and directors Sean and Kristin Bierle and created a mutually beneficial program for students who want more of the outdoor activities and community they’ve come to expect during the summer.

Our ultimate goal is to offer parents age-appropriate opportunities for all of their kids where they can experience a close community, engage with caring role models, step out of their comfort zones, make lifelong friendships, and grow in ways they never could at home or through organized sports. Instead of running one giant company, we run several small programs with separate and equally passionate and committed staff. This allows us to maintain a personal connection with our families and instructors and focus on running quality experiences. We are delighted to offer a variety of opportunities for growth for ages 7–18 and to have more employment opportunities for students in undergraduate and graduate programs. We like to say, “Give us your kid at age 8, and every summer until they are 28, we will give them an incredible and different adventurous experience on their personal frontier.”

The first 25 years have been great, and we are looking forward to the next 25. And now we are excited that our students and instructors who came of age in the 1990s with us are now sending their children to our programs, completing the circle!

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Introducing our 2018 Trip Leaders

We are so excited to announce our leadership for summer 2018! On June 3, our directors, regional directors, and trip leaders will gather for a five-day retreat near Mt. Hood in Oregon. Here, we’ll start bonding as a leadership team; pore over trip itineraries; share our collective expertise as review safety, policies, and procedures; and apply child psychology and adolescent brain development theory to Adventure Treks. This time together reinforces our “AT culture” as we prepare to greet new and returning instructors for our two-week orientation starting June 9.

This year, our 14 trip leaders and directors:

  • Have a combined 90 seasons of Adventure Treks experience. At minimum, our trip leaders have three seasons of previous Adventure Treks experiences, and some have as many as 13 seasons!
  • Include 5 (!!) former Adventure Treks students.
  • Comprise a wonderful group of outdoor educators like ski patrol, school teachers, outdoor program course directors, ski instructors, and more!

Below, meet our leadership team!

Dave McGlashan, Regional Director

Dave (or Dmac, as our students and parents know him) is our director and 11th-year regional director. He has a master’s degree in recreation from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) instructor course. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and American Canoe Association Level 4 Whitewater Instructor. In his spare time, Dmac can be found mountain biking all over the southeastern U.S.

Erica Van Steenis, Regional Director

Erica’s is our staffing director and this will be her eighth season as a regional director. Originally from Southern California, she has a master’s degree in community development from the University of California, Davis, and is currently working on a PhD in education at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is an experienced sea kayaking and backpacking guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and holds her Avalanche Level 1 certification.

Jack Hoiland, Regional Director

Jack, originally from Portland, OR, joins Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a Regional Director. He has a master’s degree in outdoor education from Prescott College, and after he finished college, he completed a year-long apprenticeship at a primitive skills school. He currently works as the outdoor education director for the Portland Waldorf School. Jack is a Wilderness First Responder.

Austin Coolidge, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, 3

Austin is joining Adventure Treks for his third season as an trip leader. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and while in school, he helped start the Outdoor Leadership program and led backpacking trips in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Austin is an avid outdoorsman, spending his time backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, and kayaking. Austin is a Wilderness First Responder.

Sam Haines, Pacific Northwest Adventure 1 & Ultimate Northwest 2

Sam is returning to Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a trip leader. Sam graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry and metalsmithing. He is a graduate of the NOLS Pacific Northwest Semester and spent three summers leading backpacking trips for Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm. He spent his winter in Boston working as a climbing instructor and youth climbing coach. He holds certifications as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.

Sean Doyle, Ultimate Northwest 1 & Pacific Northwest Adventure 2

Sean grew up in Michigan, and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grand Valley State University. He has led trail crews in Wyoming, and canoe and backpacking trips in Wisconsin for Camp North Star. Sean has traveled and adventured all over the world and has taught English overseas for the past six years. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and a lifeguard. Sean is joining Adventure Treks as a Trip Leader in his third season.

Hannah McKinley, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, 3

Hannah is a former Adventure Treks student, having spent four summer with us as a teenager. This year, she’s joining us for her third season as an trip leader. She recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies. Originally from western North Carolina, Hannah has spent the past four summers leading backpacking and canoeing trips at Camp Pinnacle. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Wells Jones, British Columbia Adventure 1 & 2

Wells is from Atlanta and spent four summers as an Adventure Treks student. He holds a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education and leadership from Central Wyoming College. Wells spent three summers leading trips for Camp Pinnacle and worked at a ski resort this past winter. Wells is a Wilderness First Responder and is returning for his sixth season as a trip leader.

