Adventure Treks consistently has the highest repeat rate of any similar program for both students (60%) and instructors (70%).
“In just a few days’ time, strangers turn to friends, friends to family, and on the last day you WON’T want to leave.”
– Sierra Cocoziello
Cedar Grove, NJ
Please contact 888-954-5555 for more information.
The California Challenge is the Adventure of a lifetime! Climbing Mt Shasta with ice axe and crampons should be the coolest thing you have ever done! This is a classic Adventure Treks trip, a favorite among both students and instructors alike. For 25 days, you'll paddle, hike, and climb in the amazing Northern California scenery - all while you develop lifelong friendships with other students and instructors.
Your warm up summit of Granite Peak is a great way to gain a sense of the spectacular beauty of the Trinity Alps. Next, enjoy a five-day backpack in this rugged wilderness. You will find beautiful alpine meadows and wildflowers, swim in refreshing high mountain lakes, and throw snowballs in July!
Three exciting rivers - three completely different rafting experiences! The Trinity River introduces you to California whitewater. Choose to paddle an inflatable kayak or stay in a raft with your team as you navigate exciting rapids. The Upper Klamath is huge, with bigger and longer rapids. One rapid is 1/2 mile long! The grin is permanent. Finally, there is a three-day trip on the Middle Klamath. Paddle inflatable kayaks or rafts by day, and sleep under billions of stars skies on a sandy beach at night.
This may be "the BEST day of your life!" We will teach you everything you need to know as your summit team supports you all the way to the top. We start early (at 1 am) to begin the slow and steady hike to 14,162' summit with ice axe and crampons. The sunrise over the snow-covered ridgeline rivals your view from the summit. Finally, glissade (slide down) on the snow for a thrilling descent! This will be a two or three day summit depending on snow conditions.
We set up a variety of routes in the cliffs near Mt. Shasta so everyone, from beginner to advanced, can choose their level of challenge. We will teach you everything you need to know. Cool off with a jump into the crystal clear river near the climb site.
Choose gentle single-track paths around a lake to a picnic lunch and swim or long uphills with thrilling downhills. Either way, your biking day is a lot of fun!
The Lost Coast is simply magical! Backpack for four days with the ocean on one side, the King Range Mountains on the other, and sand under your feet. Explore an old lighthouse, see marine life, and chill on the beach as this great adventure comes to a close. We will also hike among famous California Redwoods to complete our experience in northern California!
This trip has filled. Call 888-954-5555 for more information about our waitlist or see similar trip options below.
Arrive in Sacramento, CA airport (SMF) by 1 pm opening day.
Depart Sacramento, CA airport (SMF) by 2 pm closing day.
Already enrolled? Log in to the Registered Students Page for your equipment lists, paperwork, and more!
Saturday, June 26: Students arrive in Sacramento, CA (SMF) by 1pm.
Sunday, June 27: Day hike Granite Peak in the Shasta-Trinity Alps.
Monday, June 28: Raft the Trinity River with River Dancers. The Trinity River introduces you to California whitewater. Choose to paddle an inflatable kayak or stay in a raft with your team as you navigate exciting rapids.
Tuesday, June 29 – Saturday, July 3: 5-day Backpack in the Shasta-Trinity Alps. You will find beautiful alpine meadows and wildflowers, swim in refreshing high mountain lakes, and throw snowballs in July!
Sunday, July 4: Rock climb near Mt. Shasta. We set up a variety of routes in the cliffs near Mt. Shasta so everyone, from beginner to advanced, can choose their level of challenge.
Monday, July 5: Cross the border into Southern Oregon to Whitewater raft the Upper Klamath with River Dancers. The Upper Klamath is huge, with bigger and longer rapids. One rapid is 1/2 mile long!
Tuesday, July 6 – Thursday, July 8: The summit of 14,162' Mt. Shasta is a huge highlight! We will teach you everything you need to know as your summit team supports you all the way to the top. We start early (at 1 am) to begin the slow and steady hike to the top with ice axe and crampons. The sunrise over the snow-covered ridgeline rivals your view from the summit.
