We’ll depart from Heartland at 4:30 AM on Saturday (aka Crack-o-dark), July 15 and return to Heartland between 7 - 8 PM on Thursday, July 20.

Cost is $740 which includes all activities at camp, meals, transportation and lodging. It also includes your backpack and tent for the mountain campout (sleeping bags available by request). Deposit of $250 is required by May 31 to reserve your spot. Payment options are available, with final payment due on July 5. After initial registration and deposit, you can make payments via Heartland's online portal HERE. CLICK HERE to email Lisa Zulke with questions on payment options or financial assistance.

We will be traveling from Heartland to AEI Base Camp in a 15-passenger van. People may take turns driving, but according to the church’s insurance policy, no one under the age of 25 can drive. We will plan several stops along the way, but will keep our stopped time to a minimum in order to arrive at Base Camp before dark! The van will have a cooler to hold lunches so we can eat at a rest stop without standing in long lines. (If you are leaving a car at Heartland while we are gone, we will park along the north side of the building, in view of security cameras.)

AEI Base Camp is located in Almont, CO, near the Continental Divide. We will be sleeping at 10,000' elevation. The camp address is: AEI Base Camp 2 Illinois Creek Road Almont, CO 81210 (970) 641-4708 (for emergency use only) For more information about AEI, CLICK HERE.

Cell service isn’t great, and there is no wifi or cell reception at Base Camp. We will be very much “off the grid”. Let your people know in advance that you may not be able to get a call out every day. The emergency camp phone number is listed above, and can be used by anyone needing to reach you in a time of crisis. There are no electrical outlets in the cabins. The camp runs on solar and generator power, making this a GREAT opportunity to practice a tech fast! If using your phone as a camera, bring back up battery packs, fully charged. Use Airplane Mode as much as possible to save battery.

AEI is providing our meals . . . and they are pretty great! Keep in mind that they aren’t in a big city and do not have vending machines. If you have favorite snack foods, protein bars, or non-alcoholic beverages, please bring them! We are responsible for our own trail snacks. They will have a place for us to store those types of things out of the reach of critters. The water is cold and clear and delicious! Please bring a 2-liter Camelback unit, or a minimum of 2 1-liter water bottles. CLICK HERE to email Lisa Zulke so we can work with you to make necessary accommodations.

We will have some free time each day, typically right before or after meals. This is a connection and spiritual growth retreat. Our time is pretty focused on ADVENTURE, so we will be on the go most of every day. We will be backpacking and camping on the mountain two nights. (The camp provides high quality backpacks, fitted to each person. You will only need to bring a day pack.) In the evening we will have group gatherings in the chapel or around the campfire, with teaching, discussion and prayer. A more detailed schedule will be shared prior to departure. A variety of ROAM leaders will be sharing the teaching, discussion and prayer leadership, along with our AEI guide staff.

Base Camp is an incredible facility at the base of the Collegiate Peaks on the western side. Our early activities will take place at camp, including team building and hiking. We try to offer opportunity the first couple days to adjust to life at altitude. Remember to hydrate double what you normally would in advance . . . this will make life at altitude much more enjoyable! We will leave camp for our backpacking and camping portion, and eat dinner made over the campfire.

AEI Base Camp sits right on the continental divide, so it’s a lot higher than Kansas City. In the weeks leading up to the trip, PLEASE do all that you can to start preparing your body for the altitude. We want you to be able to enjoy every minute of the trip and not be dealing with altitude sickness. We have planned our activities for the first two days to help us acclimate (not a lot of altitude gain). Here’s what we suggest for altitude preparation as a “flatlander”: • Start drinking a LOT more water, especially the week of the trip. If you know you have issues with altitude sickness, you may want to discuss options with your doctor (Rx or over the counter). We also have several people who use an herbal beverage mix called Acclimate. You can order it on Amazon. Nothing can prepare you better than NOT being dehydrated going into the trip. • Amp up your cardio (get yourself breathing heavily several times per week; intervals are great - a few minutes of an activity at a higher speed alternating with a few minutes of a more normal pace). Also begin adding weight to your backpack/water pack until you are able to do a long hike/walk with up to 40 lbs by July. We will begin a series of optional (but very fun!) training power walks, hikes, hill repeats and strength training meet ups. These typically run May 1 through the week before we leave, after work or on weekends.

Please see the packing list from AEI for a specific list. Below are a few additional reminders and things to consider. • LAYERS!! Including good rain gear (jacket or poncho) and hat/gloves (we may be out in the evenings and it can get pretty chilly; we will also be up early the day of our peak assault - early morning is usually the coldest). Tech fabrics work better than cotton, as they keep moisture away from your skin. • Water bottle(s) and/or hydration pack, you will need at least 2 liters with you for the long hike. Many people opt for a hydration pack which can hold a larger amount of water as well as have pockets for snacks or layers. In past years people have found off brand packs at Aldi so be sure to check out your options. • Swimsuit, towel. If you have a camping towel (kind of like a yoga towel or shammy) it will dry out better than a traditional towel. • Hiking boots & good hiking socks (if you’ve recently purchased hiking boots, be sure to break them in so you don’t get blisters). It is possible to hike in trail runners or running shoes if you don’t want to invest in hiking boots just for this trip. *AEI requires close-toed shoes around camp, but you can bring flip-flops for around the cabin. • Sleeping bag, blanket and pillow. The beds do have a twin mattress, but since we’re only there for four nights, they recommend just bringing a sleeping bag with an extra blanket for the chilly evenings. For backpacking, you will want lightweight gear. AEI has backpacking sleeping bags that you can rent to use on the mountain. • HEADLAMP - we may be doing some activities after dark and you’ll need to see what you’re doing. Headlamps are easily borrowed or bought. You might want to have a set of extra batteries, too. (You can also bring a flashlight, but headlamps are great!) • Bible and journal. (We will provide a trip journal if you prefer to use this, too.) • Ear plugs (if you’re a light sleeper). • Battery powered fan (if you’re a hot sleeper). • Any medications or personal items you think you might need, including feminine hygiene products. Altitude can change how your body reacts, so be prepared. AEI has emergency medical supplies, but participants need to bring their own medications, etc. • Money for other incidentals. AEI has a “store” where you can purchase t-shirts, etc. At the end of our stay at camp, we will also collect money for a tip for the AEI guides who have led us all week. Cash is best for the tips.

$30-100, depending on your preferences! We will have access to the AEI camp store that has great tshirts, hats, hoodies and stickers. They take cash or credit card. Each person is responsible for meals the drive. In addition, we may have an afternoon in a nearby town for a change of pace and a meal out. We invite all participants to chip-in on a personal tip for our guide staff. This is an optional and confidential contribution that you will drop in an envelope in the cabins prior to our departure.