After meeting at the Denver Airport, we'll drive to our beautiful base camp along the Arkansas River. Spend the evening getting to know your companions and your leaders as you prepare for an exciting paddle down the stunning and fast Arkansas River.

We'll raft the Brown's Canyon section of the river, a scenic and wild stretch. We'll get the chance to build strength in our friendships and use teamwork as we blast through formidable rapids like the infamous Seidel's Suckhole. These 2 days of rafting provides a perfect start to our adventure together; you and your new friends will be ready to enter the backcountry as a cohesive group.

Now clip in and get ready to soar as we visit the mountains in Gunnison Valley! We’ll enjoy two days of spectacular rock climbing on a spectacular crag in a breathtaking alpine setting. Enjoy the sunshine, fresh mountain air, and the feeling of being a part of the mountain as you immerse yourself in the vertical world. Professional guides will teach us rope systems and safety procedures, while carefully selecting routes that are appropriate for our skill and challenge level

We'll spend the first part of the day learning new and important skills like how to properly load and balance a backpack for an extended backcountry experience. Then we'll visit the historic mountain village of Telluride and enjoy one last taste of the front country before we head out for a week of adventure in a pristine wilderness setting.

The heart of our Rocky Mountain Way adventure is an extended backpacking section in the San Juan Mountains, where six full days in the backcountry allow us to get a true feel for wilderness travel. You'll be captivated from the start by the San Juan's, Colorado's largest and wildest range, full of imposing peaks, sweeping flower-filled alpine meadows, and tumbling mountain waters. At first, we'll travel shorter distances so that we have plenty of time to become familiar with our gear, learn about minimum impact camping, learn even more new skills like map reading, and generally become comfortable in our new surroundings. Over time, though, we'll travel greater distances and reach higher elevations. Ultimately, we try to summit one of the area's famous peaks. Standing on top with close friends, feeling the wind in your face, and gazing out over a vast panorama of stillness and wild beauty, you may never want to leave!

We load our rafts and set afloat on one of the best whitewater runs in America, as professional guides help us navigate stomach-churning drops like Sledgehammer, Boat Eater, and Sunshine Falls. Through all the excitement, however, don't forget to take in the scenery as we thread the impossibly deep and narrow cleft that is Royal Gorge!

Back in Denver, you have the opportunity to wash your clothes, clean group-gear, and clean up before you head home tomorrow. We celebrate our final night together at a banquet dinner.