Colorado: Experiencing Nature’s Wonders
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BOOK YOUR GROUP TODAY!
Cost: $765 ($75 for single supplement)
Limit: 15 people
Dominated by the great Rocky Mountains, Colorado is your base camp for high adventure. You will begin your journey in Colorado Springs, but our roads will take us deeper into the surrounding wilds. Our quiet retreat will bring you ample opportunities to experience nature’s wonders. During your week of exploration, your team will engage in days of adventure and exploration in deserts, mountains, valleys, raging rivers and quiet meadows.
Would you like to hike up the famous Pikes Peak (14,000+ feet), go rafting on class IV rapids down the Royal Gorge, scale a forest castle or ascend mountains of sand dunes? Every place we turn brims with fantastic beauty and quiet moments away from our normal lives. This unique mix of retreat and adventure, in a surrounding of intense beauty, will challenge and restore the spirit.
Itinerary
Day 1 – The Garden Gods doth Greet Thee
Our team will touch down in Colorado Springs and travel to our relaxing lodge: EZ Yoke Ranch. A mountain stream, ponderosa pine forests, meadows, hiking trails, and the wonders of creation will meet you at the EZ Yoke Ranch in the heart of Colorado. Quiet bedrooms, cozy lounging areas, a small library and separation from the everyday world will make this the ideal location for your Boundless Expedition. But first, we will visit the Garden of the Gods, a surreal formation of rocks found on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. Your BE director will learn a bit about you and prepare you for the week. This will be a week of exploration that will allow you to escape your busy life for a season and find restoration through nature’s wonders.
Day 2 – Breathe
After a morning to sleep in and a hearty breakfast we will take the day to become acclimated to altitude. A day of relaxation and exploration at EZ Yoke Ranch will set the pace for the week. Join us for a beautiful hike into the surrounding countryside and breathe in the crystal clear air. You’ll even have a time of stillness with the beauty of the mountains as your background. In the evening we will have a wonderful meal and discuss the adventures ahead. Wine and cheese will help stir the conversation. Your life is about to change.
Day 3 – Quest for Sand
Our journey continues today with a trek into one of the great natural wonders of North America: the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Wind directed by the nearby mountains rushes over the dunes to form shifting hills and valleys of sand. Our day will be filled with exploration, and playing on the largest sand dunes in the Continental U.S. Do you dare to sand surf? The Dunes will make you feel like you have traveled to another planet. Though our footprints will disappear in a short few hours, we won’t easily forget this incredible quest for sand.
As we make our way back to our lodge, we will stop by Zapata Falls, the next of our natural wonders. The waterfall is only a few miles from the barren dunes, yet provides a cool, noisy contrast that will refresh us from our adventure at the dunes. Both locales are prime examples of nature’s wonders. We will return to EZ tired but full of joyful memories.
Day 4 – A Castle in the Clouds
A short trip through winding logging roads will bring us to one of the strangest sights we’ve seen in all of our journeys: a medieval castle in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Bishop’s Castle is a shrine to obsession. The stones here were laid by the hands of one man: Jim Bishop. We’ll explore the castle and hopefully be able to talk to its builder- if he can spare the time. This will allow us to explore the wonder’s created by mankind.
During the afternoon you will have a choice. Activity I: If you would like a day of rest you are welcome to stay at the lodge, lounge around and take the afternoon to relax. Activity II: Part of the Boundless Expeditions philosophy is that the only footprints we should leave behind are acts of kindness. Why not take a day to help in a unique opportunity for ecological service. First we will learn about local wildlife at the Mountain Park Environmental Center. Then we will have the unique opportunity to help preserve it, through a beautification project in the park. The work will be challenging but the payoff priceless.
We’ll bring it all together around an evening bonfire with hardy conversation and yummy s’mores.
Day 5 – Rapid Wonders
Today is a day of wild water adventure. The numerous tributaries and streams that run down from the Rocky Mountains eventually form roaring, powerful rivers. We’ll spend a half-day whitewater rafting down the river responsible for carving the impressive Royal Gorge. On our trip we’ll be able to spot birds of prey and mountain goats as we navigate the Class II, III and IV rapids. Afterwards, we’ll travel back to a genuine 1950’s diner for delicious burgers and shakes at the aptly named Big Burger World.
Day 6– Mountain Views
Today we leave our lodge at EZ Yoke Ranch and head toward Colorado Springs. After settling into our new home for the remainder of the expedition, we will head out to the town of Woodland Park and have the opportunity to enjoy a casual lunch. In the afternoon, we will either, depending on the weather, hike to the hidden jewel of Red Rocks Park or a mountain trail into a beautiful mountain meadow. This will be a hiker’s dream day. We’ll finish off the day with a drive to the top of Pike’s Peak for a photo-ready sunset. America’s Mountain stands at 14,110 feet and became the symbols of Colorado’s Gold Rush. The evening meal will be all-you-can-eat pizza at Old Chicago certain to fill you up after this carb-burning day. For those who want, Colorado Springs is close by and you can enjoy an evening out or retire for the evening.
Day 7– Final Hurrah
We have had the time of our lives in Colorado. We have climbed mountains and dunes; rafted white waters and hiked beautiful trails; we discovered castles and experienced nature’s wonders at every turn. Our final morning will be spent visiting Manitou Springs, a cozy arts town at the foothills of the Rockies for some time to wind down. Our morning will close with a meal at a local Colorado Springs favorite, celebrating our pilgrimage in Colorado and dreaming about adventures ahead.
Your Guide
A little about your guide:
Jason Wendel
The travel bug first bit Jason at the turn of the new millennium when he left the U.S. for the first time. He spent the summer in Ireland leading trips with Wonder Voyage. Since then, he has traveled to 20+ countries leading trips and creating his own expeditions. Although Jason owns his own successful web design company, Flying Donut Media, his greatest love is the excitement of traveling the world and serving those who are less fortunate.
Where we are staying:
EZ Yoke Ranch
A mountain stream, ponderosa pine forests, meadows, hiking trails, and all the wonders of creation will meet you at the EZ Yoke Ranch in the heart of Colorado. The natural setting provides opportunities for activities such as hiking, bird watching, and a cool disc golf course. Quiet bedrooms, cozy lounging areas, a small library and separation from the everyday world will make this the ideal location for your Boundless Expedition.