We are so excited to be bringing another team back to Colorado to take on a couple of 14’ers. This is a co-ed trip, and a great option for couples. Though we have several backpacking 14’er trips on the calendar, this team will spend each night in an Airbnb. We have set this adventure up with three itinerary options:
- FULL TRIP–Team members choosing this option will spend 6 nights in Breckenridge (July 12-18) and attempt two different peaks. Cost for the FULL TRIP option is $1,525.
- FIRST HALF TRIP–Team members choosing this option will spend 3 nights in Breckenridge (July 12-15) and attempt one peak. Cost for the FIRST HALF TRIP option is $925.
- SECOND HALF TRIP–Team members choosing this option will spend 3 nights in Breckenridge (July 15-18) and attempt one peak. Cost for the SECOND HALF TRIP option is $925.
This is a beginner friendly adventure, but there is no such thing as an easy 14’er. Team members will be expected to devote themselves to a season of training and preparation in the weeks/months leading up to the trip.
This adventure is more than just a climb. We will provide all team members with devotional materials during the season of preparation and we will be devoting significant time on the trip itself to prayer, personal growth, and reflection.
Dates: July 12-18, 2025
Some team members will choose to drive their own vehicles directly to Breckenridge, but we are also happy to arrange pickup and drop off at Denver International Airport. Transfer to/from Denver is included in the trip cost.
For those who will be flying:
FULL TRIP and FIRST HALF TRIP team members will need to arrange their flights to arrive in Denver no later than 12:00PM MST on Friday July 12th.
FIRST HALF TRIP team members will need to arrange their flights to depart Denver no earlier than 12:00PM MST on July 15th.
SECOND HALF TRIP team members will need to arrange their flights to arrive in Denver no later than 12:00PM MST on July 15th.
FULL TRIP and SECOND HALF TRIP team members will need to arrange their flights to depart Denver no earlier than 12:00PM MST on July 18th.
Cost: $1,525 per person for FULL TRIP // $925 for FIRST or SECOND HALF TRIP
- A non-refundable $400 deposit is required at the time of registration to secure your spot on the team. Please read our Trip Cancellation and Refund policy before registering for your adventure.
- Full trip payment of $1,525 or $925 is due before June 1st, 2025.
- We will work with each team member to arrange a payment schedule.
- We offer a $250 discount for couples joining the adventure. For example, a couple doing the FULL TRIP would pay $2,800 instead of $3,050 ($1,525 Xs 2 people – $250 discount) or $1,650 for either HALF TRIP ($925 Xs 2 people – $250 discount)
What is included:
- All food throughout the duration of the adventure–a typical day’s menu will be light breakfast (bagels/cereal/oatmeal), sandwiches and snacks for lunch, and a home cooked meal for dinner (spaghetti, tacos, etc.). We will keep the airbnb stocked with snacks and drinks.
- Nightly Airbnb accommodation in Breckenridge
- All ground transportation throughout the trip, including transfer to/from Denver International Airport
What is NOT included:
- Team members are responsible for their own flights to and from Denver or their travel directly to Breckenridge should they choose to drive their own vehicles.
- Team members are responsible for their own trekking gear (daypack, clothes, hiking shoes/boots, trekking poles, head lamp, etc.) There is no need for a large backpack or any sleeping gear since we will be staying in an Airbnb. We will provide an extensive and detailed packing/gear list for all of our participants.
- Though meals are provided, most team members will choose to pack their own snacks for the climb day/s. We expect to be on the mountain for 4 to 9 hours on our climb days, so some combination of trail mix/protein bars/candy/beef jerky will be more than sufficient.
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
We have selected 4 potential peaks (Bierstadt, Huron, La Plata, and Mount of the Holy Cross) that will serve as the pool of potential climbs for this adventure. As the trip approaches, we will assess the readiness of the team and decide which peaks we will be attempting. None of the 4 potential peaks we have chosen for this adventure are technical, but they are all still taller than 14,000ft, so they should not be underestimated.
This adventure is designed to be novice friendly…almost anyone with reasonable fitness can safely summit these peaks. However, we expect the summit days to take anywhere between 4-7 hours (Bierstadt and Huron) or 7-10 hours (La Plata and Holy Cross), so team members need to be ready for a long day on the mountain/s. We recommend all of our team members devote themselves to a season of training before attempting this trek. The more cardio fitness you can obtain before your adventure, the more you will enjoy the hike to the summit.
There is no technical gear required for this adventure. Team members will only need a small backpack that can hold water, snacks, warm layers (gloves/jacket/beanie), and a rain shell.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (July 12th)
FULL TRIP and FIRST HALF TRIP teams will arrive in Breckenridge by mid afternoon. After getting settled in to the airbnb, the team will enjoy dinner together and have a short team meeting to set the tone for the adventure.
Breckenridge is located at 9,600ft elevation and you will definitely feel the effects of the elevation especially if you are coming from near sea level. It is not uncommon for people to feel light headaches and have a little trouble sleeping during the first night at elevation. Be sure to drink plenty of water during your travel day to help mitigate the effects of elevation.
Day 2 (July 13th)
Day 2 is our acclimatization day. This day is really about readying yourself physically, spiritually, and emotionally for the challenge that awaits you on Day 3. Climbing a mountain is a huge undertaking and we will spend our acclimatization day helping you get prepared for the climb. The team will spend most of the day walking around Breckenridge, including walking up the hill to Peak 8, where we plan to spend a few hours. There are a lot of fun (and optional) activities to do at Peak 8 (mountain coaster, superchair ski lift, putt putt, etc.) and you are welcome to participate in any/all of them you like. They aren’t free, but prices are reasonable. In addition to the activities, we will give space for team members to find a place in the area for some devotional time. The team will make their way back to the airbnb for a hearty dinner and early bedtime. We will be up well before the sun for our climb on Day 3.
Day 3 (July 14th)
We will be in the cars no later than 4:00AM (and perhaps earlier…Sunday in mid-July can be very busy on the trails in Colorado) and making our way to the trailhead for our first peak. This will be a challenging but rewarding day that you will never forget. We should be on the summit by late morning and back at the trailhead shortly after mid-day, and we will make our way back to Breckenridge for a celebratory meal…you will absolutely be hungry. We will spend the evening reflecting on our experiences on the mountain and reveling in our victories.
Day 4 (July 15th)
Day 4 is team swap day. FIRST HALF TRIP team members will wake up early and head back to Denver to catch their flights about the same time SECOND HALF TRIP team members will be arriving in Denver. FULL TRIP team members will have a well-earned lazy morning in Breckenridge and they will be ready to welcome their new team members who should arrive in Breckenridge by mid-afternoon.
Day 5 (July 16th)
Day 5 is a our second acclimatization day. The team will leave early morning and make a 2 hour drive to the city of Aspen (breakfast on Day 5 will be at Starbucks near the beginning of the drive). Once in Aspen, the team will take the shuttle to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, truly one of the most iconic locations in all of Colorado. We will plan to spend several hours here. There are some great short hikes in the area, but the primary goal is to allow team members space for another extended period of devotion time. Sometime in the early afternoon, we will gather the team, take the shuttle back to Aspen, and then return to Breckenridge for dinner.
Day 6 (July 17th)
Just like on Day 3, we will be in the cars no later than 4:00AM and making our way to the trailhead for our second peak. We will likely arrange a slightly tougher peak for this day than we did on Day 3. We expect another awesome day of mountain victories and another evening of celebration together to close the trip.
Day 7 (July 18th)
We will be up early enough to make the trip back to Denver for everyone to catch their flights. Hopefully, we will all go home with full hearts, incredible memories, and unbelievable photos.