High School
Trip Dates 2024
June 25-July 1 High School Co-Ed Trip
July 23-29 Adult Women’s Backpack Trip
Tired of the pressure and busyness of front-country life? Sonlight offers the opportunity for high school students to build community and experience rest in the wilderness.
Rate: $595
Subsidized tier: $495
Scholarships are available! If interested, contact Mary at 970.264.4379 or [email protected]
Trip Considerations
- All participants will carry all their own gear, as well as a share of the group gear.
- Pack weight: your pack will generally range between 35-50 pounds.
- You will be hiking on uneven terrain, which may be rocky and/or muddy at times.
- Depending on the itinerary, you may be hiking 3-8 miles per day.
- Sonlight programs in areas of deep wilderness, and you may be hiking a day or more away from the nearest trailhead.
- Depending on where you currently live, there may be a significant change in elevation. All trailheads are at an elevation of 8,000-9,000 feet, and we hike through areas that range between 9,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level. Depending on the itinerary, you may be attempting a 12,000′ or 13,000′ peak.
- Days are often long, and may require you to be up at 7 am and in bed at 9 pm.
Itinerary
Trips begin Tuesdays, 11:00 am from the Sonlight backpack base.
The firstday includes orientation, Leave No Trace instruction, distribution of gear, equipment and food. Guides teach pack assembly and how to set up the tents. We’ll head in to the wilderness the first afternoon.
We’ll be on the trail until Saturday afternoon. Returning to the backpack base we’ll debrief, unpack and enjoy a great home cooked dinner. The night will be spent at the backpack base and the group will have a Sonlight breakfast before departing the next morning.
Phone Policy
High schoolers may bring their phones to the backpack base but not into the backcountry. Phones will be returned to students Saturday morning to contact parents. Guides will take photos during the week and share with participants.
Required Forms
Three forms are required for participation on a Sonlight backpack trip to comply with state law and will be available through the CampInTouch platform:
1. A health history to be completed by a parent / guardian or adult participant is required by state law
2. A physical (by an MD, PA or Nurse Practitioner) within 12 months of the trip is required by state law
3. The Authorization and Acknowledgement of Risk form to be signed by a parent/guardian or adult participant
Want to go backpacking next summer?
Of course you do!
Registration opens January 2