I'm in charge of taking a group of about 5 boys who are 16-18yo in a scouting program on a High Adventure trip of our choosing.

This summer. Budget is limited. Certainly less than $2000.

A couple of the boys are not physically or mentally able to do something physically rigorous like a Philmont-style backpacking trip. So that means that if we are going to do something camping based, we probably need a base-camp type model where activities are day activities.

Also we are limited in the range we can travel. We can't do west coast or east coast. New Mexico/OK/CO/AR/MO/LA/NM/UT is probably as far as we can travel.

Just hoping for some ideas. The boys have said that they do not want something water based (like canoeing) because they have been there and done that.

How about a week long rafting trip?

Edit: Reading comprehension failure...I should read the whole post before responding.

I shall think some more...

[This message has been edited by javajaws (edited 2/28/2013 10:53a).]

Check out packing into Crate Lake in the San Juan Wilderness. It is accessible from Wolf Creek or Platoro. Up and over the CD it is about 3 miles. Montezuma Peak is a point of interest y'all could hit from the lake. I'll send some pics and more info if you'd like.

OK, there's this place outside of Zion NP called Zion Ponderosa. It's literally a mile or so from the east entrance to the park. You could stay there in their cowboy cabins for <$100/night.

They have a bunch of onsite activities like ATV riding, rock wall, swimming pool, etc (small additional cost for everything you want to do). But they are also in a good location for you to take day trips into Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, as well as lesser known places like antelope canyon, horseshoe bend, etc.

You could even mix up staying there with some real camping in one of the nearby parks.

Its an easy place to lose yourself for a week or more.

Big Bend

Shoot me an email and I might be able to help. My old troop does a week long base camp in Questa Nm every summer and we had smaller groups tag along on some of them. Email is in profile.

I dunno, tons of stuff in NM and AZ. Personally, Zion, Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, etc.. some of the National Parks would be cool. You could camp for cheap.. and if you get a National Park pass.. which I think is $80/car, I think that would cut on entrance fees. That's the trip we did last summer.

How about a canoe trip on the Buffalo River (Arkansas)?

If it is summer, get altitude. If you can do it, just go camp in New Mexico or colorado, and take day trips to local stuff. Durango, or Taos area, or wherever.

quote:

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Need ideas for "High Adventure" trip this summer for 16-18yo boys

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16-18yo girls?

Seriously, here's one. Go to Durango. Take the Silverton steam train and get off mid-way to access the San Juan National Forest or Weminuche Wilderness.

Information

Needleton stop

Elk Park stop

I agree with Canyon.

If you want info on camping along the Continental Divide Trail, let me know. Fished it and the Cochetopa Creek a bunch.

There is a working ranch there, south east of Gunnision called the Quarter Circle Circle Ranch that has cabins (no power or running water) but it's great. They might give you a good deal, and have a few cabins that could fit everyone into one. They offer guided fishing and horseback/trail riding as well through and along the CD.

Really nice place with beautiful scenery if you wanna get away from things, but don't know if that is doable with the group.

[This message has been edited by OnlyForNow (edited 2/28/2013 12:50p).]

If you consider the Weminuche area, a hike/fish trip along the Los Pinos/Pine river is very nice.

Doss..Or Caddo Lake. I really enjoy that place, I don't really hike but the kayaking is great and doesn't really require a huge amount of effort.
Edit; sorry, did not see no water-based in OP.
[This message has been edited by txknight (edited 2/28/2013 12:49p).]

[This message has been edited by txknight (edited 2/28/2013 12:50p).]

Also Shifty,

can we donate to the trip's fund? Might as well go to a good cause and help the kids have a little more fun whatever it is.

Something like this?
http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html

you can camp or stay in yurts or both, and use it as a basecamp.

Ciudad Juarez?

Thanks for the ideas. Let me digest some of this and talk to my stakeholders before I proceed. Generous to offer to help financially, but I don't think it will be necessary, and it actually might not be allowed. We will be required to have a fundraiser, so onlyfornow, if you really want to contribute to a fundraiser you will be welcome to (last year it was Little Caesar pizzas).

I have actually taken the train to Silverton and saw people get off on that stop. I'll look into that. That could be interesting and fun.

I had actually looked up quarter circle circle ranch this morning before I saw the post, and one of the thoughts was what would it be that we would actually do. Since these kids don't fly fish and I think don't have an interest in fishing at all. Besides day hiking, not clear what activities there would be.

Northern Tier was a suggestion, but I think it's far too late this year to get started and it would be too expensive (not to mention on the water).

+1 Big Bend

If you have real constraints on physical demands you can see some interesting stuff pretty easily, especially if you have an off -road vehicle. You can also side trip to Fort Davis and Balmorhea on the way back.

[This message has been edited by swcbonfire (edited 2/28/2013 2:59p).]

isn't Big Bend too hot in the summer?

Order of the Straight Arrow?

http://undersantafeskies.com/2013/01/a-treasure-chest-awaits-you/

quote:

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Order of the Straight Arrow?

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Park Ranger: [to Boomhauer] Sir do you know anything about this?

Boomhauer: Yeah man I tell ya what... Did one of them snipe hunts last night... man with them dang ol' sticks and bags and Whack! Whack! man, go Woooo-loo-loo-loo!... Talk about big mistake y'all... It's right there in that cooler.


Park Ranger: [Not understanding him] Well if any of you see anything, stop by the ranger station.

Shifty, if you do quarter circle let me know, I've been going up there since I was a kiddo, I've almost bought an elk hunt from John a number of times as well.

It's a fun place, also don't have to fly fish nescessarily, plenty of places to use corn or meps around there.

His place has a volley ball net, horse shoes, etc. also nice hiking right near the camp.

Guadalupe MTs national park is a big bend alternative, and it is slightly cooler in the summer.. Highs in the low 90's, lows in the 50's at a mile up. Carlsbad is not far away, and you can hit balmorhea on the way there and back as well.