Friday, July 9: Mountain bike near Mt. Shasta. Choose gentle single-track paths or long up hills with thrilling downhill’s. Either way, your biking day is a lot of fun.
Saturday, July 10: Logistics Day in Mt. Shasta, CA
Sunday, July 11 – Tuesday, July 13: 3-day Raft trip down the Middle Klamath River with River Dancers. Paddle inflatable kayaks or rafts by day, and sleep under billions of stars skies on a sandy beach at night.
Wednesday, July 14: Drive to the Redwoods.
Thursday, July 15 - Sunday, July 18: 4-day Beach Backpack on the Lost Coast. The Lost Coast is simply magical. Backpack for four days with the ocean on one side, the King Range Mountains on the other, and sand under your feet.
Monday, July 19: Drive to Winters, CA. Farewell dinner and overnight at the Center for Land Based Learning. Learn about organic farming.
Tuesday, July 20: Students depart from Sacramento, CA (SMF) by 2 pm.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary prior to and throughout the trip as we constantly improve the Adventure Treks experience. Itineraries may change due to: Severe weather, student ability, motivation and conditioning, high or low rivers, high or low snow pack, unpredictable natural disasters and acts of God, vehicle breakdowns, road closures, volcanic activity, forest fires, illness, ever changing permit regulations, any potential threat to safety, even a brilliant idea from an instructor or student. In the event of a schedule change, comparable activities will be substituted when possible and you will be notified by e-mail of significant changes.
Is this the best trip for me?
The California Challenge is a great choice for 15-17 year olds who are ready to create a great community, have fun, and challenge themselves in the outdoors. No experience is necessary to join Adventure Treks. With our group size of 24 students and 6 instructors, we break up into small groups for each activity, and students can choose the appropriate level of challenge.
What other trips might be right for me?
How does your waitlist work?
Please call 888-954-5555 to learn more about our waitlist for British Columbia Adventure 1. You can apply for multiple trips at once, and while you wait for a space to open on this trip, you can be guaranteed a space on antoher trip. You can also start the acceptance process for any trip so that you're ready to sign up if a space opens.
For more answers, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us at 888-954-5555. We’re always happy to help you out!
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Liz Golembeski - Liz is very excited for her fourth summer as a Trip Leader with Adventure Treks. Liz previously worked at Summit Achievement, a wilderness therapy program in Stowe, ME. She is a graduate of Greenfield Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program and also has a degree in Mass Communications from Boston University. Liz currently lives Flat Rock, NC where she is working with children with Autism, Teaching a Social Skills class and working part-time in the Adventure Treks office. Liz is also the Program Director for Camp Blue Skies, a weeklong residential camp for adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Dana Rivkin - Originally from the Twin Cities, Dana grew up enjoying the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota. Since then, she earned a degree in International Relations From American University and in Spanish language and politics from Universidad Diego Porales, in Chile. Her travels have taken her to a variety of Latin American countries, as well as Maine, Alaska, and Europe. Dana worked for Student Conservation Association as a desert restoration crew member, an outdoor educator and trail work instructor for students. Her passions for yoga, rock climbing, backpacking and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest landscape keep her busy. Dana is a Leave No Trace trainer, PADI certified scuba diver, and Wilderness First Responder.
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Cait Mates – After 3 years as an Adventure Treks student, Cait now joins us for her third year as an instructor. Cait has a degree in Creative Writing from Eckerd College and has spent the past two winters teaching snowboarding in Vail, Colorado. Cait has volunteered and traveled in Central America, India, and New Zealand and most recently taught English to elementary students in Peru. Cait is a certified Wilderness First Responder and enjoys hula hooping and surfing in her free time.
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Josh Goldbach – Josh holds a degree in Psychology from Eckerd College and also graduated from NOLS' Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator semester. He spent the past year working as a teacher for Nature's Classroom in New England. Josh has led a fifty day trip through the Western US and Canada for Camp Thunderbird. He is an avid telemark skier, rock climber, and backpacker. Josh is a Leave No Trace Master Educator, a lifeguard, and a certified Wilderness EMT.
