Greetings, earthlings! We hail from the planet Apogee to bring you news of our intergalactic adventurers as they hike, bike, and drive across the galaxy. Sit back and enjoy these extraordinary stories of fun and adventure along with some out-of-this-world pictures!

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Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMC, AX, CRM, CRMC, CSPR, CSVI, DEX, IMC, NWX, PC, VM

Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)

Cosmic salutations to Alaska Mountains & Coast! We cannot wait to see what celestial adventures await this group of hiking, kayaking, and backpacking cosmonauts over the next two weeks. Today the crew touched down at the Anchorage Space Station (that’s space-talk for the airport) and traveled to camp for their first night together. Tomorrow they’ll embark on their first hike in Alaska, and they are surely in for some otherworldly sights! Two intrepid space explorers snapped a pic before the group headed off for their first campsite. We can’t wait to see the whole group together tomorrow!

Alps Explorer (AX)

After enjoying some stellar croissants as part of their breakfast, the Alps Explorers descended from the snow-capped star system into the Chamonix galaxy. Along their trail, they encountered alpenrose, wild berries and strawberries, and many new bird species that leader Megan helped identify! The third successful day on the Tour du Mont Blanc brings them to a day tomorrow of cosmic souvenir shopping and a grocery resupply.

 

Caribbean Service Puerto Rico (CSPR)

Talk about a supernova of a day! CSPR had their first day of service with their guide Ramon in El Corredor del Noreste, a nature reserve in Luquillo, PR. They cleared a trail and learned about the history of the area and the importance of taking care of nature. Then they hiked to Mt. Britton Tower, where they could see all around El Yunque National Forest and the eastern side of the island. Afterwards, they took a dip in the river near their hostel and enjoyed their evening together.

Caribbean Service Virgin Islands (CSVI)

CSVI began their first full day together with an orientation at the ecolodge that they will call home for the next 11 days! In the afternoon, they went for a short hike, then checked out Cramer Park Beach for a swim. From here in Maine, the Virgin Islands truly seem a planet away with that crystal-clear blue water! It looks like this team is in for some amazing swimming in the next two weeks!

 

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)

The galactic pioneers of Colorado blasted off out of the otherworldly Rocky Mountains this morning. They directed their spaceship (alright, their van) toward the Denver-Boulder area, where they worked with a community food share on a service project. They spent the afternoon exploring around the planet Boulder and enjoyed a delicious final dinner together. We’re sure there was a ton of laughter and smiles as the crew celebrated their fantastic adventure together over the last eight days. They’ll tuck into their tents for one last night of sleeping under the stars before dispersing once more across the galaxy tomorrow (that’s space-talk for heading home).

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

After some flapjacks this morning, CRMC headed out for a truly out-of-this world adventure: ziplining! Everyone had a stellar time swinging through the trees. When they got back, they hit the field to play some space soccer (which is just regular soccer, but hey, it’s a space-themed blog!). “It’s been all games and good vibes here,” reports leader Captain on his space log. They have seen a ton of otherworldly creatures like crocodiles and scarlet macaws. We can’t wait to hear news of what other extraterrestrial beings they encounter on their nature tour tomorrow!

Iceland Mountains & Coast (IMC)

If you want to talk about out-of-this-world scenery, you can’t get much closer than Iceland. Today the group took the bus to Grundarfjördur and set up camp, where they shortly walked to a waterfall. Then they went zero-gravity at the campground trampoline, and did we mention they went kayaking, too? While out on their paddle, the group got amazing views of Mt. Kirkjufell. It seems like every picture from IMC was taken in a galaxy far, far away…

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)

Interstellar greetings to Maine’s Downeast Explorer, who began their exploration of the planet Maine today. Over the next two weeks, this band of adventurers will hike, kayak, and backpack. Like astronauts, they will travel to the otherworldly Katahdin region, where they will journey deep into some of the most rugged and remote reaches of Maine. We cannot wait to see what these cosmic explorers will do!

Northwest Explorer (NWX)

The Northwest Explorers crushed day two in the backcountry in North Cascades National Park. Talk about out of this world! The group is truly out of this world; they are also out of cell service. Oh, the woes of being an intergalactic backcountry explorer… we cannot wait to see all their pictures when they emerge in a few days! We are sure the views are indeed otherworldly.

Pacific Coast (PC)

Like astronauts on the fastest spaceship in the galaxy, PC zipped down the coast and certifiably crushed one of their biggest mileage days! Looking closely, you may be able to spot the alien creatures (and by that we mean elk) far off in a field next to the road. These cyclists won’t be on the road tomorrow, however, because they will trade their bikes in for surfboards and hit the waves! The crew will enjoy a cosmically delicious dinner in camp tonight before tucking in anticipation of their surfing adventure tomorrow.

Vermont to Montreal (VM)

The Vermont to Montreal crew must have taken a wormhole portal to camp today because they got in super early (or, you know, they crushed their bike ride)! We are impressed by these travelers’ skills on the bikes, and their early arrival into camp on their first day on the road bodes well for the rest of their international, intergalactic journey!