It’s the moment you have been waiting for. The blog to rule all other blogs. We are very excited to announce that today is…Sunday Pun-day! It just felt like the write thing to do today…
Like our journals in the field, wheel work hard to make this blog summit all up- all of the fun adventures our bikers and hikers are on, that is. Let’s get going, these trips absolutely rock!
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJA, MCJB, CI, NEMCA, NEMCB, CRMA, CRMB, CS, MCCE, MCP, DEXA, VMA, VMB, CRLS, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, AKMC, NWXA, NWXB, PCA, PCB, SH, AX, PMC, ACC
Maine Coast Junior (MCJA)
Did someone say trip start?? Today we welcome a brand new group of smiling faces to the Apo-family. Their Maine goal for the next few days is going to be having fun, making new friends and coasting through the best week of the summer!
Maine Coast Junior (MCJB)
This trip also kicked it off on the right foot today, beginning day one strong! After some sweet games, they settled down to a nice dinner and prepared for the first full day tomorrow. Adventure awaits! The next week will be full of excitement, exploration, and some biking and highkey fun!
And did someone say… DAB!!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
WhatSUP, CI? Today, our Cape crew seas-ed the day and traded in their bikes for some stand-up paddleboards! What a well balanced trip this is, full of lots of fun activities- and as you can see they’re looking absolutely fin-tastic! Soak up the sun and enjoy the sweet day on the boards, CI-ers!
New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)
You know, camping can be pretty in-tents, but with this great group of friends by your side, what could be better? NEMC had a great day exploring the White Mountains – check out this view! Nothing says “The White Mountains are the coolest place and Apogee is the best!!” like blue skies, white clouds, and picture-esque grassy mountaintop fields!
New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)
Wow, it feels like today just flew by really rapidly… But what a day it was! A full day paddling down the beautiful, awe-inspiring Androscoggin river on some of New Hampshire’s finest rapids, (white) capped off with a delicious cookout lunch. This sounds kind of like the perfect day – anybody have an extra seat and paddle? Major kudos to these absolute ROCKSTARS!
And lucky for us, we got some bonus pics from yesterday’s jaunt out to Peabody River.
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains A (CRMA)
Eeeek! Or should I say… Eeeeelk! These incredible explorers found some friends up in the Rockies this morning – and can hardly believe it! Truly a staggering find, this lucky crew soaked up the sun, the wildlife, and the amazing views on their epic third day of trip. They crushed a 5 mile hike this morning and drove through the heart of the Rocky Mountain National Park on the Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the country! As for tonight, they are preparing for an incredible day of rock climbing tomorrow! Yepp, tomorrow is gonna rock.
I’m sorry about that one, but you can’t write a nature-oriented, pun-themed blog without throwing that one in.
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains B (CRMB)
Does anyone else hear James Taylor’s melodic voice in the background of these pictures?… because this stellar group saw fire and rain today! Hopefully the rest of the trip will be filled with sunny days and blue skies, but this tough crew is definitely getting the full Colorado experience. Fortunately is hasn’t been too Rocky so far!
Caribbean Service (CS)
Looks like our Caribbean Service trip has been going absolutely swimmingly so far! Today, this group was bubbling with excitement as they hit the water for some snorkeling! Blue skies, sparkling water, new sea creature friends- what a turtle-y awesome day!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
These awesome authors are wasting no time in diving write into the writing process! Today was full of brainstorming and working with their writing instructor, along with hanging out and getting to know one another. We expect to be Thoreau-ly impressed with the results at the end of this week! Baseball ice cream and swimming holes abound for these budding authors as another day flies by.
Maine Coast Photo (MCP)
What a picture perfect day for MCP! This crew stayed focused and kicked off their first day with an awesome introduction from their photography instructor, Jamie. They then spent the afternoon in the field, adventuring and trying out their new photography skills at the beautiful Pemaquid Lighthouse! After that, a wonderful dip in a local swimming spot. Can’t wait for them to continue developing some amazing friendships over the next week!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
This just in – last night around the campfire, our crew of adventurers engaged in one of the most important Apogee contests this world has ever seen: a speed corn eating contest! No teeth were harmed in the taking of this picture. Today, our fabulous DEX squad enjoyed some day hikes and prepped for a BEAUTIFUL sunrise hike tomorrow morning up Cadillac Mountain – seriously aMAIZEing stuff!
Also I would like to take this time to formally say that I am sorry if these jokes are getting too corny, we really are pulling at straws for these. And if you’re enjoying the puns half as much as I am writing them, then… Aw shucks.
Vermont to Montréal A (VMA)
This crew of speedsters picked up the bikes after a nice rest day and continued on through the beautiful Vermont countryside to the North Hero campsite. I think we all know who the real heroes are on this trip!! This group enjoyed some spectacular views from the Causeway halfway through the ride today, where they caused some way cool memories to happen. Special hello to our very own Associate Director Jack for taking some time to hang with this stellar crew!
Vermont to Montréal B (VMB)
Wow, nothing like enjoying a sweet rest day after several days of incredible riding! After sleeping in and relaxing, they headed to D Spokes Home, a local bike shop and nonprofit, where they had the chance to work with bikes. Our VM superstars helped take apart some old bikes for parts. Community service AND learning bike mechanics a little better? Sounds like a double win to me. After that, a delicious dinner and early to bed for one of the most beautiful days of riding tomorrow – it sounds wheelie amazing!
