Planes, trains and automobiles may be how many of our students arrive, but once their trip starts they get from Point A to Point B in a myriad of ways and today was no exception! Some zip-lined, some kayaked, some rafted. Some pedaled, some ferried, and some used their own two feet! There was a lot of moving about today, so let’s check in and see what our groups are up to!
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMC, CRM, GSA, CS, MCCE, DEXA, DEXB, VMA, VMB, CRLS, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, AKMC, NWXA, NWXB, PCA, PCB, SH, AX, PMC, ECC1, ECC2, ACC
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
MCJ hit Acadia’s trails today and their efforts were rewarded with incredible views of Bar Harbor and Jordan Pond from the tops of the Bubble Mountains. Although they gave it their best try, they were not able to dislodge the infamous Bubble Rock from the summit…
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
They may be leaving Martha’s Vineyard behind, but there is more island fun in store for our CI crew! Today was an eventful day for the group as they biked and ferried their way to Nantucket! Trading in their tents for bunk beds, they settled into their beachside hostel (it’s in an old whaling station – how cool is that?) and enjoyed opening letters and packages from their friends and family!
Stopping for a quick pic before catching their ferry!
New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC)
A bittersweet day for NEMC – this is their last full day of trip! My, how the time flies! Their good spirits (as well as their PFDs) kept them afloat today as they sea kayaked along the Maine coast. The good vibes continued into the evening as the group headed to celebrate their final night together in Portland. How did they celebrate, you ask? Can you spell P-I-Z-Z-A?
Mid-kayak snack break on “Rat’s Island”
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
Fasten you life-vests, folks, today was a wild day of white water rafting for CRM! The group departed camp early to hit the rapids in Fort Collins and surely worked up an adrenaline charged appetite for their last night in Estes Park!
Look at this fearless group!
Golden State Adventure (GSA)
Caribbean Service (CS)
Today our CS team engaged with their first day of service. What is cuter than our students taking care of puppies at an animal shelter? Trick question. NOTHING. The photos speak for themselves! Talk about a great introduction to CS!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
I hope your pencils are sharpened and your erasers are ready because today MCCE took the writing world by storm. These incredible students worked tirelessly on their essays today and we are so excited for them to complete them! Just a few more days!
Some well deserved water time!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
The first full day for DEXA! The group laced up their hiking boots and hit the trail, Bald Mountain Trail to be exact! The group was rewarded with a beautiful view of Camden Harbor and sweeping views of the Maine coast and islands. They then trekked (this time in a van) to their campground in Stonington, where they set up camp and prepared their bags for their 2 day sea kayaking adventure starting tomorrow – they’ll be seeing some of the islands that they saw from Bald Mountain up close and personal!
At the view point of Bald Mountain Trailhead
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)
This in from DEXB leader, Malcolm: “Our group hiked up Mt. Battie this morning! Our hike brought us to a World War 1 memorial with views of the beautiful town of Camden! To our far left, we could see Acadia National Park- where we’re driving to today to do some more hiking tomorrow”
Vermont to Montréal A (VMA)
VMA started out strong today with their first day of riding! Parting their campground early in the morning, the group biked all the way to Branbury State Park where they will spend the night. They rolled their way through the peaks and valleys of the country side and even got to go through one of Vermont’s iconic covered bridges!
Vermont to Montréal B (VMB)
After a night of fun at Lake St. Catherine, VMB put on their chamois, fastened their helmets, secured their panniers and hit the road! Riding from one lake to the next, they arrived at Lake Bomoseen where they set up camp and ate a well deserved camp meal.
A snapshot of last night’s games
Blue skies and happy campers at Lake Bomoseen!
Costa Rica Language & Service (CRLS)
An adventurous day today for CRLS – they zipped their way through the rainforest, literally! Their excitement was through the canopy!
