Blue Ridge Mountains – Backpacking, Rock Climbing and Whitewater Canoeing

In this phase of the 72-day course, students travel through the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina from its plunging valleys to its 6,000 foot summits. By working together to backpack through temperate rainforests, climb in and around the Linville Gorge and paddle some of the best whitewater in the Southeast, students step outside their comfort zones and learn to communicate with and trust their new crewmates.

The rock climbing portion of this phase focuses on safety, as students begin with the basics: tying knots, safety systems, belaying and climbing techniques. Depending on group dynamics and weather, the goal is to achieve top-rope climbs and progress to a multi-pitch route led by a climbing specialist. There is also the chance to experience a rappel and the high ropes course.

Students will spend up to four days paddling Class I-Class III whitewater through sculpted rock channels in tandem (two person) canoes. Crews learn how to identify and use paddling equipment, basic water safety and rescue techniques, paddling strokes and how to work with their partner to successfully paddle flatwater and negotiate numerous rapids and drops. 

These uniquely structured activities provide opportunities for self-reliance, communication and collaboration as participants confront and work through their fears.

Wilderness First Aid Certification

While in the Blue Ridge Mountains, participants will have the opportunity to prepare for the unexpected by earning a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification during the mountains phase of the course. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to teach skills to care for those who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, an accredited organization, this certification will include classroom lectures and demonstrations, combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge participants to use what they've learned. After successfully completing the WFA and CPR components, students are eligible to apply for academic credit for this certification.

Central Florida – Canoeing

After spending the first part of the journey backpacking with heavy packs, students will welcome the chance to carry their gear for the next phase in a canoe. During the canoeing portion, students will find a unique experience as they paddle through Central Florida, home to some of the country’s most historic and biologically diverse waterways. Depending on the weather, the level of difficulty will vary daily, but crews will learn marine expedition risk assessment and management, marine route planning and navigation, paddle strokes, canoe-based rescues, equipment use and how to work with a paddling partner.

Patagonia – Mountaineering, Cultural Immersion & Service

The adventure culminates in one of the least populated and pristine regions in the world. In Nahuel Huapi National Park, participants will learn the techniques of alpine trekking and perfect their technical skills as they prepare to summit an Andean peak (weather permitting). Patagonia's unique flora and fauna, snow-covered volcanic peaks, ice slopes and unique terrain have attracted many scientific expeditions, including those of Charles Darwin. After extended backcountry living in this unique environment, students will realize and appreciate the connection between teamwork and individual success.

Course Area

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Mountains, or Southern Appalachians, is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. While the mountains themselves formed over 250 million years ago, some of the rocks that underlie the region are over a billion years old.

The long geologic and evolutionary history of the Southern Appalachians has created one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America; some even say it is “rainforest-like.” This region is home to beautiful rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls and some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States—including Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684 feet), the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

Outward Bound students can expect to share the wilderness with over 700 different kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds and over 50 species of amphibians. The huge numbers of tree and plant life is actually what gives these mountains their namesake. Trees put the ‘blue’ in the Blue Ridge Mountains from the organic chemicals they release into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the distinctive color of these mountains.

Temperatures in this area range from 50 to 85 degrees in the summer, 30 to 65 degrees in the spring and fall, and 10 to 50 degrees in the winter.

Waterways of Central Florida

Central Florida is home to some of the country’s most historic and biologically diverse waterways. It offers paddling on small, winding canoe trails as well as larger rivers and lakes, with camping in a variety of environments from hardwood hammock forests to barrier islands. The Suwannee River, Ocklawaha River and St John’s River offer hundreds of miles of paddling in some of the country’s most unspoiled wilderness. These rivers support a variety of ecosystems including freshwater springs, swamps, sandy beaches and salt marshes. Shaded by giant Cypress and Tupelo trees, these rivers support a variety of wildlife and have deep cultural histories. On Central Florida’s east coast, the Indian River Lagoon, which encompasses Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, is the most diverse estuary in North America.  Nearly one third of the nation’s manatee population resides in this 156-mile-long waterway, along with an abundance of dolphins and other marine life. 

Patagonia, South America

In southern South America lies a land untouched, growing wild and rugged. As one of the least populated regions in the world, Patagonia is a semi-arid plateau that covers over 250,000 square miles mainly in Argentina. This remote wilderness boasts dramatic landscapes and is famed by its adventures and adventurers. From its isolated mountain valleys and snow-clad volcanic peaks to its glaciers and waterfalls, Patagonia has few equals in lands of exploration. Students visit the city of Barioche (population 108,205), which is situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is surrounded by the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Established in 1934 to preserve local flora and fauna, it is the oldest national park in Argentina, and the largest in the region with an area of nearly 2 million acres.