Brandon Tyrell - Brandon joins us from the Bay Area, CA. During the Fall and Spring he is a field staff and a climbing site manager for the Boojum Institute for Experimental Education. This fall he will earn his degree from Prescott College in Adventure Education. Brandon has completed an Outward Bound Leadership semester and a nine-month leadership training course with the University of Santa Barbara Adventure Programs as well. When not found in the outdoors Brandon works for the University of California Riverside Outdoor Excursions helping others get involved in the beautiful outdoors of Southern California. Brandon is certified in Wilderness First Responder.
Daniel Bleckinger – Daniel rejoins us for his third year after spending last summer on the mountain bike patrol in Winter Park, CO. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Portland State University and has spent time teaching outdoor science in several states. Daniel has traveled through South East Asia, Central America, and Europe, and has ridden his bike throughout Mexico and across the entire US. He is also a SCUBA Divemaster, ski instructor, and a fire performer. Daniel is trained as a Wilderness First Responder and in Outdoor Emergency Care.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
Reviewed by: Simone D'Luna
Date: June 28, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This was my third trip with Adventure Treks, and by far my favorite. Northern California is absolutely beautiful and there was not one part of the trip I would change. Summiting Mt. Shasta was perhaps the most amazing thing I've ever done, and I got such a huge sense of satisfaction from it. The community we were able to build was incredibly close, and we did everything as a team. The instructors were fantastic as well and acted not only as our guides and mentors, but also as friends. The trip was challenging, but each person could choose what level of difficulty was right for them. My overall experience gave me a tremendous boost in confidence, and it is something I will never forget.
Reviewed by: Matt Cohen
Date: February 10, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
This trip was absolutely amazing. This was my third trip, but by far the best. The way the community came together was astounding. I felt like everyone were my brothers and sisters, even the instructors. Everyone is caring and nice. There is no way to be a loner. It's amazingly easy to make friends on an AT trip. Even for people who are shy, you will feel so comfortable during the trip, you will return home feeling much different than when you left.
Reviewed by: Danielle Ward
Date: February 10, 2010
Rating: 5 out of 5
I didn't think the orgeon cascades could be beat until i went on the california challenge. I met the most amazing people and the greatest friends!! I definitely understand why they call it the California Challenge because it was pretty difficult at times. Summiting Shasta was by far the hardest thing i have ever done but it was worth every step! California was hard but it had it's relaxing times too like when we rafted Klammath River and played in the water and on the mini beaches, it was perfect at night when we didnt use our tents and just slept under the stars. I can't complain about anything on the trip because the food, activities, friends, and instructors were all the greatest and i can't wait for my next trip!
Adventure Treks is a program for teenagers, so we don’t allow any inappropriate language or content in our reviews. We do screen reviews for spam and legitimacy, and we will post all appropriate comments in full.
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Fill out our online application or apply by phone by calling 888-954-5555 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm EST.
Our core office staff, consisting of Dock, Kyndra, Dmac, Holly and Alice, welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions and help you choose the best summer experience for your child.
1. Apply online and submit an $800 deposit by check or Visa/MC to hold your place on the Adventure of your choice. As a smaller, more personal company, enrollment is limited, so please send in your application early.
2. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to complete your student essay, medical form, and 2 references (phone calls or e-mails to our office) from a teacher and another non-related adult who knows your child well. We may also arrange a brief phone interview to get to know your child better. Our acceptance process ensures a great peer group for your child.
3. Your remaining paperwork and information about your trip is available on our Registered Students Page and will be mailed to you upon acceptance. Adventure Treks is selective. Applications will be carefully reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All deposits are refundable prior to March 1st, less a $200 processing fee, for cancellation for any reason. For cancellations after March 1st, tuition is non-refundable. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance for your protection. If a participant withdraws voluntarily or is sent home as a consequence of unacceptable behavior, no refund of any kind will be granted. It is the parents’ responsibility to cover any additional travel expenses.
Click map to enlarge
| Duration: | 25 days |
| Dates: | June 26 - July 20 |
| Ages: | 15-17 |
| Activities: | Whitewater Rafting Mountaineering Rock Climbing Backpacking Mountain Biking Inflatable Kayaking |
| States: |
California |
| Price: | US $4,095.00 |
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