Day 6: The day when the rhythm really begins to set in and the trip no longer feels like a mere dream. Our Apogee students have learned so much in just a few days and have already begun to use their new skills and friendships to crush their goals!
Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMCA, AKMCB, AXA, AXB, CCM, CI, CRM, CRMC, CS, DEXA, ECC1, MCCE, MCJ, NEMCA, NEMCB, NWX, PC, PMC, VMA, VMB
Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)
Today, AKMCA began their backcountry adventure through Chugach State Park! Packs fully loaded, they hiked through a wonderfully open valley, offering a ton of opportunities to see the otherworldly Alaskan wildlife, then made camp among the bushy, northern scrub that makes up the valley floor. Pros of the amazing Alaskan backcountry: isolation and amazing views. Cons: not enough cell service to send blog pictures. We’ll look forward to several in a few days when they return to civilization.
Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)
Today, AKMCB enjoyed a two-mile hike to Fort Mcilvray, an old tunnel and bunker, on Resurrection Bay. After relaxing for a while in the crisp Alaskan forest and pondering the history behind the bunker, they paddled on back to Seward for a hearty meal in preparation for their some icy glacial adventures tomorrow!
Alps Explorer A (AXA)
AXA enjoyed a spectacular day of hiking in Zermatt near the majestic Matterhorn! The fog was rolling and the clouds were so close they felt as though they could reach out and touch them. Today they saw some amazing waterfalls fed by crisp alpine streams – plus lots of mountain goats scaling the steep mountainsides!
Alps Explorer B (AXB)
For AXB’s final day in Zermatt, they tackled a gorgeous hike through the misty valleys, feeling the Matterhorn looming over them. They got to hike past nimble mountain goats snacking on the alpine scrub on the mountain sides and along valleys carved out by the fresh alpine creeks and rivers. After their hike, they took some time to explore the quaint mountain town of Zermatt before enjoying a delicious chicken alfredo with local cheeses for dinner! There couldn’t be a better way to wrap up their time in Zermatt! [Unfortunately, our AXB team’s photos didn’t successfully get to us – but we will plan to post bonus pictures tomorrow!]
California’s Coastal Mountains (CCM)
After their incredible bioluminescence paddle last night, our CCM crew paddled back to basecamp this morning. Next up, they’ll be swapping paddles for packs – tomorrow, they’ll tackle a coastal day hike before getting packed and organizes for their upcoming backcountry trip!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
CI1 started off the morning bidding farewell to Martha’s Vineyard with park games before a ferry bound back to Cape Cod. After arriving on the mainland, they biked through beautiful views, blue skies, and fresh air to their new campsite!
Look at those sunny smiles!
Caribbean Service (CS)
What an incredible first day of service for our CS crew! They spent the day clearing trails and cleaning beaches. While working away, they got to learn about the Correrdor’s rich history from none other than Ramon, a Puerto Rico local and owner of the non-profit that maintains the area. They had time to relax on the beach and even spied THREE iguanas (and a duck, they wanted add)!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
CRM totally rocked their rock climbing day, in no other place than Colorado, one of the top climbing states in the U.S! It was a day exemplifying the meaning of the word bravery: to be afraid, but to act despite the fear. After an awesome day of climbing, they headed back into Estes Park for some very well-deserved showers.
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
CRMC started the day with a hike through a vibrant jungle with the sounds of wildlife echoing about them. Somehow, they spied one of the quietest, sneakiest animals possible: a sloth! Upon returning, they got to rinse off with a dip in the crystal clear, blue ocean and dig their toes around in the soft sand. 
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
Today marks the start of an incredible journey! ECC1 gathered from all corners of the United States to embark on a bikepacking adventure in a new land. After building and fitting their mechanical steeds, they learned how to pack them for the adventure ahead. With new friends by their side, they can’t wait to explore all that this amazing continent has in store!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Our MCJ crew bid farewell to Acadia with a foggy hike among the beautiful evergreens and soft, mossy trail. They got to relax and play on the summit clearing before making their way back to Brunswick for some rest after the days of exciting adventure in Acadia!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
Our trusty DEX crew crushed a sunrise hike to the summit of Champlain Mountain and were rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise! They even did everyone in Acadia a favor by banishing the clouds in favor of some sunshine by playing songs like, “Walking on Sunshine”, “Here Comes the Sun”, and “Sunrise Sunburn Sunset”! They spent the afternoon gearing up and preparing to enter the backcountry for more beautiful views and undisturbed nature.
New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)
NEMCA started off with a thrilling river rafting adventure after the sun finally broke through the clouds! They all worked together to take on the exciting Androscoggin rapids under the steady hand of their professional raft guides. After rafting, they made their way to camp for some fun, games, and a hearty meal to rest up for another hike hike in the morning!
New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)
It was an adventure packed day for NEMCB! They started off the morning with some fun and games, followed by a thrilling whitewater rafting experience down the Androscoggin guided by their wise and masterful raft guides. They had lunch with the other NEMC group and got to exchange play-by-plays of their watery adventure. Then it was off to reach the next camp and rest up for a beautiful hike in the morning!
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
Today our NWX crew got to scratch that hiking itch! After getting up early to head into Olympic National Park, they set up camp before enjoying a solid day hike, capped off by a refreshing dip in Lake Crescent (beautiful photos to boot below)!
Pacific Coast (PC)
The first day of riding for our intrepid Pacific Coasters! They kicked the trip off strong by learning the ropes of bike touring, and then immediately crushing a solid 30 mile day through some beautiful rolling hills along the forested coast of Oregon. Well done, PC!
Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)
Today, PMC had the most amazing day! They started off with a delicious bagel breakfast, which was a rare treat, as bagels are apparently hard to find in Spain. They then hiked 8.5 miles to an incredible, breathtaking 1000 year old monastery. To top it all off, they visited not one, but TWO stunning beaches and enjoyed some sunny relaxation!
Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)
Today VMA had a beautiful ride into Middlebury through incredible Vermont farmlands. After a grocery stop in Middlebury, they cruised into camp, followed by a fun afternoon of playing cards and wading along the campsites river.
Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)
What an amazing day of bikepacking in beautiful Vermont for VMB! They tackled some challenging hills, moo-ed at a lot of cows, and got to ride through a cool covered bridge. The views were incredible and the fresh air on the downhills would have given everyone quite the “do” if they weren’t already working on their helmet hair!