Laura Horowitz, California Challenge 1 & Pacific Northwest Explorer

A former Adventure Treks student, Laura is joining us for her fifth season as an trip leader. Laura received a bachelor’s degree in political science and social policy practice from Tulane University, and she will being law school at Duke University in the fall. At Tulane, Laura led backpacking and canoeing trips for the outdoor program, and after graduation, she continued to work for TU Outdoors as a program coordinator. Laura spent three summers leading backpacking and canoeing trips for Camp Pinnacle before she came to Adventure Treks. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Alex Rhue, California Adventure & California Challenge 3

Originally from Southeastern Ohio, Alex is returning for her fourth season as a trip leader. Alex holds Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Outdoor Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Recreation Studies from Ohio University. She has worked as an outdoor instructor, trip-leader, and expedition director for camps, universities, and guiding companies in Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, British Columbia, and North Carolina. Alex will be starting her Ph.D. in Higher Education this fall. In her spare time, she loves rock climbing, rafting, canyoneering, and backpacking. She is a Climbing Wall Instructor, Lifeguard and CPR Instructor, and a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician.

Kiko Sweeney, Alaska Expedition 1a

A former Adventure Treks student, Kiko graduated from Colorado College with a double major in film and new media studies and classics. She has led backpacking trips in Alaska and Colorado, and spent her winter skiing and working full time for Patagonia in Salt Lake City, Utah. She competed in the Junior Nationals as a ski racer and is joining us for her sixth season as a trip leader. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and has an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certification.

Tess Sneeringer, Alaska Expedition 1b

Tess joins us for her fifth season as a trip leader. Tess holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Middlebury College in Vermont. She has led backpacking and canoe trips in the greater New England area and enjoys bringing her knowledge of wildlife ecology and forestry into the field. Tess is a graduate of a NOLS Alaska backpacking course, Wilderness First Responder, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Nico Grin, Alaska Expedition 2

Originally from the Bay Area in California, Nico has a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation leadership from Feather River College. She has traveled through 13 different countries, rock climbed in Thailand, swam in the Mekong, and volunteered on farms across New Zealand. Nico has worked as a rock climbing instructor, taught at a preschool, and facilitated high ropes challenge courses. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and she is returning for her fifth season as a trip leader.

Alex Coffin, California Challenge 2

Alex is returning for her fourth summer as a trip leader. She graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. Alex has led backpacking and sea kayaking trips all over New England and currently works as a high school math teacher in Boston. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Nate Humphreys, Leadership  Summit

Nate was a five-year Adventure Treks student before transitioning into his thirteenth season as a trip leader. Nate graduated from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. He has led backpacking trips in Utah and Oregon, and thru-hiked the Long Trail. Nate currently lives in Asheville, NC, where he performs as a musician, and is a Wilderness First Responder.

 

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Staff Spotlight: Kelly Dohn

IMG_0277Kelly earned a degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, majoring in fine arts. She is returning for her third season at Adventure Treks this summer. Last year, Kelly led students on the Yellowstone Adventure trips!

What is your favorite AT activity? That is so hard to choose, but I think my favorite thing is to dress up and be silly with the students. I like everything from sing for your supper to talent shows, from performing skits to dressing up in summit swag and taking lots of photos at the top of the mountain!

What are you currently doing? I am one of the head supervisors of the snow sports school at Steamboat Mountain Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. My main responsibilities are to work with ski instructors, pairing them with students to teach and working with them on their professional development. I enjoy skiing around the mountain every day and getting to meet a lot of new people each winter!

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What made you want to work as an outdoor educator? What brings me back to the outdoors again and again is my passion for being outside. I think it is really therapeutic, and when life brings me down I can always return to the wilderness to heal. I like to see students thrive in the outdoor environment!

What’s your favorite AT memory? Last summer, we had to unexpectedly leave the backcountry, and instead of hiking the six miles we had planned, we hiked 11 miles to the trailhead. That could have been a negative experience for our group, but the students rose to the occasion and everyone embraced our circumstances. We sang Taylor Swift the entire way and had so much fun!

What’s your favorite AT meal? The most memorable meal from the summer was when [regional director] Erica and I went food shopping while the kids were rafting, and instead of bringing back pizza for the group like we planned, we surprised everyone with a rotisserie and fried chicken meal! The kids loved it. I also really enjoy our breakfast bar meals where we eat anything from oatmeal to fruit and yogurt and granola and cereal.

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What keeps you coming back to AT? The relationships I have formed with both students and instructors keep me coming back to Adventure Treks. They are amazing people who I admire!

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to? The most beautiful place I have ever been is Glacier National Park because it is so pretty. I remember the water being so blue and crystal clear. Unlike anything I have ever seen!

