Welcome to Day 7! Seven is a number that lots of people identify as a lucky – and we think that it’s a lucky day to get to be out on an Apogee trip. Check out all of the amazing things that our group got up to today!
Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMCA, AKMCB, AXA, AXB, CCM, CI, CRM, CRMC, CS, DEXA, ECC1, ECC2, MCCE, MCJ, NEMCA, NEMCB, NWX, PC, PMC, VMA, VMB
Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)
Today is day two of AKMCA’s backcountry adventure! They trekked through the Alaskan wilderness to their next camp, with their quads starting to get with the new program. After making camp, they were able to explore the area without their heavy packs, a feeling that made them feel as though they could effortlessly glide across the patchy ground! We can’t wait to see all the beautiful photos when this group emerges from their backcountry extravaganza tomorrow!
Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)
AKMCB got to try the rarest kind of climbing today: ice climbing! Looked after by their icemaster climbing guides, they donned their crampons to traverse a glacier to an incredible wall of blue, crystalline ice where they courageously picked their way up the cold wall! Truly a highlight of the trip! Service has been quite spotty on their glacier – but we can’t wait to see those blue walls they scaled tomorrow!
Alps Explorer A (AXA)
Today our trusty AXA crew got up extra early to break down camp and did so with such blazing speed that they had time for some hacky sack and fresh croissants before their train to Fiesh! They had a lovely scenic ride through the mountains, gliding from valley to valley, while their legs got a well deserved rest. The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing for the upcoming backcountry trip!
Alps Explorer B (AXB)
After breaking down camp early this morning, AXB made their way from Zermatt to Martigny on a train that smoothly cut through the misty mountain sides; everyone was eager to watch the next mountain fade into view through the big train windows! After arriving at their new digs, they rested up and learned about packing and fitting backcountry packs, as well as how to plan out food and gear for a long trip. AXB was so on it that they even had time to explore Martigny and check out some ancient Roman ruins. All the preparation has everyone itching to hit the trail!
One of the misty hikes AXB was treated to yesterday!
California’s Coastal Mountains (CCM)
After their days of paddling, CCM is excited to put some miles on their hiking boots! They were able to satiate themselves for the time being with a morning hike around Olema, then got excited all over again by learning about how to pack their backcountry backpacks and how to organize gear and food for a longer backcountry hike. After putting the finishing touches on their packs, they even had time for some fun and games on the beach before hitting the sack early to get a strong start in the morning!
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
CI awoke bright and early today to get started on an exciting multi-sport adventure! They got themselves moving this morning with a quick ride to a bay where they got to stand-up paddleboard for a few hours and tried to spy wildlife along the bank as they drifted past! The ride back to camp was just the ticket to cool off in the wind along a shady bike path after the sunny paddle!
Caribbean Service (CS)
Today CS got up bright and early to go snorkeling among some of the finest islands and snorkel spots around Puerto Rico! They got to see stingrays, two turtles, and all kinds of colorful fish in the shallow waters around the islands. They went on to hike the Mount Britton trail and climbed the tower, where they were rewarded with unbeatable views. This evening they have a farewell dinner to Luquillo before they get ready to head to Utuado in the morning!
Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)
After giving their legs a hiking break yesterday, CRM hopped back to it in Estes Park with a nice morning hike! They got up early to stride through the rocky trails of the park and took in the stunning views of the mountainsides all around them. They warmed up their legs nicely for a challenge hike tomorrow and we can’t wait to hear about this next awesome point in their trip.
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
CRMC was treated to an epic ziplining trip this morning! They zoomed through the jungle on Central America’s longest zip line — a whopping one mile long! They looked for wildlife on the ride, but it was so thrilling they were only able to catch a look at some of the colorful birds that flew through the jungle around them. After returning from their zipline adventure, they prepared to take a van ride inland to the Costa Rican mountains for some incredible hikes!
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
The long awaited day has finally come! Today, after reviewing bike safety and touring practices, ECC1 started their journey to Venice with some beautiful bike paths in the Netherlands. They cruised over rolling hills and beautiful, postcard-like vistas for 55 kilometers – a perfect way to start the riding! We have been promised double blog photos when the group has enough service tomorrow to send them!
