Itinerary

This itinerary applies to both the Father/Son Challenge and the Father/Daughter Challenge

Wednesday:

All participants arrive by 10:00 a.m. at Montrose Municipal Airport, in Montrose, Colorado.

Gear is loaded into the waiting van for transportation to a local fishing and mountaineering store for any last minute purchases they may need to acquire, such as fishing licenses. If participants drive to Montrose, they'll meet the group at the store and leave their vehicles in the public parking near the store.

At 12:00 p.m. all guests pack up a Pinzgauer army vehicle and travel to the trail head. A boxed lunch will be provided during the trip to the trail head.

At the trail head everyone participates in unloading their gear and back packs, and pack the waiting and "ever-friendly" goats. NOTE: Goats carry a maximum limit of 50 lbs, 25lbs per pannier. Scales are provided to keep goat loads balanced and within the 50 lb. limit. Equipment over 50 lbs. and the back packs are carried by the participants up a short hike to the base camp area. Pay particular attention to the Packing List given for the Challenge. It will save you from a back ache later!

The hike to the base camp begins approximately at 1:00 p.m. Keep your cameras ready because you'll be greeted by some of the most beautiful and breathtaking scenery in the United States; and the goats can be entertaining too.

The group will set up the base camp by approximately 4:00 p.m. During and after the evening meal, each pair engages in an aerobie throwing competition, gathers fire wood, and prepares their sleeping arrangements.

At dark and around the fire, Randy Stanko, addresses the goals of this Father/Son(Daughter) Challenge and gives “the charge” to the fathers. Then he "charges" the sons and challenges the pairs with their specific purpose over the next five days. Each guest is given their Field Manual and is instructed on its use during the challenges.

Thursday:

Breakfast is 6:00 to 6:45 a.m. Each pair prepares their own breakfast (and lunch for that day's activities) and cleans up the kitchen area under the supervision of the outfitter-guide, Ken Hensen.

Orienteering class is held from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. Camp is secured for the day by 10 a.m. Animals are packed and the trail is hit by 10:30 a.m. The group works their way up the trail for three hours and sets up a temporary day-camp location.

A fishing clinic taught by Bob is held at approximately 2:00 p.m. where pairs are instructed in the art of fly fishing - as "a river runs thru it". The pairs spend the afternoon fishing; each pair may share only one fly rod. Departure back to the base camp is begun by 5:00 p.m.

Dinner is prepared by the wrangler, which includes the day's catch. A father/son(daughter) pair is selected to clean up, while the other guests gather fire wood for the night’s fire. The fireside sharing occurs before bedding down for the night.

Friday:

Breakfast is 6:00 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Each pair prepares their own breakfast (and lunch for that day's activities) and cleans up the kitchen area under the supervision of the outfitter-guide.

An archery class is held between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. by our archery instructor, Bob. It will be Bob's hand-made bows that will be used for the archery. The pairs engage in archery competition until lunch at 12:00.

At 2:00 p.m. individual pairs go on excursions to work on the field manual excersizes. Pairs may elect to take their goat or not, but are accessable to the therapist for coaching, and intervetion that empowers movement toward the goals for the five days.

Dinner is prepared while the guests again gather the firewood for the night. The camp fire talks include a look at scripture's viewpoint of a father/son(daughter) relationship. Fathers and sons share with the group some of the struggles that they've had over the years.

Saturday:

Breakfast is 6:00 to 6:45 a.m. Each pair prepares their own breakfast (and lunch for the trail) and cleans up the kitchen area under the supervision of the outfitter/wrangler. A bible study is held between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. by the therapist.

Packs are prepared, goats are packed, and the trail is hit by 9:30 a.m. Saturday's journey of two hours will be to the base of the cliffs for the days activities of climbing and repelling.

Fathers and sons will tackle the mountain together (no experience is necessary as our expert, Jessie, takes care of the training of each pair.) The cliffs are challenging, but they are reasonable. Some father's and sons will elect to climb together, while other father/son pairs will choose to climb and rappel in support of one another, and still others may choose only to climb or only to repell.

Return to base camp at about 6:00 p.m. Fathers alone prepair for the night's fireside sharing, and sons alone prepare for the night's fireside sharing. The fireside sharing time is focused on "Forgiveness" given to dads, and “The Blessing” dads give their son(daughter). A commencement ceremony closes the evening.

Sunday:

Breakfast is between 6:00 and 6:45 a.m. Breakfast is once again prepared and cleaned up by each pair under the supervision of the outfitter/wrangler.

Camp is broke and packed. We head down the trail to where we are picked up by the Pinzqauer at approximately 12:00 a.m. A boxed lunch will be provided on the trip back to the fly fishing and mountaineering store where any borrowed equipment is returned, and those who have driven can retrieve their vehicles.

Fathers and sons(daughters), who have flown in, are returned to the airport by 3:00 p.m. Some may have chosen to stay overnight in Montrose and they will be taken to their lodging.