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
We welcomed another group into the Apogee fold today – say hola to our Costa Rica Mountains and Coast crew! After arriving in San Jose and getting to know each other, the group shuttled off to their hostel in Manual Antonio where they will be staying for the next. We’re sure that they will be dreaming of sloths and toucans tonight!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCA)
Ocean, mountains, and beach. The CMCA team is having a hat trick of day. Starting the morning with sea kayaking, followed by day hiking in the afternoon, and wrapping things up with an evening at the beach, the CMCA team is putting on a clinic for those interested in making the most of the California sunshine!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCB)
CMCB is having a day and a half, testing their skills out on the water in sea kayaks, stopping for a major lunch at Pebble Beach, and getting ready to do some serious stargazing tonight!
One serious…
and one silly!
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
Two facts: Alaska is the only state name that you can type on one row of a keyboard and AKMC is spending their first day in the back country. Today the AKMC team meandered 5-6 miles through forests and along rivers and we are excitedly awaiting their return so that we can see the photos!
Northwest Explorer (NWXA)
After sleeping under the stars last night, NWXA is on the water again today. The team continues to work their upper body and core as they propel their kayaks through Pacific water. After a beautiful lunch overlooking the ocean, the team hopped aboard a ferry set for the Emerald City, Seattle.
Photo taken by leader Liam minutes before wake up at 7am
Northwest Explorer (NWXB)
Well folks, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: NWXB has returned from the backcountry and they have sent us pictures to prove it! Looks like they had a rip-roaring good time!
Pacific Coast (PCA)
The City by the Bay! PCA has done it! After 600 miles of biking, the team has made their way across the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco! The team will spend their last day off the bikes and exploring the city. Congrats!
Pacific Coast (PCB)
This in from our fearless PCB leaders:
“TODAY IS THE DAY! The fine lads and lassies of PCB reached San Francisco and zip zop zooped their way over one of the most famous bridges in the United States, The Golden Gate. I can just see these champs now– biking across that beautiful orange structure (painted “International Orange” in the 1930s to compliment the bridge’s natural surroundings while also helping it stand out) with quads of steel and hearts of gold. A big congratulations to PCB for achieving a truly awesome feat!”
The sock game is strong with this group!
Scottish Highlands (SH)
Another day of hiking around Loch Lomond – poor SH! We got this lovely message from our SH leaders after they arrived in Inversnaid:
“Absolutely CRUSHED the beautiful 7 miles today. Got rewarded by lots of waterfalls and another sunny day :)”
Sounds like a magical day in Scotland – oh how we wish we were with you!
Alps Explorer (AX)
From leader Jack DeAngelis:
“Tour du Mount Blanc log day 11: the fourteen intrepid explores heroically braved blustery winds, rainy weather, and muddy hills to courageously complete the final leg of her majesty the TMB!! The sweet, sweet sight of the Trient pink church filled their weary hearts with joy and accomplishment. Together, they prepared for #napogees on the bus ride back to Martingy to recover from the morning’s 4am wake up call. All peacefully dreamt of their adventures together!”
Congratulations on this accomplishment, AX! You certainly put the ‘miles’ in milestone!
Pyrenees Mountains & Coast (PMC)
Now that our PMC students are in the thick of the Carros de Foc, we are sad to say that we will not have any photos from them for a few days. Today our students crushed 8km and will sleep soundly indoors at a refugi (a mountain hostel!) Rest assured they are having a blast and taking in some epic views we can’t wait to share with you in a few days!
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
We received a wonderful note from leader Emily today after ECC1’s journey from Shiltach to Tuttlingen:
“Holy buckets. We had the most dreamy and magical day! This is quite possibly the most beautiful place in the world. The views were NUTS, also…. check out these magnificent humans beings.”
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
A big day for our ECC2 group as they rolled their way from France to Germany! They’ve got another country in the books which means new delicious food to try (in this case, pretzels…yum!) Looks like the group washed the day of riding off in style at Showerworld and primped for a group dinner!
The Rhine river after crossing into Germany
America Coast to Coast (ACC)
Cycling from Paris to Whitesboro, ACC had their first full day of riding in Texas today! This group is unstoppable!
Crushing early morning miles!