Fall is in the air here in Maine, and we’re loving every crisp, colorful minute of it! As the leaves begin to drift and the temperatures cool, the team at Apogee HQ is warming up with some favorite stories from seasons past. There’s something about autumn that makes reflection feel just right. So grab a cozy beverage (maybe a Pumpkin Spice Latte, for those who celebrate) and get ready for this month’s Peak News! Read on for inspiring stories about leaders and students who return to Apogee year after year, plus a exciting update from our office as we dive into fall.
Also, if your Apogee Alum has done something cool or exciting recently (and we know you have!), please send in a blurb and photo to lucia@apogeeadventures.com. We love hearing from you!
Student Feature: Abby Warland
Abby on Iceland Mountains and Coast in 2025
Abby is a 10th grader from New York and a long time Apogee student. She first heard about Apogee through her cousins, who had attended trips in earlier summers. At first, she was nervous, thinking, “No way I would ever do that.” But after some time to consider it, she decided to give it a try. And after her very first summer, “I was totally hooked,” she said. Now, Apogee has become something that she looks forward to each and every summer.
Abby has spent four incredible summers with Apogee, participating in our Cape Cod & the Islands trip (2022), our Maine’s Downeast Explorer (2023), our Alaska Mountains & Coast trip (2024), and, most recently, our Iceland Mountains & Coast trip (2025). She plans on coming back this summer too on another amazing adventure!
With so many years of experience, we asked Abby what keeps her coming back. Her answer? The people and the sense of community created on each trip. “Everyone here is just so great,” she said. Abby loves meeting new people from all over, people who share her excitement for being outdoors and going on adventures. She loves to watch as the group of complete strangers is able to turn into a tight knit community of friends.
Abby on Alaska Mountains and Coast in 2024
When asked about her favorite moments, Abby said they’re always “right after we do something crazy hard.” Each summer, she remembers that deep sense of accomplishment after overcoming a tough and exciting challenge. On Cape Cod & the Islands, it was completing the longest bike ride of the trip. On the Maine’s Downeast Explorer, it was the moment she and her tripmates saw the van after three days in the backcountry, running toward it in celebration. On Alaska Mountains and Coast, it was digging into burgers and fries after finishing the backpacking section. And on Iceland Mountains and Coast, it was reaching the summit of their longest, steepest hike. “It was straight vertical,” she said, “and then we got an incredible view at the top. I remember just thinking, wow, we did that.”
Each of these memories shows how adventure can build confidence and how much fun can be had along the way.
But Abby says her experiences on Apogee trips have impacted her life far beyond just summer adventures. They’ve helped her build real confidence that carries into her everyday life. “Smaller tasks don’t feel as daunting anymore,” she shared, “because I know what I’ve already done on these trips.” One of her biggest takeaways from Apogee? “You can do more than you think you can.”
Whether she’s biking along the Cape, hiking the Appalachian Trail, exploring the Alaskan wilderness, or summiting mountains in Iceland, Abby has learned that when she sets her mind to something she can do it. And it’s even better when she’s surrounded by a supportive, adventurous community that’s with her every step of the way. We’re proud to have Abby as a part of the Apogee community and can’t wait to see what challenge she and her tripmates conquer next summer!
Abby on Maine’s Downeast Explorer in 2023
Staff Feature: Nellie Simmonds
Nellie leading on our Europe Coast to Coast trip in 2023
Nellie Simmonds is a four-time Apogee leader, a Vassar College graduate, and currently living, working, and climbing in Thailand. Her journey with Apogee began in 2021 after hearing about the program through her college career counseling office. “The idea of combining travel, outdoor adventure, and youth mentorship immediately caught my attention,” Nellie recalls.
And it stuck. Over the next five summers, Nellie led a wide variety of trips: Pacific Coast (2021), Alaska’s Mountains and Coast (2022), Europe Coast to Coast (2023), and most recently, Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (2025).
So, what kept her coming back summer after summer? “It’s the community,” Nellie says. “The people Apogee attracts are playful, adventurous, and caring.” But beyond that, she shares that the most meaningful part of the experience was the connection she built with her students. “Over the four summers, I’ve gained many little siblings and my life is better for it.”
Nellie’s time with Apogee included countless sunny days and breathtaking views, but when asked to share a favorite memory, she immediately thinks of something quite different: a hailstorm in the middle of summer. While leading the Europe Coast to Coast trip in 2023, her group was caught in an evening storm not of rain, but hail.
“It was the craziest hailstorm I’d ever seen! The ice was the size of grapes and didn’t feel particularly pleasant as it pelted our skin. We all huddled into tents, but couldn’t stop giggling at the absurdity of it. After it was over, the kids rinsed some of the hail off and used it as ice in their water bottles. They were stoked to have their first iced drink in Europe!”
For Nellie, that moment captures the essence of the Apogee experience: being outside in all kinds of weather, embracing the unexpected, and making the most of every day.
Nellie and her Co-Leader, Sarah, leading our Pyrenees Mountain and Coast trip in 2025
Today, Nellie is embarking on her next big adventure – this time in Thailand, where she now lives and works for an outdoor climbing company. And she’s bringing with her a lesson that’s stuck with her since her very first summer with Apogee: growth happens outside of your comfort zone. She reflects: “I now find myself in Thailand because I work at an outdoor climbing company here. The idea that I could apply for a job like this would never have occurred to me if I hadn’t developed both the hard and soft skills Apogee helped me build.”
We’re so impressed with Nellie and are honored to have been part of her journey! Whether she’s biking along the Pacific Coast, leading students over European mountain passes, or guiding climbers in Thailand, she’s living proof of the transformative power of stepping outside your comfort zone and into adventure.
On the left is Nellie during her summer leading our Pacific Coast Trip. On the right is Nellie and her co-leader, Dana, on Europe Coast to Coast.
Office Happenings: Adventures in the Dolomites!
Director Will Robertson to the left and Assistant Director Olivia Bush to the right on the Alta Via 1.
Summer may be over, but the spirit of adventure is alive and well at Apogee HQ! Last month, Director Will Robertson and Assistant Director Olivia Bush set out on an exciting journey to scout our brand-new trip offering: Dolomites Mountains & Croatian Coast, launching for the first time this coming summer.
Their journey began in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, near the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo (the co-host of the 2026 winter Olympics!), where they spent three breathtaking days hiking on the Alta Via 1. Each day brought awe-inspiring mountain views, challenging and rewarding trails, and evenings spent in cozy rifugios – traditional alpine huts known for their hospitality. Will and Olivia were treated to warm, home-cooked meals prepared by their hosts and fell asleep each night in comfortable beds dreaming of the next day’s adventures.
After wrapping up the mountain portion of their trip, they made their way to the Istrian peninsula and the stunning Croatian coast. The contrast was striking: instead of towering peaks, they were met with beautiful craggy cliffs, turquoise waters, and sun-soaked beaches. Will and Olivia explored the region by kayak and on foot, gaining a fresh perspective of Croatia’s rugged coastline and discovering tucked-away coves perfect for future Apogee groups!
Back at Apogee HQ, we have been living vicariously through their travels and growing more excited by the day. In just eight months, we’ll be welcoming our first student groups to this unforgettable corner of the world and we can’t wait to share the magic with them!
