“Adventure Treks’ unique emphasis on the ‘culture of kindness’ and the way they form adolescent students into a true community is what separates Adventure Treks from other programs”
– Patricia Soong
Hillsborough, CA
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!
Space is Limited. Call 888-954-5555 for more information about this trip and to check availability. Apply early to ensure the trip of your choice.
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!
Friday, July 9: Students arrive in Sacramento, CA (SMF) by 1pm.
Saturday, July 10: 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.
Sunday, July 11: Day hike Granite Peak in Shasta-Trinity Alps.
Monday, July 12–Friday, July 16: 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!
Saturday, July 17: 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!
Sunday, July 18: Mountain bike for a day. Choose gentle single-track paths or long up hills with thrilling downhill’s. Either way, your biking day is a lot of fun.
Monday July 19: Rock climb near Mt. Shasta. We set up a variety of routes in the cliffs so everyone, from beginner to advanced, can choose their level of challenge.
Tuesday, July 20 – Thursday, July 22: 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.
Friday, July 23: Logistics day in Mt. Shasta, CA
Saturday, July 24 - Monday, July 26: 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.
Tuesday, July 27: Drive to the Redwoods via Eureka, CA.
Wednesday, July 28 - Saturday, July 31: 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 spectacular King Range Mountains on the other, and sand under your feet.
Sunday, August 1: Drive to Winters, CA. Farewell dinner and overnight at the Center for Land Based Learning. Learn about organic farming.
Monday, August, 2: 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?
Will I be the only new student on the trip?
This trip is a mix of returning and new students, and you'll be surprised how quickly you make friends at Adventure Treks. By the end of the first day, students often say they feel like one big family.
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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Dave Kelly - Dave lives in Salt Lake City where he works as a ski patroller with Solitude Mountain Resort. This is his fifth year as a Trip Leader with Adventure Treks. Dave graduated from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a degree in Outdoor Recreation and Literature. Since graduation Dave has lived all over the United States working with various outdoor organizations including the National Outdoor Leadeship School, the Brighton, UT ski patrol and the Appalachian Mountain Club. He enjoys spending time backcountry skiing and climbing in Utah. Dave holds current certifications and licenses as a Wilderness First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, CPR, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and Avalanche III.
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Evan Huggins - Evan lives in San Francisco, CA where he works with a foundation that funds programs in environmental art and education. He is an ardent cyclist and teaches bicycle maintenance at a local bike cooperative each week. Evan studied English literature and art at The Colorado College, while leading backcountry trips in the Rocky Mountains and Utah’s canyon country. He is a passionate outdoorsman, rock climber, snowboarder, and surfer and has traveled extensively all over the world. In 2008 Evan lived and worked in Argentina, where he planned and executed two extended climbing trips in Andean Patagonia. Evan is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
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Katie Macdiarmid - Katie has a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon and is currently teaching middle school science, art, and music at a bilingual school in Honduras. She has led outdoor programs on the Oregon coast and at Whiskeytown Environmental School in California, where she also designed and led a backpacking program for low-income teens. Katie has led backpacking, climbing, rafting, and rescue courses for the University of Oregon and the City of Eugene Outdoor Program. She has traveled throughout the U.S. and Central America, biked from North Carolina to Arizona, run a marathon, and generally spent as much time outside as possible. After working mostly indoors this year, Katie is excited to return this summer for her third year with Adventure Treks.
Valerie Pufahl - Valerie grew up on 80 acres of Kansas farmland, earned a degree in Community Recreation & Outdoor Education and completed a semester program at the Castle Rock Institute. For the last four years, she has been teaching and working outdoors with the Portland Waldorf High School in Portland, Oregon. Valerie has also worked as a whitewater guide and as a teacher of many subjects, from Letterpress printing to primitive skills. She is an avid cyclist, kayaker, and surfer. Valerie is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a Waldorf-trained Movement Educator, and continues to work on her handstands.
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Emmy Griffin - Emmy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she double majored in International Studies and Spanish. She led backpacking, climbing, rafting, sea kayaking, and even yoga trips for students and faculty through the University Outdoor Recreation Program for four years. Since her graduation, Emmy has worked for A.T.’s school programs and also put her Spanish and International Studies to use working for small development and education organizations in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Right now she is working in North Carolina as a bilingual social worker for kids with behavioral health disorders. She ran her first marathon this year, and looks forward to her third year as an A.T. instructor.
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Luke Paulsen - Luke joins us from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he is currently finishing a Master’s in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina. Luke has been an 8th grade special education teacher in Brooklyn, New York, and has traveled to Central and South America on several different occasions, and has completed the Wilderness Youth Leadership Course at Outward Bound in Minnesota. He is a Wilderness First Responder and a PADI-certified Scuba Diver.
*Instructors may change prior to your trip – we’ll let you know if this happens.
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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Thanks for interest in Adventure Treks!
This trip has filled. Please contact 888-954-5555 for more information about our waitlist. You can also see similar trip options in More Details.
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.
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| Duration: | 25 days |
| Dates: | July 9 - August 2 |
| 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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