"My group hiked Mount Henry in Sequoia Kings Canyon. At the summit, there was a summit register (a record of visitors to the summit of a mountain) and a few of us were reading excerpts we thought were interesting out loud. One of my friends started reading a really funny excerpt that said something like: 'My buttcheeks are burnt' and read the name as 'David Somers'. It took me a minute to get it, but then I realized that was my dad’s name! It was from the 90s! It was such a crazy thing!"
– Ellie Somers, Alumnus
Ellie’s dad, David, did an Outward Bound course in the 90s, and her sister completed a course in 2015. It really became a family affair when Ellie completed her course the summer of 2018. She also found her sister’s name on the summit register of Red Mountain.
Step away from the daily grind and journey into the some of the most beautiful places the Sierra Nevada range offers.
Most of this course will be spent backpacking the spectacular high country of the Western Sierra – alongside lake basins and granite peaks. As a beginner rock climber or if you’re advancing your skills, this area has some of the best climbing granite around. With a longer format, you’ll have more training and attention from Instructors, so you can implement feedback and practice technical and interpersonal skills. This will lead to deeper understanding of strengths, a more independent and self-directed crew and greater levels of confidence in yourself.
As your technical and leadership skills advance along with the group, you’ll move through a progression, gradually taking on decision making in navigation, route finding, sharing of duties and setting up camp. This is the group's opportunity to make the course its own.
NOTE: For the health and safety of students and staff in the COVID-19 pandemic, students may be required to travel to course start by private transportation. Please work directly with your Course Advisor for your course for the most up-to-date and regionally-focused travel options. All students and staff must provide a current negative COVID-19 viral test result before arrival to course and/or consent to having a COVID-19 test administered at course start. Outward Bound requires students and staff to follow COVID-19 protocols for 14 days prior to course start and while traveling including physical distancing, wearing a mask in public, and frequent and thorough handwashing. For complete “Health and Safety Practices for Outward Bound Expeditions,” click here.
This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!
Adult Courses
Do you ever want to unplug, step away from the daily grind to take on new challenges? Are you ready to conquer harder skills and remind your senses (or discover for the first time) what it’s like to crest a mountain peak, hear the echoes at the edge of a vast canyon or feel the rush of white water spray on your face? Take a break from your routine, radically change your surroundings and test your tenacity. Put some “firsts” in front of you and find moments of unexpected discovery along the way. Experience Outward Bound as an adult and prepare for an injection of adventure, awareness and adaptability that sticks with you long after you unpack your backpack.
Build skills, form connections: Meet like-minded peers and make connections as you work through priorities and adventures together, learn outdoor skills at the hands of expert Instructors, and earn every good night’s sleep.
Value strengths and strengthen values: Re-discover your inner strength, renew your natural leadership abilities and practice adapting to new environments. Tap in to your trust and compassion as you tackle obstacles with a support crew standing beside you.
Demonstrate mastery: As you awaken your wilderness skills and dig deep to rise to the physical and mental challenges, the bulk of the expedition’s leadership and decision-making responsibilities transfer from the Instructor to the crew. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both individually and together.
What you’ll learn: Watch, try and share more difficult outdoor skills that you’ll master on your expedition. Discover and then remind yourself that there’s more in you than you know. Having taken the risks, learned from and adapted to all sorts of new situations and environments, you’re ready for whatever life hands you going forward.
Return home with newly expanded wilderness abilities, an energized outlook, a rekindled allowance of empathy into situations and relationships and an eye toward the future.
Rock Climbing
The course starts with several days of rock climbing where students will learn the basics of climbing technique, belaying and knots, while building trust with team members and confidence in themselves. During this section students challenge themselves physically on solid rock cliffs, and push their mental strength with a free hanging rappel with stunning views of the surrounding granite domes.
Alpine Backpacking
Following the climbing portion, students will begin a backpacking expedition that takes them into the heart of the Sierra Nevada range. Here students will learn Leave No Trace camping and travel skills, outdoor cooking techniques, map and compass use, route finding and how to set up shelters in the backcountry. They will spend time hiking on and off-trail, both in forested areas and in the micro-climates of an alpine environment high above tree line, often camping next to icy alpine lakes that offer the opportunity to swim and rinse off after days of hiking.
