Our Colorado Couples Treks will provide outgoing couples a chance to grow their relationships in one of the most beautiful locations in the country while summiting a 14’er with a team of other couples. This is one of our most unique adventures–one part trek…one part retreat–and we have designed it in such a way as to make it as accessible as possible for every couple that wants to join our team.
We will spend two nights in hotels and one night in a tent next to the gorgeous Kite Lake in the midst of the spectacular Mosquito range. We have chosen this location because it sets us up for several different trekking options depending upon the readiness and desires of each member of our team.
Some of our couples will choose to take it pretty easy on our trekking day and stay close to Kite Lake; most of our team will choose to summit Mount Democrat; and we might even have some ambitious team members that take on the whole Decalibron loop, summiting four different 14’ers all in one long effort (Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross). No 14’er should ever be underestimated, but Democrat can be conquered by very normal people with average fitness, provided that they prepare themselves in the weeks leading up to the trip.
Dates: Sept 30-Oct 3, 2023
Couples will need to arrive in Denver no later than 5:00PM on Saturday, Sept 30th and will plan to depart from Denver on the morning of Tuesday, Oct 3rd.
Cost: $1,950 per couple
- A non-refundable $400 deposit (per couple) is required at the time of registration to secure your spot on the team.
- $1,000 is due before July 15th, 2023
- $1,950 is due before September 1st, 2023.
What is included:
- Lunches and dinners throughout the trip
- Two nights in a hotel and one night in a tent on the mountain
- All transportation to and from Denver airport
What is NOT included:
- Each couple is responsible for their own travel to and from Denver, arriving in the afternoon of day 1 (no later than 5:00pm MST) and departing on the morning of day 4. Some will choose to drive, but we expect most of our couples to fly.
- Each couple is required to bring their own trekking gear (sleeping bag, daypack, clothes, hiking shoes/boots, trekking poles, etc.). You will not need to provide your own tents. Those are included. We will provide an extensive and detailed packing/gear list for all of our participants.
- Each couple is responsible for their own trekking snacks (we will provide a sample list of what most trekkers will be bringing).
- Each couple is responsible for each day’s breakfast (we will provide details as the trip approaches).
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
The mountains of the Decalibron loop are very manageable mountains to summit. They require no technical climbing and offers stunning views in all directions. That said, they are still 14,000ft mountains and should not to be taken lightly.
We will be camping very near our cars so you will not need a major backpack for this trip. A simple daypack for the trek on day 3 will be sufficient. Each team member will need to carry water, snacks, a rain jacket, and some layers in their day pack. If we choose to summit Democrat only, the trek will be around 4 hours round trip. If we choose the full loop, it will be closer to 7 hours.
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.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Sept 30th)
Couples need to arrive in Denver no later than 5:00PM MST. We will pick up everyone from the airport and transport them to our team hotel in Breckenridge. The drive from Denver airport to Breckenridge will be a little more than 2 hours. After we get everyone checked in to our hotel, we will go out for a late team dinner at a local restaurant. This night is about getting to know your fellow teammates and setting a tone for the adventure. Staying in Breckenridge (9,600ft elevation) also allows us to begin to acclimatize ourselves to the elevation we will encounter on our trekking day.
Day 2 (Oct 1st)
We will sleep in on day 2. Couples will be on their own for breakfast. There are many great breakfast options in Breckenridge. The team will meet up around mid-day and make our way up to Kite Lake. The drive from Breckenridge to Kite Lake is a little more than one hour. Kite Lake is located at more than 12,00ft elevation, and you will definitely notice the elevation as soon as we get out of the cars.
We will set up our camp next to the lake and have a cold lunch (likely sandwiches, chips, etc.). The afternoon is wide open. Some will choose to relax and others may stretch their legs a bit with a light hike. We will gather the team in the early evening for a camp style dinner and hopefully be in bed pretty early.
Day 3 (Oct 2nd)
We will set our alarms for 5:30AM and will be on the trail by 6:00AM. The trail to Democrat is not particularly long, but it is steep. We will take our time on the trail, and we plan to enjoy a half an hour or so on the summit. After summiting Democrat, we will make a decision whether or not we want to add the rest of the Decalibron loop or if we would prefer to come directly back down to camp. We will not pressure anyone to take on more than they can handle. Those doing the full loop will eat a cold lunch on the trail. Those just doing Democrat, will eat their lunches back at camp. We expect to pack up our campsites and be back in the car headed back to Denver by mid afternoon. After driving back to Denver, we will have celebratory dinner at a fun restaurant before heading to our hotel.
Day 4 (Oct 3rd)
We will wake up as early as is necessary to get each couple back to the airport in time for their flights home. We will not do a formal breakfast. Most couples will grab something at the airport.