What makes the Northwest Summits Adventure special?
This trip offers the complete mountaineering experience with extended wilderness travel and the finest summits in the Pacific Northwest.
Who is this trip designed for?
This is one of our Leadership Expedition trips. It is designed for students seeking a more advanced/challenging experience. Participants need to have either participated with us before or had a similar experience. The pace is faster and the days more challenging. The focus is on leadership and advanced wilderness skills. It is an outstanding opportunity to get first hand leadership experience in an amazing setting, and have a great time doing it.
What will my group be like?
Your group will be the most important and memorable part of your Wilderness Ventures experience. Your group will have 10 students with two leaders, one male and one female. Our groups are co-ed and made up of students from all over the country and internationally as well. The other students in your group will be just as excited as you are about the Northwest Summits trip and the chance to spend the summer exploring the wilderness areas Washington has to offer.
What will my trip leaders be like?
One of the strongest components of Wilderness Ventures is the leaders. We take great pride in our leaders and spend a great deal of time and energy in choosing each one. The average age is about 25. Your trips will have at least one male and one female leader. These are some of the most dynamic, intelligent, and interesting people in the world. Each has a love for the outdoors, and a passion for teaching and working with young adults. They are great role models and have an incredible ability to facilitate each trip from backcountry travel to group dynamics. Most are teachers in traditional schools, outdoor/environmental programs or other teaching related programs. Our return rate is very high so most of our leaders have worked with us for multiple seasons. You will have a great time getting to know your leaders and will benefit from their vast experiences.
What are things that I could do before the trip starts to physically prepare myself?
Any fit and active teen will be successful on the Northwest Summits trip. If you are playing a sport this spring that will provide you with the preparation you need. At least four weeks before your trip you should begin to break in your boots. Start out with small walks around your neighborhood and work your way up to three-hour hikes. Your Northwest Summits experience will be significantly more enjoyable if you have a basic level of fitness and well-broken in boots.
What kind of food will I eat this summer?
Your fellow trip participants, with help from your leaders, will create the menus for your trip. Everyone will be involved in this process to ensure a wide variety of food choices that provide a balanced diet to fuel our bodies. We shop in regular grocery stores and teach you how to plan for and obtain great food for backcountry travels. The food is delicious, healthy, and there will be plenty of it.
Will we be taking showers and doing laundry?
Yes! After each backcountry section we will be taking showers and doing our laundry. It’s also a great time to write a letter home to tell your family and friends about the backcountry section you just completed.
Since Mt. Baker is covered in snow, won’t my hiking boots get wet during the climb?
No. During the Mt. Baker climb we are going to use a special boot, plastic mountaineering boots. They are more durable then the hiking boots you are going to be using on the rest of your trip. They are also waterproof, which makes them perfect for the glacier travel we are going to be doing. These boots will be part of the technical equipment that Wilderness Ventures will provide for the Mt. Baker climb. The other climbs we will be doing you will be able to do in your hiking boots with crampons that will be provided as part of the technical equipment Wilderness Ventures provides as part of your experience.
What’s the weather like in Washington?
Most people think of Seattle and think that it rains every day all year long. This is not true at all. While the winter months are wet and rainy in the Seattle area, we take advantage of the three months in the year when the weather is at its best. June, July and August are typically beautiful with sunny days and cool nights, perfect for our adventures in the surrounding areas that make the Northwest such a beautiful place.
Where will I sleep this summer?
This summer you will be sleeping in 2-3 person tents designed especially for mountaineering trips. You will be assigned a tent partner by your leaders before you arrive. Every night will be spent alongside a trail in the mountains, next to a high mountain lake, or on the slopes of Mt. Baker. Every night you will also have the option to sleep out under the stars and fall asleep to shooting stars.