In addition to technical skills, Instructors will teach and facilitate the interpersonal skills needed for students to function effectively as a team, accomplish goals and tackle new challenges every day. Challenges on course are designed to guide students toward taking risks, drawing upon inner resources and developing trust in one another. One example is the peak attempt. With lighter packs, participants will start before the sun rises to summit a mountain and be rewarded with 360 degree views and an incredible sense of accomplishment.
Service
Service to others and to the environment are core values of Outward Bound and they are integrated into each course. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics as part of their service to the environment. Students develop an ingrained appreciation of service, seeing the impact of their actions, firsthand, by multiple small acts of service with and for their crewmates while leading and supporting each other throughout the journey.
Solo
Outward Bound believes, in order for profound learning to take place, there must be time to reflect on the experience. During course, the Solo is that opportunity. It is a chance to experience solitude in the wilderness without distraction while also taking a break from the physical rigors of course. Students are separated from their group for a period of time which depends on course length and Instructor assessment of group capability. Solo sites are chosen to provide solitude. Students have all necessary equipment, food and water. The maximum time for Solo on this course is 72 hours.
Outcomes
Outward Bound courses vary in length from four (4) to 85 days. On shorter courses, participants will receive an introduction to leadership skills, strength of character and a desire to serve while activities fill most of the time and the pace is quick. With longer courses, the same outcomes and benefits are achieved with the opportunity to reach a more profound level of mastery as there are more chances to develop technical skills, receive and implement feedback and further personal development. However many days the expedition lasts, the strength and impact of the experience lasts a lifetime.
Backpacking, rock climbing and wilderness navigation techniques are great practice for the essential skills and habits that help prepare for new challenges at school, work, home and in the community. Outward Bound expeditions encourage students:
to remain engaged and present, giving every challenge the best effort, even when the goal seems beyond reach.
to form a team and focus on the team effort.
to share responsibilities, communicate and lead. Leadership roles are shared within the group, and responsibilities rotate each day.
to find reserves of tenacity and compassion. Outward Bound courses are designed to expand and stretch your limits so that every expedition is a true accomplishment and a memorable journey.
Course Area
The Sierra Nevada range is California’s backyard and wonderland of wilderness, waterfalls, lakes and peaks. It’s an enormous range — spanning more than 400 miles from north to south, and 70 miles east to west. Courses take place in the southern and western parts of the Sierra: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.
Summer in the Sierra is mostly sunny with occasional rain and cold evenings. Snowfall is unlikely, though June courses may traverse atop lingering winter and spring snow. Summer temperature tends towards the 70s to 80s during the day, dipping into the 30s to 50s in the evening and night. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok), Eastern Mono/Monache, and Tübatulabal nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
14-Day Course
22-Day Course
DAY 1
Course start – review gear, meet and greet group/instructors
DAY 2-4
Rock section (climbing technique, belaying and rappelling and camp craft lessons)
DAY 5
Front country resupply of food and gear, service project
DAY 6-10
Main expedition (backpacking, solo, and peak attempt)
DAY 11-12
Final expedition (backpacking)
DAY 13
Personal challenge event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony
DAY 14
Course end and transportation to airport
DAY 1
Course start – review gear, meet and greet group/Instructors
DAY 2-5
Rock section (climbing technique, belaying and rappelling and camp craft lessons)
DAY 6
Front country resupply of food and gear
DAY 7-13
Main expedition (backpacking section and peak attempt)
DAY 14-15
Solo
DAY 16
Backcountry resupply and service project
DAY 17-19
Final expedition (backpacking)
DAY 20
Service project
DAY 21
Personal Challenge Event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony
DAY 22
Course end and transportation to airport
Course Stories
"My group hiked Mount Henry in Sequoia Kings Canyon. At the summit, there was a summit register (a record of visitors to the summit of a mountain) and a few of us were reading excerpts we thought were interesting out loud. One of my friends started reading a really funny excerpt that said something like: 'My buttcheeks are burnt' and read the name as 'David Somers'. It took me a minute to get it, but then I realized that was my dad’s name! It was from the 90s! It was such a crazy thing!"
– Ellie Somers, Alumnus
Ellie’s dad, David, did an Outward Bound course in the 90s, and her sister completed a course in 2015. It really became a family affair when Ellie completed her course the summer of 2018. She also found her sister’s name on the summit register of Red Mountain.
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.