The eighth day of our summer here at Apogee also happens to be Fourth of July! Today was filled with many a celebration, incredible food (freshly baked croissants, Belgian waffles, and baguettes, to name some highlights), and more spectacular views. Our first trips of the summer are coming to a close tomorrow, but there are still so many adventures in store, so stay tuned! As always, check out @apogee.adventures on Instagram for more awesome content.
Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMC, AXA, AXB, CRM, CRMC, CSVI, DEX, DMCC, ECC, MCCE, MCJ, NEMC, NWMC, VM
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
Happy Fourth of July from AKMC! This awesome crew enjoyed a little extra sleep this morning on their well earned rest day. After a delicious breakfast at camp, this group snapped a few photos by the water before doing some much-needed laundry. After chores were completed, afternoon activities could commence! The group spent some time exploring Seward and skipping rocks together (pictured below). The rest of the day was spent celebrating the Fourth of July and getting excited for their kayaking adventure, which starts tomorrow! We can’t wait to see more photos from this squad.
Alps Explorer A (AXA)
AXA is ready to take on the day! The group awoke to the scent of freshly baked flaky croissants at their refuge. After devouring the delicious delicacies, this eager group of adventurers hiked six miles into Chamonix, surrounded all the while by stunning views of Mont Blanc. Gelato was on the agenda for the afternoon, along with postcards! Afterwards, the festive crew celebrated the Fourth of July French style: with sausages, burgers, and watermelon!
Alps Explorer B (AXB)
Our AXB crew started the day super stoked to continue on the Tour du Mont Blanc! Before departing the campsite, it was their turn to meet their very own French Mountain Guide, Anne. After a fun round of introductions, the group set off on their hike for the day. The route was as stunning as ever and took these intrepid hikers up a series of ladders and steps! They even got to see a beautiful alpine lake. Freshly baked baguettes were surely the star of the show at lunch. In the evening, everyone settled into the refuge for a night of delicious food and conversation. Stay tuned for more pictures tomorrow!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
After getting ready with an incredible sunrise in the background, these Colorado explorers said a temporary goodbye to the mountains this morning and headed to their next adventure: whitewater rafting! The group could not have been more excited to take on the rapids of the Poudre River. Slaying dragons, entering the splash zone, smelling creamsicle tree bark, and hitting 360s with the wonderful help of their professional guides was all a part of the game. To top off another stellar day, the crew enjoyed some epic burgers and a post-dinner water balloon fight back at camp!
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
CRMC said goodbye to the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve this morning and journeyed farther into the Costa Rican jungle to their next accommodations: an eco lodge in the rainforest! A short hike led them to an incredible waterfall with a pool below for swimming! After some quality time outside, the group made their way inside to help their hosts prepare a delicious dinner. Tomorrow, this crew will be going on a guided hike and learning how to make tortillas!
Caribbean Service Virgin Islands (CSVI)
After a beautiful night kayak in bioluminescent waters this crazy crew was excited to hit the trail this morning. It’s not glowing, but safe to say today also brought amazing views of the island. Post morning hike, our group made their way back to – you guessed it – the beach! I know I wouldn’t want to go up against those volleyball and spikeball teams! Despite being far from the mainland, the group celebrated the 4th in style with beaded necklaces, reading your lovely emails from home, lots of time cooling off in the Caribbean waters, and going to see the fireworks in Frederiksted. As the group soaks up their last days on the island, enjoy some pictures from the hike today and kayaking last night!
Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast (DMCC)
The DMCC crew had an awesome hike today with a yummy lunch in a beautiful, grassy field. In the afternoon, the group enjoyed some hacky sack by a rushing river and unlocked the joy that is a silent hike… which lasted for approximately seven minutes! Everyone was just having too much fun together to stay silent. Fourth of July celebrations included whipped cream, face paint, and glitter. The festive group ended the evening with another short hike to see some stunning panoramic views! Stay tuned for more pictures…
Europe Coast to Coast (ECC)
After a delicious pancake breakfast at camp, ECC spent their first rest day traveling the cobbled streets of Bruges together on foot! Highlights include grocery store shenanigans and celebrating a birthday on trip! Everyone got the chance to try a classic Belgian waffle in the city (pictured below). The afternoon was filled with laughter, good food, and games back at the campsite; I hear American food is on the menu for tonight! Tomorrow, this gregarious group takes on another day of riding in Belgium!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
MCCE made the most of their last full day together for sure! After enjoying another breakfast in the Bowdoin dining hall, the crew spent their morning hiking Morse mountain to Seawall Beach! Just look at that stunning blue sky. It’s almost as beautiful as their sunset sojourn to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse last night (pictured below). To close out their last afternoon together, they gathered and had the opportunity to share their final essay with their new Apogee family. Here in the office, we are so proud of how much these writers have accomplished in the last week! Dinner tonight was food trucks in Bath before the fireworks for the last night of this awesome group.
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Maine Coast Junior had another spectacular day in the great state of Maine! After a breakfast of bagels at the campground, the group spent their morning doing service with a local organic farm. What could be better than shoveling compost? Well…maybe swimming in the ocean, which is where this crew headed after a picnic lunch! Later, the group trundled back to Brunswick to enjoy their final dinner and say goodbyes before departing tomorrow. We can’t believe this trip is already coming to a close!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)
Today our intrepid DEX adventurers finished their time on the Appalachian trail and made their way into Millinocket, Maine. The group did some mid-trip laundry and grocery shopping before celebrating their success in the backcountry with a pizza party! They then headed to camp for a well-deserved rest. Because hiking is way more fun than chores… here are some photos of their past few days in the backcountry!
New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC)
After a healthy morning dose of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” NEMC bopped over to Growing to Give to learn about their work as a non-profit. This squad teamed up with MCJ to add compost to cabbage beds and befriend the farm goats. However, that’s not all they did today! Afterwards, the team headed out on their final adventure of the trip: kayaking and swimming in the ocean! There were plenty of tide pools and swimming spots to explore, and everyone enjoyed the chance to be out on the water after their hard work this morning. Later, the group headed down to Freeport for a celebration of their final night together.
Northwest Mountains & Coast (NWMC)
This kayaking crew spent their final morning on the island engaging in community service helping the Department of Natural Resources gather data for their iNaturalist program! The amazing guides gave the group a mini ecology lesson and helped the group identify some species in the area! We can’t wait to hear what they spotted. Afterwards, the group paddled back to their ferry stop before heading to their next campsite to get ready for another big day. Check out some sunny smiles from these busy folks below!
Vermont to Montreal (VM)
After one final morning in Burlington, VM was back on the road for another stellar day of biking! The crew cruised through 17 miles to their next destination, making their way steadily towards Montreal. The group couldn’t decide if today’s highlight was the incredible facepaint that their leaders donned this morning to celebrate the Fourth of July, or the bike ferry across Lake Champlain! After another day of beautiful scenery, mid-ride creemees (if you know you know), and even better company, our bikers arrived at their campsite for a night of celebration. Stay tuned for more epic pictures tomorrow!