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
Today ECC2 finally got to meet their trusty companions for the coming weeks! They got to play fun games to get to know each other, and they got matched with their two wheeled stallions destined to take them all the way to Venice one turn of the wheel at a time! Everyone learned a lot about bike maintenance and bike touring specifics, which really got everyone stoked to get rolling in the morning! A busy busy day – we can’t wait to see their Day 1 photo tomorrow when they hit the road!
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
Today MCCE woke up early for a game of ultimate frisbee before their delicious home-cooked breakfast. They had a final session of writing and peer editing before printing their essays, then drove to Bowdoin for a personal tour from Saul! They found the perfect shady circle of benches around a tree to share their essays, and all the hard work the past week paid off as they were able to hear each others’ stories! From there they headed to Portland to explore before a special final dinner. Last we heard they were headed home for s’mores and surprise awards tonight!
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
MCJ had a feel-good AND fun morning helping out at a local Maine farm, Growing to Give. Spirits were high during their afternoon off, as they played games, balanced skillfully (below), and stumbled upon buried treasure (also pictured below). They had a wonderful end of their day hanging out at camp– what a lucky day to be on MCJ! It’s hard to believe that tonight was final dinner and they are saying “see you later” to their new friends tomorrow!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
Today, DEX bid adieu to Acadia and bonjour to the Appalachian Trail! After a few hours in the car to get deep into the mountains, everyone got to stretch their legs on a quick 6 mile hike to a pretty campsite right off the AT. After the mysterious mists of Acadia, everyone was filled with energy to try their feet at some backcountry hiking! The group will head out of the backcountry in two nights and we are so excited to see all of their photos.
New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)
Word on the street is that this group absolutely CRUSHED it today (with style)! They rolled out of their sleeping bags before sunrise to get going on their mission to summit Mount Washington, and succeeded! We heard that the views on the way up were nothing short of spectacular. They finished off their day with pizza, a bonfire, and seconds on dessert.
New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)
After their awesome rafting day yesterday, NEMCB got their feet back underneath them and for some more hiking in the gorgeous White Mountains! They hiked about 8 miles today, and the clouds parted to give them breathtaking views of Mount Washington. We heard the hike was full of sing-alongs and spirits were high! After crushing their hike, they got back to camp with plenty of time for some fun and games before chowing down on a big dinner to fuel them for more hiking in the morning.
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
Our expeditious NWX group got up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to do a practice hike and prepare for hitting the backcountry tomorrow! They learned a lot about the ins and outs of backcountry logistics, including what kind of food to buy, how to pack for the backcountry, and how to fit a pack so you can be comfortable the whole time! All the preparation got everyone super excited to go a little deeper into the woods!
Pacific Coast (PC)
Today, PC absolutely crushed the infamous Seven Devils, an iconic stretch of riding on the Oregonian coast! PC didn’t let those pesky hills bother them and simply took them one pedal at a time. Before they knew it, they were effortlessly cruising down the other side! They got into camp with lots of time to make a leisurely lunch and play some famously hilarious Apogee games!
Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)
Today was PMC’s last hike around Port de la Selva, and they decided to make it count with a challenge hike of 9 miles in Parc Natural de Cap de Creus! They were lucky enough to spend the day witnessing beautiful seaside cliff views, a few small summits, and many hidden beaches. They even stopped for lunch on the rocks of one of the secret beaches, which are only accessible by foot or boat! They also got a new perspective on the monastery they hiked to yesterday from their summits today. 
Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)
VMA really rose to meet the challenge of one of the bigger mileage days of the trip! They cruised through 28 miles of quiet country roads through picturesque farmland and even arrived at camp early, giving them time to get ahead of the game and do some laundry, stock up on food, and of course some fun and games!
Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)
VMB has really found their bike touring groove and rocked their way through the quaint town of Middlebury on their way to camp! Everyone was excited to dip their feet in the stream that runs through camp past a small, sandy beach, and it did not disappoint! They chowed down on a tasty dinner and spend the evening playing classic Apogee games – what a day to be on VMB!
