We are so excited to be offering a trip into one of the most spectacular areas of Colorado, the Chicago Basin. This remote area is difficult to access, but many feel it is the most scenic area of Colorado. Our team will take the narrow gauge railway from Durango to Needleton and back to gain access to the basin. While in the basin, we will be attempting to summit Windom Peak. Windom is the easiest of the four Chicago Basin 14’ers, but it is still considered “difficult class 2,” and should not be underestimated.
Dates: July 6-11, 2026
Team members will need to arrive in Durango anytime on July 5th and will plan to depart from Durango no earlier than late evening July 9th (Most team members will choose depart morning of July 10th).
Cost: $1,450 per person
- A non-refundable $362.50 (25%) 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.
- $725 (50%) is due before April 1st, 2026
- $1,450 is due before June 1st, 2026
What is included:
- Train tickets to and from Durango to Needleton
- All camping gear including tents and stoves, but not including sleeping bags and sleeping mats
- 2 nights of hotel accommodations in Durango
- 3 nights camp style dinners in the Chicago Basin & 1 night restaurant dinner in Durango
What is NOT included:
- Team members are responsible for their own travel to and from Durango.
- Team members are responsible for their own trekking gear (backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, daypack, clothes, hiking shoes/boots, trekking poles, head lamp, etc.). We will provide an extensive and detailed packing/gear list for all of our participants.
- Team members are responsible for their own breakfasts/lunches/snacks while on the trek.
Trek Difficulty: Difficult
This trip requires a 7 mile each way trek into and out of the basin with full packs (~30lbs) and a challenging climb up Windom Peak with a day pack. 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 trip, the more you will enjoy the adventure.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (July 6th)
Team members need to arrive in Durango anytime on 6th. The team will check in to the team hotel and take care of all last minute preparations for 3 nights in the basin. Dinner is not included on this night.
Day 2 (July 7th)
We will begin the day with a ride on the narrow gauge railroad from Durango to Needleton. After we exit the train, we will have an approximately 6.5 mile hike to where we will setup our backcountry base camp. Since we will be carrying full packs at elevation, most team members find this to be the most difficult day of the trip.
Day 3 (July 8th)
This is our built-in acclimatization day. The goal of this day is rest and devotional time. We will not complete an official hike on this day, but there are many beautiful areas to explore in the basin.
Day 4 (July 9th)
This is our summit day. We will leave well before daybreak on our hike up to Twin Lakes from where we will begin our climb up Windom Peak. This is a challenging 14er, but the views are stunning. We will return to our base camp by mid-afternoon and spend our last night in the tents.
Day 5 (July 10th)
We will sleep in a bit, break camp, and hike 6.5 miles down out of the basin to catch the train from Needleton back to Durango. When we get back to Durango, we will check into our team hotel, get a much needed shower, and enjoy a celebratory dinner together.
Day 6 (July 11th)
Team members will depart Durango on their return travel home.