Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking & Rock Climbing for Women
Unplug from your phone and take the time to reconnect with yourself.
Embark on an exciting backpacking and rock-climbing adventure through the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. During the expedition, you can climb rock faces and rappel down them, adding an extra thrill to your journey. This experience will allow you to explore some of the oldest mountains in the world and help you enhance your confidence and leadership skills by interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and working together as a team to achieve daily goals.
For adults, our instructors create opportunities for participants to share their life experiences and organize activities to reflect on their past, present, and future. These courses are ideal for individuals at a turning point, seeking a fresh perspective, or wanting to reaffirm their capabilities.
At Outward Bound, we view ourselves as a crew rather than passengers, supporting each other through challenges and celebrating our victories. Your crew plays a crucial role in your experience during and after the course. While all our courses are open to individuals of all gender identities, we also recognize the importance of affinity spaces. This traditional Outward Bound course is specifically tailored for women and gender-expansive individuals seeking a supportive community. When we say "for women," we include trans-women.
Outward Bound's affinity courses aim to foster community and boost self-confidence. Our trained Instructors lead expeditions and strive to create a safe environment for those who have encountered marginalization due to their identity and are exploring their gender identity. Outward Bound welcomes everyone to learn, grow, make friends, and have a great time. We encourage those unsure about the best-fitting course to speak with one of our course advisors.
UPCOMING COURSES
Course # NCWE-2421
Age 30 and up
Days 8
Cost $2,790
Dates 9/21/2024 - 9/28/2024
ENROLLMENT CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
In fielding a lot of questions along the lines of, ‘Why on Earth would you want to do something like that?’ I was able to answer easily … for the experience. While the brain craves order and finds comfort in patterns, it’s critical and healthy to throw ourselves for a loop every now and again, lest we find ourselves in a rut. These kinds of experiences provide time and space to see what’s working, what might need some tweaking and what needs eliminating.
Backpacking gives students a unique opportunity to travel further than many typically do. Students feel a sense of freedom in carrying everything they need in their packs—food, shelter, clothing, and gear. They can eat hungry, camp when tired, and control what they accomplish daily. This simple mode of travel allows participants time to focus on themselves and practice perseverance and self-reliance.
Backpacking days are not just about the journey but also about learning practical skills. Students learn about Leave No Trace Principles, which minimize their impact on the land, and how to navigate using a map and compass. They also learn the various aspects of camp craft, making each day a learning experience.
The climbing instruction focuses on safety and begins by teaching the basics, such as working with ropes and learning to tie knots. As students advance, they'll learn to climb or rappel down a rock face. They may also get to work through a high ropes obstacle course together. These structured activities offer self-reliance, communication, and collaboration opportunities as participants face and overcome fears and challenges.
After completing more than half of the course, students will have a reflection period called Solo. During this time, instructors will assign students their own spaces within a designated area. For safety, these sites are secluded but within hearing distance of other group members and instructors. Students will be given the necessary gear, food, water, and skills to enjoy this time alone. Solo is an excellent opportunity for students to relax, recharge, and reflect on their course after long days of strenuous group activities. They also know the location of their instructors should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience.
Blue Ridge Mountains, NC
The Blue Ridge Mountains, or the Southern Appalachians, are among the oldest mountain ranges globally. They formed over 250 million years ago, with some underlying rocks dating back over a billion years. Due to their long geologic and evolutionary history, the Southern Appalachians are one of North America's most biologically diverse regions, often described as "rainforest-like."
This area boasts stunning rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls, and some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States, including Mt. Mitchell, which stands at an elevation of 6,684 feet, making it the highest point east of the Mississippi River. The diverse landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains have been featured in numerous films, including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.
Students participating in Outward Bound programs can expect to encounter over 700 species of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 varieties of birds, and over 50 amphibians in the region. The abundance of trees and plants gives these mountains their name, as trees emit organic chemicals into the air, contributing to their distinctive bluish color.
The area's temperatures 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. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Cherokee.
Course Stories
In fielding a lot of questions along the lines of, ‘Why on Earth would you want to do something like that?’ I was able to answer easily … for the experience. While the brain craves order and finds comfort in patterns, it’s critical and healthy to throw ourselves for a loop every now and again, lest we find ourselves in a rut. These kinds of experiences provide time and space to see what’s working, what might need some tweaking and what needs eliminating.
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Getting Started
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.