Mountains & Red Rock Country Backpacking - DownWest Semesters
- United States of America
About Program
Backpack pristine alpine forests and meadows in the Rocky Mountains, learning how to pitch a tent, navigating on and off a trail and cooking health food on a camp stove. Raft Cataract Canyon through Canyonlands, enjoying thrilling rapids and stunning red rock-walled canyons and learning about the history of western rivers, the peoples that call the area home, and the water issues surrounding the arid west. Along the way engage in leadership and sense-of-place studies. Learn real-world skills for cultivating positive personal habits, leading peers, and gaining a deeper understanding of the intersection of the natural world and human influence.
In a final, culminating backcountry trip, refine your leadership and navigation skills and chart your own path through Utah’s canyon country, with the support of experienced instructors. Learn about geology, history, human impact, and American Indian culture as you begin to teach one another and gain greater independence.
Video and Photos
Program Highlights
- Learn how to comfortably backpack and navigate in the mountains and canyons
- Raft Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River
- Immersive leadership curriculum
- Learn from local experts and instructors about western watersheds, wilderness ethics, and sense-of-place
- Earn Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Leave No Trace (LNT) certifications
