I’m so glad I participated in this program! HMI fostered such an incredible community. My semester was a really fun and supportive environment to be a part of. The expeditions were amazing- we walked through the canyons network in Utah and the massive river valleys and sprawling hills in Patagonia, often without seeing a soul. I had so many really really cool experiences. I learned so much about backpacking, leadership, and myself throughout the semester. The staff were also incredible and offered great advice, support, and friendship throughout the program!

The HMI instructors are amazing and always so excited to support you and your climbing as you progress throughout the semester, and help you through living in a small community for so long during the semester. It was so much fun to travel through the Southwestern United States and Patagonia while getting to know the rest of the small group so well, and to build a supportive community for climbing, hiking, and living for eighty days. You can do and learn so much even if you're completely new to climbing on day one.

I am so glad I signed up for this program. I learned crucial outdoor climbing skills in the best places: Rifle, Indian Creek, Moab, and Chilean Patagonia. I learned about myself through living outside in a small community and learned like outdoor cooking, different ideas of wilderness and wilderness ethics, and how to be a better leader. It opened me up to a wide world of outdoor education and sparked some new interests for me. I would love to go back to HMI at some point in life in some capacity.

I entered gap with little expectations of what I had gotten myself into. Over the course of the 3 months I spent at gap, we travelled to many magical places, hiked up tall mountains, climbed difficult routes, multi-pitched in Patagonia, slept in a couple caves. This course taught me through crazy experiences that I had within me strength I couldn’t see before, perseverance that could overcome any obstacle. I’m proud to say that the goals I set for myself throughout this trip were completed, that I was able to experience the joy of working hard on specific lead climbs and sending them.

I signed up for the program without really knowing what to expect, and just wanted something different to do while I figured out what I was going to do for school. And this program ended up being a total blast. We got to travel to some amazing places, and see a lot of crazy views. I learned a ton about living and traveling in the backcountry, and what goes into planning a full expedition. I got to meet some really cool people, and I learned a ton about being part of a community. Overall, I had a super great experience, and it's something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life.

We went backpacking in beautiful, remote places + partnered with a local rafting company to do some amazing rafting, and learned about glaciology and saw a glacier with another local company. We stayed in local’s homes and developed relationships with our hostel owners and had time to explore cities. A highlight of mine was the 24 hour solo where we spent a full day alone and able to reflect and appreciate.
Not only this but we practiced communication, leadership, authenticity and self advocacy in a small community where everyone was committed to learning. It’s hard to find this intentional of a community. I did not realize the emphasis of this before starting the program but I am very grateful for how I’ve grown in these 80 days.

HMI GAP TREK was essential in enhancing my communication skills and helped me learn how to give constructive feedback during a conflict. Alongside that, I had many firsts including backpacking, sleeping outside, planting trees, and flying internationally. The one thing I enjoyed the most was getting to experience such drastically different environments all spread out in perfect increments. Of course HMI comes with its challenges but you will thrive and feel the support being offered by all instructors and students.

Definitely recommend doing HMI gap semester! I loved the people and the instructors were amazing. We went to some of the coolest places like the Utah canyons and the valleys in Patagonia.

If you go you will meet some of your closest friends and have some really special memories of your adventures. We had a lot of fun hiking on trail as well as playing silly games and laughing together. Some days were challenging but the challenge is what makes it worth it!

HMI wants a kind, supportive community that will lift each other up and work on goal setting together. If this seems good to you, apply and find out what makes HMI so special.