Men’s Blue Ridge Backpacking Expedition

All participants will be required to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination(s).

All male adult survivors 18 and older are invited to join TAPS on the 2021 Men’s Blue Ridge Backpacking Expedition as we explore the wilderness of our earth and of our grief alongside our fellow survivors from every population. These therapeutic, outdoor skills-based events are led by both TAPS facilitators and professional outdoor guides through some of the world’s most challenging and inspiring landscapes. 

If you’re living a life you never thought you would, why not do the things you never thought you could? When grief halts everything we once knew, we are asked to pause, reflect, and then rebuild. This is TAPS Expeditions - where planning and preparation are the gateway to discovering something new outside of who we are, learning who we can become if we simply keep going.

OVERVIEW

Join TAPS as you and your fellow survivors backpacking within the pristine wilderness of Pisgah National Forest and immerse yourself in the challenge of rock climbing in one of the top climbing destinations in the southeast. 

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 as you backpack and rock climb in the misty, cool, Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Blue Ridge Mountains is home to beautiful rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls, and some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States—including Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684’), the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures, including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

At the end of the 5 days, return home with newly expanded wilderness abilities, an energized outlook, a rekindled allowance of empathy and an eye toward the future.

Leading up to the expedition, a team bond will begin to form as you gain familiarity with each other through team meetings to discuss training regimens, gear lists and more. Your team will be a source of encouragement as you train for this canoeing adventure and an ongoing support network long after the expedition is complete.

While each expedition is unique and rewarding, they can also be physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. We at TAPS hope you’ll apply to join the team after you’ve taken some time to consider your current physical and emotional strength and resilience.

Entry forms will be open from August 1 - 13, 2021. You can expect outreach from TAPS Outdoors staff within one week. If more entry forms are received than we have slots available, TAPS will host a random selection from qualified entries.

This expedition is being put together through a partnership with North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS). Through this partnership, we rely on our qualified guides at NCOBS for their expertise in ensuring our physical safety in a variety of outdoor spaces. For more information, visit the North Carolina Outward Bound School. 

SCHEDULE

The tentative schedule provided by North Carolina Outward Bound School is due to change or minor adjustments for a number of reasons, including weather and participant skill level.

PRE-TRIP

It is the hope of TAPS that your team members become your family and an ongoing support network long after the TAPS Expedition is complete. Participants will be provided with a directory following the expedition to keep in touch with each other.

THE TRIP

Day 1: The Expedition will begin at the Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina at 1 p.m. Eastern with group introductions, travel to the trailhead, gear check, camp craft and hitting the trail.  

Day 2 to 4: Through the duration of the event we will enjoy early morning sunrises, nights under the stars and days spent on the trail backpacking through the Pisgah National Forest, learning the ins and outs of navigation in the backcountry and expanding our risk management skills. Midweek, we will incorporate rock climbing, belaying and rappelling into our Expedition, challenging our strength, teamwork and overcoming challenges together. You can also expect opportunities for solo time during the week. 

Day 5: On our final morning together we will de-issue gear, share in our experiences of challenge, success and connection, and graduate from the North Carolina Outward Bound School course. 

POST-TRIP

It is the hope of TAPS that your team members become your family and an ongoing support network long after the TAPS Expedition is complete. Participants will be provided with a directory following the expedition to keep in touch with each other.

FEES

All trip fees from Friday evening through Tuesday afternoon are covered by TAPS thanks to our generous donors.

Trip fees not noted above are your pre/post expedition transportation costs, meals outside of events, guide gratuities and gear not provided.

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION

You will need to cover the cost of your transportation to and from the Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina.

Plan to arrive by 1 p.m. Eastern on Friday, October 15 and stay through the event’s conclusion at approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2021.

During this expedition we will be camping along the trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Pisgah National Forest.

Your accommodations are provided at no cost to you thanks to our generous donors.

SKILL LEVEL

This expedition requires no backpacking or rock climbing experience but does necessitate that you be physically fit and healthy. This physically demanding expedition will include kayaking between two and fifteen miles a day and some one- to two-mile hikes with hills and uneven terrain. Even if you don't have canoeing experience, if this adventure excites you then we encourage you to submit an entry form by Friday, August 13, 2021.

To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest you engage in a regular exercise regimen leading up to the trip. Prior to the trip, we'll have an online video meeting to go over training regimens, gear lists and more. The TAPS Outdoors team will make sure you are prepared and well informed of the nature of this expedition.

ENTRY FORM DETAILS

Entry forms will be open from August 1 to 13, 2021 (look for the blue button at the top of this page at that time). You can expect outreach from TAPS Outdoors staff within one week. If more entry forms are received than we have slots available, TAPS will host a random selection from qualified entries.

If you have any questions, please email expeditions@taps.org or call 800-959-TAPS (8277).