Hi folks! It’s the eighth day of summer 2021 and our trips have been busily fielding all the incoming good vibes generated by another day of adventuring. The cause of these high level good vibes? We’re talking ferry rides in Puerto Rico, 12,000′ peaks in Colorado, and crushing big mileage days in Vermont (and much more!).

This day also has us feeling grateful for the invention of rain gear as some of our East Coast trips rekindle their love of rain jackets and tarps. Read on for evidence of how the great was put into day eight today despite weather challenges!

Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMC, CRM, CS, MCCE, DEXA, DEXB, VLCA, VLCB, CRLC, CMC, AKMCA, AKMCB, NWXA, NWXB, NWXC, PC, ACC1, ACC2

Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)

Our MCJers spent their final full day in Acadia saying goodbye with a short bike ride before exploring downtown Bar Harbor. Tomorrow is when they say goodbye to this jewel of an island, so they’ll soak in as much as they can while they’re there.

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

Ben, Meg, and the crew made the best of an impromptu rest day and spent a good deal of time around camp, reading, and playing frisbee. And one of the best rainy day activities? Movie day! Word is that they also had a low/no-cook dinner night to really embrace the rest day vibes.

New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)

 

Anna & Duncan captained the whitewater rafting ships today, as the NEMC crew sailed the mighty Androscoggin River. Word from the river was that spirits are high following their morning of paddling, which was followed by a BBQ lunch! It’s hard to believe that this is their last night in New Hampshire, as they’ll make tracks back to the Maine coast tomorrow.

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)

 

Challenge Day, anyone? It was a perfect blue-bird day in Rocky Mountain National Park for our CRM team to tackle the biggest hike of their trip: all 12,362’ of Flattop Mountain! Time to put their hiking boots in storage, too, since they’ll be whitewater rafting tomorrow before moving to Boulder the following day to celebrate their accomplishments – topped by their monster expedition today!

Caribbean Service (CS)

Our CS team took to the seas today, as they crossed from mainland Puerto Rico to the island of Vieques, where they’ll spend the next six nights! Once they arrived, they decided to do some exploring by foot – here is a picture at the starting line with their fearless leader, Kendra, using her Division 1 track knowledge for pointers.

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

That’s a wrap! Our amazing MCCE team finished up the very first trip of the 2021 season, and we couldn’t have asked for much more. Over the course of the last week, they hiked, they swam, they kayaked, they volunteered, and they workshopped, drafted, edited, and produced some phenomenal college essays. We’re awfully proud of this crew and their fearless leaders, Chuck and Sage!

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)

The DEXA team continued their backcountry trek along the Appalachian Trail’s (AT) 100 Mile Wilderness today. This stretch is known as one of the most remote sections of the entire AT, but fortunately, our crew has everything they need on their backs for this three-day adventure. They’ll re-enter civilization tomorrow afternoon to prepare for their trip to Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin! Plus, blog photos tomorrow!

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)

DEXB explored the coast of Acadia this morning before jumping into the van to head to their next campsite. Activities included blowing bubbles, stacking rocks, and enjoying the dramatically rocky Maine Coast!  Tonight they’ll prep for their coming days in the backcountry as they leave the coast behind in favor of her majesty, The Appalachian Trail!

Vermont & Lake Champlain A (VLCA)

VLCA  enjoyed some world class gravel roads as they cruised towards the quintessential Vermont town of Middlebury for some ole fashioned explorin’. Big things that they were loving today are red barns, the color green, and all things water related #hydrate!

Vermont & Lake Champlain B (VLCB)

Today Hannah, Ellie, and the VLCB crew made friends with cows and horses. Despite some more drizzly weather, the group had high spirits as they took a big bite of mileage out of their Vermont sandwich today. Though it was their highest mileage day yet, the team made it into camp with enough time to sufficiently utilize the campground swing set and local swimming hole. And hot showers!

Costa Rica Language & Community (CRLC)

CRLC with Maeve and Finnigan posing after their first morning of Spanish classes! What’s next?? A lunch of chicken, rice, beans, plantains, and some fresh pico de gallo!

California Mountains & Coast (CMC)

Just as the crowds were flocking to Yosemite for the 4th of July weekend, our CMC team embarked on their backcountry journey into the quiet, isolated wilderness of the Tuolumne Meadows. Over the next three days, they’ll take in views from the top of Yosemite Falls, maybe catch a sunrise over Half Dome, and carry everything they need for their trip right on their backs. Unless cell service has dramatically improved, we likely won’t receive any pictures from Nate & Lila for the next several days – but we’ll make it up to you when they get back!

Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)

Feeling stoked after their most recent backcountry trip, Mandy & Julian’s squad spend the morning working with the BookWaves project labeling books and packaging them up to send to rural villages in Alaska. After an impromptu pizza party, they then made their way to the coastal fishing & adventure town of Seward, where they’ll stage their upcoming kayaking and ice climbing adventures.

Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)

With the kayaking and ice climbing portion of their trip behind them, Meg and Zach’s AKMCB team was ready to hit the trails. They left early this morning for the first overnight backpacking trip along the famed Crow Pass, where they’ll get their first true taste of the Alaskan wilderness as they keep their eyes peeled for wild salmon, moose, and more. We’ll look forward to photographic evidence of their adventure when they’re out of the woods!

Northwest Explorer (NWXA)

Emma & Tommy’s crew is in the backcountry in Olympic National Park tonight. They were basecamping and doing a day hike from there. They’re definitely too far into the backcountry to have service to send us pictures, but we’re excited to learn more about what they did when they emerge tomorrow!

Northwest Explorer (NWXB)

While Emmaline, Jonathan, and co likely spent most of their day getting ready for their first backcountry hiking experience of the trip, they somehow managed to also sneak a great-looking hike on the Sauk Mt. Trail! Stories from the field: in addition their snowball fight, this crew also used leader Jonathan’s rain coat as a sled and had some major snow funtivities.

Northwest Explorer (NWXC)

Having hiked the nearly 10 miles into their basecamp yesterday, Clio, Connor & co had a plethora of options for day hikes today. In addition to their hikes, we’re sure that their trip has involved a lot of trail games, a lot of lush temperate rainforest, and at least one beautiful meadow. We’re all eagerly looking forward to updates tomorrow!

Pacific Coast (PC)

Hear them roar! Alex, Nellie and the Pacific Coast-ers tackled a 50 mile day today along the misty Oregon coast. The team made great time, with even greater thumbs up to boot. Though this was their biggest ride yet, we’ve heard rumor that support staffer Ajed has a special, sugary treat in store from them when they get to camp…

America Coast to Coast 1 (ACC1)

Nothing much to report today…oh wait, only that ACC1 rode a 79 mile day today! Not pictured: the gallons of water that they put away and their two smiling leaders who cheered them on through their longest day yet. Though the group faced some hills today in addition to their heightened mileage, ACC1 is hitting their groove and all we can say is: Can’t stop, won’t stop!

America Coast to Coast 2 (ACC2)

Oatmeal? Omelets? Pancakes? ACC2 says no way! Today the crew ate state borders for breakfast as they cruised into Georgia. Okay, they did also have a food-based breakfast before their secondary, geography-based meal. Sustenance semantics aside, we are so proud of this group and the progress they are making! Keep on keepin’ on ACC2!