Adventure Worth Sharing Initiative
Pay what you can
Do you ever think
How expensive outdoor gear can be? Or how the outdoors can be intimidating? How about the cost of a trip, the planning, the logistics? All of these issues and more prevent so many people from experiencing nature in meaningful ways.
We think about this.
Over the years we’ve been darn good at connecting folks to nature through immersive backcountry trips. We’ve helped countless people build confidence, strengthen relationships and of course, have fun in the wild throws of our National Forests.
But we recognize cost gets in the way, and it’s not always whether the experience is affordable, it’s often an uncertainty that a trip is something people want to commit to. The idea of camping and connecting to nature is on point but the quantity of “what if’s” are many.
With all this mind we’re rolling out a Pay What You Can option for select backcountry opportunities. With a Pay What You Can adventure we’re helping ensure greater access to these oftentimes life-changing experiences with nature.
Pay What You Can is solely for people who live locally in our urban bases in Chicago, IL; Asheville, NC; and the larger cities within striking distance of Asheville in the Southeast. The program additionally enables campers to test out their own gear with the help of experts that can share advice on usage, set up, maintenance and anything else. It’s a no pressure, simple way to learn and test your own gear to give you the confidence needed to thrive outdoors.
How does it work?
From September 2020 through spring of 2021, we’ll be offering Pay What You Can trips in the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Once the weather breaks in the Midwest we’ll open up these opportunities in the Manistee and Shawnee National Forests. We hope to offer Pay What You Can opportunities year round.
To reserve your spot you’ll call in with the date you want to camp and the amount you’re willing to contribute.
Is there a minimum payment?
No, though we ask that you consider the bare minimums it takes for us to provide these trips. Food, staff time, forest service fees are the mainstays. Our goal is to offer these trips at little or no cost, we can offer flexible payment options over time as well. Whatever we gotta do to get you under the stars!
Where will we go and for how long?
We’ve got our pick of rugged mountain exploration and serene waterfall campsites. Sites per dates are TBD and subject to change based on group comfort and guide discretion.
Trips based out of Asheville will be 3 day, 2 night. Typically meeting up at the trailhead on Fridays and departing on Sundays.
Trips based out of Chicago will be 2 days, 1 night due to colder weather in the late fall season. 3 day trips will resume in May, 2021.
What about Social Distancing?
We’ll be able to follow Social Distance guidelines while on the trail and at the campsites. Groups will not exceed 10 people. You can share a tent with members of your family or those in your “pod”, otherwise we will provide individual tents.
What’s Included?
All the big-ticket camping gear like tents, sleeping bags, pads, backpacks, group gear, delicious and nutritious food, expert guide and so much more. Read about it here. Due to Covid and social distance guidance we will not be providing transportation; participants will be asked to find their own way to the trailheads. For harder to find areas we’ll rally in the nearest town and convoy our way into the forest together.