WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE ADVENTURE TRIP

DAY 1-2: PREP & LEARN

The first day is dedicated to building our new camp community. Once everyone arrives, we will travel to BT Base Camp and share our first meal together! You’ll spend the evening settling in and getting to know one another around the campfire. Day 2 is dedicated to learning the ins and outs of backcountry travel and camping, so that every hiker feels confident and ready for life on the trail. Our experienced and supportive staff members will teach you how to prepare meals, set up a campsite, protect the environment, and care for your gear.

DAY 3-5: THE ADVENTURE

Day 3 begins the epic adventure! After breakfast, we will depart BT Base Camp and begin our journey on a section of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, through the ancestral land of the Serrano and Gabrieleno peoples. We’ll spend the next 3 nights and 4 days in the backcountry, hiking and camping on the trail! Your days will be spent hiking, enjoying nature, setting up camp, bonding with fellow LGBTQ+ peers, and eating delicious food. Throughout the trip, you’ll also have opportunities to learn about environmental justice, navigation, risk management, styles of leadership, and other outdoor skills through hands-on workshops led by our staff.

DAY 6-7: CELEBRATE!

Day 6 begins the descent back to BT Base Camp. We will spend this final, full day reflecting on what we've learned and experienced together, and end the night with our special closing campfire ceremony. You’ll get to clean up, rest, and most importantly, CELEBRATE the incredible adventure you’ve just had with your new friends and staff mentors! On Day 7 we say our goodbyes and start counting down the days until next summer.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE EXPEDITION TRIP

DAY 1-2: PREP & LEARN

Day 1 is dedicated to building our new camp community. Once everyone arrives, we’ll travel to BT Base camp and share our first meal together! You’ll spend the evening settling in and getting to know one another around the campfire. On Day 2, we’ll adjust to the altitude with a day hike. You’ll get to soak up the views and learn about your environment, practicing navigation skills along the way. Back at BT Base Camp, we’ll prepare to embark on our journey the following morning.

DAY 3-6: THE EXPEDITION

Day 3 begins our expedition! After breakfast, we will shuttle to our starting trailhead near Lake Tahoe, CA on ancestral Washoe land. You’ll spend the next 4 nights and 5 days in the backcountry, hiking and camping on the trail! Days will be spent hiking, setting up camp, bonding with fellow LGBTQ+ peers, connecting with nature, eating delicious food, and enjoying the epic high alpine views! Throughout the trip, you’ll have opportunities to learn about environmental justice, risk management, styles of leadership, and outdoor skills through hands-on workshops led by our staff.

DAY 7-8: CELEBRATE!

Day 7 begins our trek and shuttle back to BT Base Camp. We’lll spend the final evening together reflecting on what we've learned and experienced during our special closing campfire ceremony. You’ll get to clean up, rest, and most importantly, CELEBRATE the incredible expedition you just had with your new friends and staff mentors! On Day 8 we say our goodbyes and start counting down the days until next summer.

MEET OUR PROGRAM LEAD

THURSDAY (THEY/THEM)

PROGRAM LEAD

Thursday is a passionate LBGTQ+ youth advocate and a life-long learner. They have been involved with Brave Trails since 2017 as a counselor, UJL lead, programs assistant, and backpacking program lead. Thursday has hiked thousands of miles across the United States, South America, and Europe, but the place closest to their heart will always be the mountains of California. They can't wait to experience the joy of nature with you!

Interesting facts about Thursday:

• Loves Takis

• Born and raised in Arkansas

• Currently obsessed with the song “Come Sail Away” by Styx

• Was a professional dancer and choreographer for many years

• Loves a good pun

Experience: Thursday has been active in the outdoor community since they moved to California in 2015. They began guiding outdoor experiences in 2017, and have been working with youth since they were just 14 years old. Their backpacking resume includes thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc in France, Italy, and Switzerland, the O-Circuit in Patagonia, Tahoe Rim Trail, High Sierra Trail, Ouachita Trail, Ozark Highlands Trail, Trans-Catalina Trail, and 1500 miles of the Continental Divide Trail. They have also hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, the Zion Traverse, and long-distance sections of the Slovenian Mountain Trail and the Juliana Trail in Slovenia and Italy.

READY FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME?