Mahoosuc Mountain Backpacking & Rock Camp

This three week backpacking course takes place in the Carter-Mahoosuc and Bigelow Mountain ranges in western Maine. This course includes rock climbing, solo and final expedition and service and is ideal for rising juniors and seniors ready to take on challenge and experience adventure.

Your wilderness classroom will be the mountains of western Maine and New Hampshire. During your 14-day expedition, you will backpack in one or more of the following areas: the White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, the Carter-Mahoosuc Range, the Grafton Loop Trail, or in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness. These spruce-fir and hardwood forests are home to moose, deer, black bear, and hundreds of species of birds. Great tracts of land here is protected from development and offers both pristine and established camping, rushing waterfalls and twisting streams, and spectacular views from rocky summits. Rock climbing sessions take place at the many granite cliffs that can be found throughout the Carter-Mahoosucs and in the White Mountain National Forest near Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire.

The Outward Bound Difference
This course may be the hardest thing you have ever done. Outward Bound philosophy maintains that by facing the challenges the course will offer you, you will emerge physically and mentally stronger, with an increased mastery of expedition skills as well as a better understanding of your own capabilities. We think that the payoff is well worth the work, but you should be aware of what you’re getting into and excited about tackling the challenges.

Course Description
Explore the crested peaks, craggy ridges and towering forests of the famous Carter-Mahoosuc and Bigelow Mountain Ranges with everything you need in a pack on your back. Trek through tree-shrouded valleys and over 4,000-foot summits. Discover granite crags in wild settings. Learn climbing knots, anchors, belaying, rappelling, jamming, mantel moves and other intense climbing techniques.

During your hiking expedition you will spend at least four (more on longer courses) days rock climbing on one of the granite cliffs that can be found throughout these forests, known locally as “Little Bear,” “Bald,” “Table Rock,” and “Square Ledges.” After a site introduction, you will learn how to use a climbing harness and helmet, how to tie knots, how to belay, how to climb, and how to rappel or lower off a climb. Students will belay each other, while instructors provide overall supervision of the site. Climbing gives you a chance to practice your balance, coordination, flexibility, and grace on the rock. Depending upon your expedition plan and student interest, you may learn to do a “via ferrata” or a “tyrolean traverse,” in addition to learning climbing techniques.

The instructors’ goal is to teach you the skills you need to become self-sufficient in the mountains. The instructors will spend the early days of the course coaching you in wilderness expedition skills. As you grow more competent and confident with your skills, the instructors will ask that you take more responsibility for the leadership of the expedition. Neither guides nor counselors, the instructors are teachers and mentors whose goal it is to train you to travel independently in the backcountry.

To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates that work for you. To shop comparatively on line visit our Advanced Course Finder or better yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Course tuitions listed below do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.

Region: Maine

Activities: Backpacking, extensive rock climbing, solo, service, final expedition

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
06/22/08 to 07/12/08	21	16-18	Maine	$3395.00	HEN851
07/20/08 to 08/09/08	21	16-18	Maine	$3395.00	HEN852