Outward Bound Wilderness Expedition!!!

[Don]

I mentioned this story to the few people who made it to sushi night a couple weeks ago.
I feel like I won a mini-lottery and feel like sharing my news!

Anyone familiar with the Outward Bound Wilderness Expeditions?
They offer guided outdoors adventures in a variety of states and settings across the country. Usually their trips are 5-10 days of something like backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and sailing, cross county skiing, snow shoeing, or dog sledding. I have read that they offer courses for youth groups and even do some troubled youth outings.

I got an email from an Army buddy a couple months ago telling about a veterans program they were offering.
From the emailed offer:
Thanks to the generous funding grant from the Sierra Club Foundation , we are proud to offer these Outward Bound outdoor expeditions cost-free to our OEF/OIF military veterans.

There was a list of offered courses and dates in various states doing various activities, but here’s the kicker:
All costs, to include lodging, food, equipment, staff instruction, and state-side round trip transportation to and from the expedition site, are fully supported by this grant.

There was a lengthy application and I daydreamed about it for a day or two and then pretty much forgot about it.
They called me just before the Bogley sushi get together a couple weeks ago to say that a guy had backed out and they had a spot if I wanted it. Of course I said yes! I will have to burn the last of my vacation time but who cares!
I fly to El Paso Texas on the 14th, stay in a hotel that night and then spend 5 days backpacking in Big Band National Park! Another hotel night on the 19th and fly home on the 20th.
They made my flight and hotel reservations, arranged travel between the two and to the park, provide all the food and gear. They sent me a packing list describing the clothes and shoes I should bring. (I plan to bring my own sleeping bag, it’s nice and I just prefer my own. Might bring my own pack; haven’t made up my mind).

Big Bend National Park! I spent a few months at Ft Bliss (El Paso) with the Army and aside from a few drunken nights I mostly hated it and have a bad impression of Texas because of it. We were training on base and pretty restricted but I remember thinking that the small mountains in the area probably had some pretty cool hiking. Now I get to go see a National Park nearby!!!

There are more courses being offered in ’09. Here’s their veterans page in case anyone is interested in finding out more about this program.
http://www.outwardbound.org/index.cfm/do/cp.veterans

[James_B_Wads2000]

Take lots of pictures.



James

[Cirrus2000]

Such a sweet trip! Enjoy, and we look forward to the photos!

[blueeyes]

I am so jealous!!

I have not been camping for two years! So I am green with envy.

[KapitanSparrow]

Have fun Don!

[Deathcricket]

Oh yeah! I recall being extremely jealous when you mentioned this. Although going through what you did and service to our country... I say it's well deserved. I hope you have a great time man. Like James was was saying, take lots of pictures and share when ya get back.

[blueeyes]

Deathcricket is right it is a well deserved trip! I hope you have a fantasitic time I look forward to hearing about it, you tell great stories just leave out any spiders.

[trackrunner]

I know there is canyoneering in Big Bend NP. Will you be doing any of that.

Take pictures, want to see if it's a place I want to go.

Milk those benifits from being a vetern and purple heart. You deserve it.

[Don]

They haven't given many trip details, just a general area because they say it's flexible. They go where the group is capable of going. I read about a slot canyon down in Big Bend State Park (right next to the National Park) called Closed Canyon, but could find no info on technical slots.
Outward Bound does do Canyoneer courses down there and would have the gear/expertise. I would guess that if I showed up down there with beta and a desire I could push the group toward canyoneering activities.
Big Bend State or National Park; anyone have Beta?

[trackrunner]

They haven't given many trip details, just a general area because they say it's flexible. They go where the group is capable of going. I read about a slot canyon down in Big Bend State Park (right next to the National Park) called Closed Canyon, but could find no info on technical slots.
Outward Bound does do Canyoneer courses down there and would have the gear/expertise. I would guess that if I showed up down there with beta and a desire I could push the group toward canyoneering activities.
Big Bend State or National Park; anyone have Beta?

No info but here are some names of canyons in Big Bend

Upper and Lower Cattail Canyon, Upper Burro Mesa Pouroff, Dog Canyon, Bruja Canyon, Mt. Emory, Devil's Den,

limited beta I could find
http://www.ehow.com/how_2070453_hike...yon-texas.html
http://www.igougo.com/attractions-re...ja_Canyon.html

[Win]

What a terrific trip, Don. In my hippy daze we spent a few nights in Big Bend,
a beautiful, remote N.P. I hope to go back at some point and see it without a cloud of smoke about my head.

Win

[Cirrus2000]

... I hope to go back at some point and see it without a cloud of smoke about my head.

Win

indeed!