Tell us something unique about you. This one is hard! I come from a big family of girls—I have three sisters. I also like to strike a balance between being outdoorsy, but also feminine. I like to wear nail polish even while I am working in the backcountry!

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How to Make Friends the Adventure Treks Way

Being an Adventure Treks instructor for the last seven years has taught me many things. I’ve learned to be more confident, believe in myself, and how to make any situation fun. I’ve also learned that it’s OK to show some vulnerability, that conflict is a healthy thing, and that giving a genuine compliment feels better than receiving one. Adventure Treks has helped me become more of the person I want to be, but there’s one thing I’m really thankful for: how to make friends.

Growing up, “go make friends” was a fairly common phrase I heard at any social gathering where parents and children were present. As a young person, I clung to my parents and did not look forward to mingling. “Go make friends” makes it sound so easy. As if all I had to do was introduce myself to a stranger and we magically became friends. As it turns out, it doesn’t get any easier as an adult. Trying to make friends can be pretty daunting, and it can leave one open to rejection. I am fairly certain that word (rejection) sets off alarm bells for most of us.

So what can we do? How does one make friends, as a child, as a teenager, as an adult? Below are some tips for making friends that I have acquired while working at Adventure Treks.

Introduce yourself

This one is the simplest, yet may be the hardest skill to execute. Adventure Treks instructor orientation is an intimidating social scene at first. You walk into a group of roughly 60 people and often do not know more than one other person there. For years, I had to put myself out there. I introduced myself to everyone. I said “Hi, I’m Joe” too many times to count. Fast forward: I have now introduced myself to literally hundreds of AT instructors. It actually does feel simple now. Like anything else, it takes practice, but you cannot make a friend until you know his or her name. Adventure Treks has helped me build the confidence to introduce myself to anyone, and now I take pride in making the first move.

Find something in common

Most of us are pre-programmed to make small talk once introductions have been made, and it is a good way to avoid the awkward silence. The next step, I believe, is to begin finding things you have in common. We do this at Adventure Treks on our day hikes and first backpack. We have students find three things they have in common. This is a great way to begin to build a connection while also driving conversation. Take those three things and match them up with two other people. Continue this process until the entire group has one thing in common. That small thing does a lot of work in bringing people together, and I have used that strategy to make friends in my personal life. Our commonalities get us speaking, and the awkward factor drops to acceptable levels. Which brings us to our next tip.

Ask questions about your new acquaintance

Someone once said “everyone’s favorite topic of conversation is themselves.” I won’t take credit for it, but it has been an invaluable lesson in building relationships. While working for Adventure Treks, a huge part of the job (and probably the most important next to maintaining safety) is building relationships. So after I introduce myself to students and find a few things we have in common, I try to learn about the new person in my life. I try to cover all the bases, like favorites of all categories: food, movies, books, video games, sports, classes in school, music, and television shows. Then I ask about their families and siblings: what their parents do, if they have pets, how they spend time together, etc. As we build our relationship, I may ask what they want their future to look like, or who are people who have really impacted their lives, or what their greatest fear is. The key to all of this is listen and remember. If you spend all of your time asking questions but cannot recall any of the answers, you have no credibility as a new friend.

Be open and honest

Making friends is a two-way street, and while our tips thus far have us taking charge of the situation, we have to be prepared to answer questions as well. I have always been surprised by the questions that my students ask me throughout the trip. Many are insightful and thoughtful, and are honestly better than questions most of my adult friends have asked while getting to know me (sorry, everyone). Being at AT has taught me that it is acceptable to be myself all the time. That’s been one of the most liberating lessons Adventure Treks has taught me, and it has translated to my new friendships. When folks ask me questions, I am now able to simply tell the truth. Yes, I am a grown man, and yes, I own a gameboy. Yes, I enjoy comic books. You wouldn’t know it from looking, but one of my favorite artists is Lady Gaga. My students have always shown me their true selves, and as a true friend, I reciprocate.

It takes time and effort… do not give up

Friends are not made instantly. What I would give to have the instant friendship of every student and co-instructor! A few years ago, I moved to a new town to work at a ski resort. I didn’t know anyone in town, and the thought of making new friends felt pretty overwhelming. I tried to think about my new job as one of my AT trips. I made sure to introduce myself to everyone I met, and that helped me feel a little more at ease. It’s a bit like ripping off a Band-Aid—if you just get on with it, it feels better. I found my commonalities (we all liked to ski), I did my best to learn about everyone, and then came the scary part: I was myself around everyone. I’ll admit that I may have scared some prospects off with that last part, but it felt right to be myself. Then I moved into step 5: I asked folks to hang out… All the time. I did not let “I can’t that day” or the “I’d love to, but I have plans” slow me down. I went back to that mountain for my fourth winter, and I truly felt like a part of the community. Our communities on our AT trips do not happen overnight, but by the end they are strong, healthy, and meaningful. AT time is kind of like dog years: One AT summer counts for seven years of regular friendship. So if you’re looking to make a new friend, stick with it, and let it play out, and I bet it will all work out in the end.

