North Cascades Backpacking & Canoeing - Youth Ventures

This is a two-week multi-expedition including canoeing on Ross Lake and mountain backpacking in the North Cascades as well as 1-2 days of rock climbing. These two classic expeditions offer different challenges and skill sets. It is ideal for younger teens ready for adventure challenge and the lifelong benefits of Outward Bound.

The North Cascades is the perfect setting for multi-day ridge traverses that are sure to capture alpine glow sunsets and sunrises over hundreds of unnamed peaks. Climbing in this same area provides some of the notorious "50 classic climbs" in North America. Take this unique opportunity to rock climb, rappel, make peak ascents and navigate your way through the Sawtooth Wilderness Area, the North Cascades National Park and/or the Pasayten Wilderness in the Grizzly Bear mountain range. This breath-taking area is nicknamed the "American Alps," for the open cliff faces and deep glacially carved valleys, characteristic of the European Alpine environment.

Youth Ventures
Youth Ventures courses are designed for younger teens. They combine basecamp and expedition time to ensure you are well prepared, both mentally and physically, before taking on the challenges of the amazing North Cascades. You will have the opportunity to participate in one or two days of rock climbing and attempt a peak ascent. You will also complete an endurance run, learn environmental facts about the region, and spend time paddling on Ross Lake. Throughout the course, expect to have a lot of fun!

The Outward Bound Difference
Through all the activities and skills you experience as you move from environment to environment, you learn a tremendous amount about wilderness travel, safety and outdoor ethics, and much about yourself: how you adapt to change and deal with stress or challenge, how you work with others and realize your potential as a leader. In every segment of your course the focus is on technical, environmental and safety skills, but the emphasis is on developing as a person and as a group. The trust and camaraderie that develops between you is the key to your patrol’s success, and half the meaning of your Outward Bound course. Through shared adventures you learn to accept and respect one another’s differences, minimizing each other’s shortcomings, while maximizing each other’s strengths. Some people have a natural aptitude for route-finding; others discover a knack for cooking tasty meals, or tying knots or mediating disputes. Each member of the patrol makes a valuable contribution to what becomes a smoothly functioning team, capable of feats that would be unthinkable for an individual member. Through miles and miles of travel, through sunshine, thunder, wind and rain, you all become each other’s friends and heroes.

Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound. We look forward to your participation in this unique and challenging adventure.

Course Description
Start your course at our basecamp in the heart of the North Cascades, where you meet your team and learn the skills to travel in the mountains. When you’re ready, venture into the wilderness, backpacking through the North Cascade mountain range, camping under the stars, visiting high alpine lakes, and scrambling up peaks (weather and group conditions permitting). At Ross Lake, begin the final leg of your journey: a canoe expedition. Learn paddling strokes, refine your backcountry skills, and perform as a team. Includes solo, two to three days of rock climbing and natural history. This course is specifically designed for 14-16 year olds.

Mountaineering vs. Backpacking - In alpine environments like the Rockies, the Cacades or the Sierra Nevada, or any of our courses in the west, backpacking and mountaineering are very similar. On both course types the majpority of travel takes place around 9000', both course require strict adherence to alpine oriented Leave-No-Trace priciples and practices and both include peak ascent attempts. Mountaineering courses attempt peaks that are higher in altitude and that require ropes, anchors or or rock climbing to reach the peak. Backpacking peak attempts generally can be reached on foot without ropes of other gear. Becasue mountaineering requires technical climbing gear, the pack weights are heavier and the course more challenging.

NOTE: Virtually all airlines, except United and Southwest, REQUIRE that travelers, age 14 or younger, flying without a companion over the age of 18 pay for their Unaccompanied Minor service. This fee ranges anywhere from $40 to $75 each way. In most cases, the Unaccopanied Minor service is OPTIONAL for travelers between the ages of 15-17.

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: Washington

Activities: Backpacking, canoeing, peak attempt, rock climbing, service solo and final expedition

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

scholarship program pick
Dates	Days	Age	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
06/24/08 to 07/07/08	14	14-16	Washington	$2795.00	WDY841
07/24/08 to 08/06/08	14	14-16	Washington	$2795.00	WDY842
08/11/08 to 08/24/08	14	14-16	Washington	$2795.00	WDY843