Costa Rica Language & Service (CRLS)
Our incredible CRLS crew rounded off a successful 2nd day of classes. After that, they were able to take part in afternoon service at a local home for senior citizens and at a home indigenous women. These coasts are rich(a) with culture, and it is a serious treat for this crew to spend time with the community in this way. And speaking of treats… local fruit! Yum yum yum. Big time thumbs up for our Costa Rican stewards! Pura Vida!
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
This trekking crew made it to their Ecolodge deep in the rainforest, where they will be happily tucked away for the next 3 nights. Unfortunately, this means we won’t have any pics from them until they’re back, but for now, enjoy a few more from yesterday’s epic adventure to a watering hole just off the San Gerardo de Rivas route. They chucked around the ol’ frisbee and enjoyed the beauty of Costa Rica in full force! Looks like these folks successfully bridged the gap between exploration and enjoyment! This trip is absolutely bananas, keep up the fruitful trip everyone!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCA)
Yosemite? More like YoseMIGHTY, with our CMCA crew around! This stellar squad spent one more day in the frontcountry testing pack fit and breaking in hiking boots before taking the backcountry by storm tomorrow. We’re sure they’re having a treemendous time and can’t wait to hear all about it when they refern! (sorry, readers, that was a bad one).
California Mountains & Coast (CMCB)
CMCB, this awesome group is surely crushing it out there in the backcountry, as they branch out into this new experience. Rumor has it that there are spectacular sunsets from their final destination, the May Lake High Sierra Camp. Thumbs up for crushing a big challenge day and the last night in the backcountry! Y’all should be so proud.
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
This trip continues to knock our socks off with strong hikers and amazing attitudes. I’m actually not sure how these guys are going so fast – Alaska lot of questions when they’re completely out of the backcountry. One thing is for sure – they’re boulder than any other group in Alaska. And best of all, they were joined by a very special guest – our very own Director, Kevin Cashman! These guys totally rock!
Northwest Explorer (NWXA)
After finally emerging back into society, this crew kicked up their feet and enjoyed all that Bellingham has to offer- perhaps including some delicious treats… ice cream and pizza anyone?? Looking forward to tomorrow, where we can feast our eyes on awesome pics from the backcountry!
Side note: why did the hipster otter only swim in tributaries?? Because the river was too mainstream!
Northwest Explorer (NWXB)
Our NWXB squad is still soaking in the magic of the backcountry, but we can’t wait for them to summit all up for us when they return! Picture-esque lakes and campside rivers greeted these backcountry heroes as they continued their trek today. Also, you ever realize how funny mountains are? They’re hill areas!
Pacific Coast (PCA)
These PCAers must be wheelie tired after all of their hard work, so luckily they got to kick back and enjoy a rest day! Today was filled with sleeping in (did someone say delicious breakfast in camp??), a mail stop, and some relaxing time down by the beach in Mendocino. Tomorrow they’ll get in gear to continue coasting down towards San Fran!
Pacific Coast (PCB)
You know what they say, if there’s a will there’s a wave! These terrific Pacific bikers are continuing to coast down California- tonight they’ll settle down outside of Mendocino, crossing through Fort Bragg, where tomorrow they’ll take a brake and enjoy relaxing rest day! Not to Bragg or anything, but they’re absolutely crushing it and earned this rest day!
And this just in… A bit of live dialogue from these road warriors!
Adam: “You didn’t tell me Leggett was flat…”
*Two miles later, pushing him up hills*
Scottish Highlands (SH)
Our kilted explorers tackled quite the hike today – heading to Kinlochleven via a climb up the fabled “Devil’s Staircase.” I Kin(lochl) barely even believe they crossed this challenge so well! Fortunately for them, it was all downhill into their final destination after the big climb in the morning, and they enjoyed some spectacular views on this big 10 mile day. Only one more day of hiking left!
Alps Explorer (AX)
Remember what we said yesterday about delicious pizza at camp? Well… This just in from leaders Rachel and Jack: “When you eat too much pizza and pasta in Courmayer.” Sounds like a good problem to have – it’s the best way to pasta time! Is that a tree pose I see in the back? This group has some solidly rooted good times!
Pyrenees Mountains & Coast (PMC)
Our French crusaders had a great day traveling to Sare, France, today. They explored the beautifully quaint French town with pastries in hand and wide eyes, enjoying everything that rural France has to offer. As they prepared for a big hike day tomorrow with packs LOADED, we were glad to hear they weren’t trailing behind at all. Keep on coasting through, Pyrenees pioneers! And I think these pics really reflect how this trip is going – amazingly, of course!
America Coast to Coast (ACC)
You know, I still can barely wrap my head around how incredible these troopers are. One good day leads right into another – it’s an awesome chain reaction! After crossing their last border yesterday, they’re definitely in a good state of mind. They’re riding well, shouldering their weight well, and are wrapping up the day of riding in Brawley, CA. Fun fact of the day: they rode right next to the Mexico border! America coast to Mexico to coast, anyone? I’d say this group definitely earned some desert after this, wouldn’t you say? Only 2 days of riding left after this!