Making friends can be daunting, but hopefully these tips will help you out anytime you’re in a new social situation, whether it’s joining a new soccer team, moving to a new school, or coming to Adventure Treks for the first time.

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Staff Spotlight: Austin Coolidge

We are excited that Austin Coolidge will be joining us this summer for his third season as an Adventure Treks instructor.

Seasons with Adventure Treks: I’ve been with Adventure Treks for two seasons (one summer and one fall), and I am returning for a third season this summer!

University attended: University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. I received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

Favorite AT Activity: Ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska!

What are you currently doing? I am putting my degree to use as a high school chemistry teacher in Florida.

What made you want to work as an outdoor educator? I worked in a chemistry lab after undergrad, but I missed the outdoors and working as an educator in those contexts. I have a passion for sharing the outdoors with people, and Adventure Treks is the perfect platform for this passion because they choose the most breathtaking destinations for their trips.

What’s your favorite AT memory?  Watching the sun almost set on a backpack in the Talkeetna National Forest in Alaska last summer.

Sea Kayaking in Alaska on the Prince William Sound.

Sea kayaking in Alaska on the Prince William Sound.

What’s your favorite AT meal? Bagels and lox

What keeps you coming back to AT?  Adventure Treks puts a lot of effort into creating an inclusive environment for its staff and students. They also hire the best of the best for their staff, easily the best and most capable staff I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to? Sea kayaking on the Prince William Sound in Alaska was the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.

Tell us something unique about you. I’ve come close to breaking the world record for number of books balanced on head…

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How to Create a Backcountry First Aid Kit

Before heading out on an outdoor adventure with friends or family, it’s important to obtain a good first aid kit (FAK)—and know how to use it! When it comes to finding the perfect FAK, there are two ways to go about it: purchase a pre-designed kit available at most outdoor stores, or create one from scratch.

hE8DuRIcEither way, there are some important questions to ask. Be sure to consider the following:

  • How many people are going on your adventure? Small first aid kits are usually designed for only one to three people. For groups larger than that, simply add more supplies to account for the increase in numbers. Most companies who offer pre-designed kits will have options for small-, medium-, or large-sized groups, with an adequate number of items in each respective kit.
  • How long is your adventure? The same concept above applies here. Most small first aid kits are intended for just a day or two outing; be sure to think through the length of the trip, and how far away from the nearest medical facility the trailhead is, and have enough supplies to cover that length of time, plus a little extra.
  • What activities are included? Different activities have different needs, so it’s important to consider what the trip entails. For instance, if the trip is mostly on the water, a waterproof kit is a necessity. If the trip is a mountain biking excursion, more supplies to treat cuts and scrapes, as well as triangle bandages to immobilize potential shoulder injuries, are a good investment.
  • What is the leader’s highest level of first aid training? There should be someone on the trip who knows how to use each item in the first aid kit. A comprehensive kit is good to have, but if no one knows how to use something, it won’t be of much use.

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Now that the above questions have been considered, it’s time to begin the hunt for the perfect first aid kit. Regardless of whether purchasing a pre-designed kit or creating one from scratch, here are some essential items to include:

  • Waterproof container to hold everything (stuff sacks work great for this)
  • Several pairs of gloves (made from Nitrile, as many people are allergic to latex)
  • CPR mask/breathing barrier
  • Blunt-tip scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Pen/pencil and paper
  • 30 cc syringe for wound-cleaning
  • Triangle/cravat bandages and safety pins
  • Variety of sizes of adhesive bandages
  • Variety of sizes of gauze pads/dressings
  • Athletic tape
  • Adherent gauze or vet wrap
  • Compression wrap or Ace elastic bandage
  • Moleskin or another blister treatment
  • Alcohol/antiseptic wipes
  • Antibiotic ointment (small individual packets, not a giant tube), ex: Bacitracin or triple antibiotic ointment
  • Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory)
  • Acetaminophen (pain reliever and fever reducer)
  • Diphenhydramine (antihistamine)
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Antacids
  • Loperamide (anti-diarrheal)
  • Glucose tablets
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