Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking & Rock Climbing

Backpacking

During this course, students will backpack through the Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina. Among other skills, they will learn safety precautions for backcountry foot travel, how to find campsites, how to navigate varied terrain, how to use a map and compass – all while practicing Leave No Trace principles. Even more useful for their lives after course, students learn conflict resolution skills, communication styles, leadership and team building. After students practice these skills, the instructors will step back and let the crew work together to collectively navigate their expedition.

Rock Climbing

After the initial few Days of backpacking, students will take their challenge vertical by either climbing up a mountain or rappelling down one. With a focus on safety, instructors will start with the basics, such as working with ropes and learning to tie knots. Students will then put their skills to the test as they learn how to climb or rappel at some of the best climbing sites east of the Mississippi River. Depending on the weather and the dynamics within the group, the crew may even have the opportunity to experience a high ropes obstacle course. These activities will push students to step outside their comfort zones to communicate and trust one another.

Solo

A little more than halfway through course, students will participate in a reflection period called solo. During this time, Instructors assign students to their own individual campsites within a designated area. These sites are both secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and instructors for safety. Students will be given all the necessary gear, food, water and skills to enjoy this time alone. They will also know the location of their Instructors’ solo site should they need to contact them for any reason, and instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience. This experience is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge and reflect on their course after having long Days of strenuous group activities.

Outcomes

Acquire a taste for adventure! Courses less than 14 Days in length provide a perfect introduction to the Outward Bound experience, reminding students of their connection to nature and leaving them feeling inspired to take on real challenge. Through these condensed experiences, students become comfortable living and working together the wilderness while practicing the four pillars of craftsmanship, self-reliance, physical fitness and compassion. They also create a solid foundation of skill sets that they can further build upon once off course.

Course Area

Blue Ridge Mountains, NC

The Southern Appalachians, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, are some of the oldest mountains in the world. While the mountains themselves formed over 250 million years ago, some of the rocks that underlie the region are over a billion years old.

The long geologic and evolutionary history of the Southern Appalachians has created one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world. It is home to beautiful rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls and some of the highest peaks in the eastern United States—including Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684 feet), the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Outward Bound students can expect to share the wilderness with over 700 different kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds and over 50 species of amphibians.

This course area is situated within a million acres of national forests, federally-protected wilderness areas and other public lands. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures, including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

Temperatures in this area range from 50 - 85 degrees in the summer, 30 - 65 degrees in the spring and fall, and 10 - 50 degrees in the winter.