Another big day in the field for our Apogee family today! Some groups are saying goodbyes, some are exploring cities, and others are summiting mountains. No matter where their feet or tires have taken them, these dedicated Apogee students and Trip Leaders had a good day today! And to leave you with the wise words of Russell from Up, “The wilderness must be explored!”
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMCA, NEMCB, CRM, MCCE, MCP, DEX3, VMA, VMB, CMC, AKMCA, AKMCB, NWX, PC, AXA & B, PMC
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Our youngest crew of hikers said their goodbyes to Acadia today in style – watching the sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain! They were amongst the first in the country to see the sunrise today and we certainly think it was worth it. After some post-sunrise naps, the crew made their way back down the coast, picked up their Apogee t-shirts, and headed to the coast for another night of camping. Tomorrow is their last full day in Maine and they are committed to making the most of it with some community service!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
These bikers are a bunch of pros by now and cruised through their 14-mile ride to Wellfleet. After their adventure-filled ride along the rail trail, the group did some much-needed laundry! They then settled into their next campsite with a wonderful dinner, dessert, and group games. I spy in the blog photos a massage train that took place this evening, so jealous!
New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)
NEMCA had an early start to their day to conquer their next adventure: Mount Washington! Not many can say they climbed the tallest mountain in New England, but this stellar crew can. A cloudy summit could never wipe the smiles off their faces, as you can certainly see in the photo they sent us. Reports from the field indicate that these superstar climbers got a nice warm dinner and hope to hit the hay early tonight. Way to go, NEMCA!
New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)
There is no shortage of fun when it comes to NEMCB. This hardcore group explored the White Mountains’ famous Presidential Range, which is no easy feat! They even made it to the Lakes of the Clouds hut, one of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts along the Appalachian Trail. The spirits were high and smiles were plentiful for this adventure-seeking crew. Rock on, NEMCB!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
Today was Challenge Day for our Colorado crew! They tackled the trails with purpose and audacity. The weather held for a most beautiful day of hiking (albeit a bit sweaty!) After completing their challenge hike, they headed into picturesque Estes Park for a bit of a break and to hit the showers! We’re sure that felt great after working so hard in the mountains today! Today was their last full day in Rocky Mountain National Park – they will head down the canyon tomorrow for some community service and Final Dinner!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
It was a great day for our superb essay-writers! They spent the morning in a writing workshop to continue their progress on their essays. In the afternoon, they participated in a community service project with the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center. They helped build a trail that is designed to be handicap-accessible. They capped off their eventful day with a picnic dinner by the beach. We are so proud of all of the hard work from our MCCE students today, they did such a great job!
Maine Coast Photo (MCP)
These adept photographers had a nature-filled day! Their Wednesday started off with a photoshoot at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with their instructor. We cannot wait to see how those photos turned out! In the afternoon, the group partnered with the Boothbay Harbor Land Trust to do community service. They helped remove invasive species on the property and weeds on some of their new trails!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)
Our DEXters had a full day of kayaking through the Maine Island Trail today! A steward from the Maine Island Trail Association met them out in the islands and led them in a beach clean-up – our DEX crew was pretty excited to contribute to keeping these beaches clean after seeing their beauty for themselves. They went swimming and did some more kayaking today and will paddle their way back to the mainland tomorrow morning!
Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)
It was VMA’s last full day together, so they took full advantage of their time in Montreal. They did some sightseeing, shared lots of laughs, and even had some poutine (an obligatory activity when in Canada). The group is enjoying their final dinner where they’ll reminisce about the past two weeks before heading home tomorrow.
Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)
Wow, this trip has flown by for VMB! They slept in this morning before exploring the wonderful city of Montreal. To celebrate all of their accomplishments from the past two weeks, the group went out to dinner (which was reportedly delicious). Tomorrow, they’ll make their way back south (by van this time, not by bike!) before they all say their goodbyes and part ways. We’ll sure miss this awesome bunch of bikers!
California Mountains & Coast (CMC)
CMC had a wonderful final day together! The group went to Pfeiffer Beach for some quality relaxation (and an abundance of snacks, of course!). They traversed the beach city Carmel-by-the-Sea before heading down to San Francisco for some more exploration. The group even stopped by Lombard Street, known for being “The Crookedest Street in the World!” CMC will soon be enjoying their final dinner before heading back to their campsite. We will be so sad to see them go tomorrow, but we know their trip was full of adventures that will last a lifetime!
Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)
AKMCA headed back up the Seward Highway (arguably the most beautiful highway in America) and all the way to Anchorage. They celebrated their last hours together with a delicious final dinner and then sent off the Early Departures from the airport! Goodbyes are always bittersweet, but we are glad this Alaska crew had such a good time traversing the Last Frontier!
Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)
The AKMCB group took to the parks today and helped Anchorage Parks and Rec get their space in tip-top shape! Director Kevin met them to lend a helping hand and they all did an absolutely fantastic job at their park cleaning event! Afterward, the group grabbed lunch and went to explore the city of Anchorage. They’ll say goodbye to a few friends tonight and the rest of the crew will hit the road (or, rather, the sky) tomorrow!
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
So many of our trips are enjoying their final day together, and NWX was no exception! After traversing through rainforests, backpacking across mountains, and kayaking around the San Juan Islands, this crew took to the city today to explore Seattle. They had a fun adventure at Gasworks Park before heading over to Pike Place for a great afternoon in town. Final Dinner and dessert are on the agenda for this evening, and we wish this group all the best for the remainder of their limited time together!
Pacific Coast (PC)
Pacific Coast has hit the pinnacle of their coastal travels! After arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday, they hit the town and explored San Francisco today. They took the trolley around town, explored Union Square, and as many San Fran sights as they had time for! It was a beautiful, sunny day in San Francisco which made it a great last day to spend with their new friends before they all go their separate ways!
Alps Explorer A & B
This morning was an exciting day for our Alps Explorers! After conquering the Alps over the last twenty-one days, they boarded their planes, trains, and automobiles back to their homes! Both groups had some very bittersweet goodbyes – sad to be leaving new friends and happy to sleep in their own beds soon! Bienvenue, our AX friends!
Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)
Today was a long-awaited day for our Pyrenees crew – they got to explore Barcelona! Between visits to gelato shops, they took in the sights of beautiful and historic Barcelona, too. There isn’t much better than exploring Spain in the sunshine and eating gelato with your pals! Especially after all the hiking they’ve done on this trip, they really earned it! Tonight is their last night together and then they go their separate ways tomorrow!
