Back country BOYS BackPack Colorado
TRAIL GUIDE

We have designed the Back Country Expedition to be small and personal. With only 6 father/son pairs, our aim is to come alongside you as purposefully and intentionally as possible, helping you to craft the experience for your son. Some of you are using this trip to launch into his "Man Year." Others are utilizing it as the culmination of the process. And still others are somewhere in between.

In preparation for the trip, we will be setting up a few video conferencing calls to allow you to meet some of the other Back Country participants and also share a little about you and your son prior to the trip. Together we will plot a course for you and your son, gather information from you on your hopes and desires, and help create an experience neither of you will ever forget.

It is easy for us men to get caught up in the practicals and logistics and lose sight of the heart. As you prepare for this summer's trip, we encourage you to take significant time to address your own life and story as you simultaneously think about your son's. An experience like this is meant to augment the fathering you are already doing, acting like an exclamation point on the end of your fathering sentence. Do not lose sight of the bigger story for yourself or for him.

As this is a back country trip, each person needs a significant amount of gear. This website contains a list of recommended items to bring. Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and backpacks can be rented from Restoration Project if needed. Email jesse@restorationproject.net to coordinate this gear rental.

You are responsible to make sure the gear you bring is functional and light enough to carry on high-mountain trails! Also, temperatures will dip down to 40 degrees even in July, so pack clothing accordingly.

There is much more to come in the months ahead. We look forward to journeying with you and your son through the wilderness and into his manhood!

If you haven’t already, you will soon be receiving an opportunity to download a free digital copy of the book, “Man Maker Project” written by one of our co-founders, Chris Bruno. Our hope is that you become familiar with the categories and concepts in the book. The expedition will not walk only through the book step-by-step, but we will be referring to it often.

As you read, begin to formulate your thoughts and desires regarding your son's passage process. What do you want to focus on with him? What characteristics are important to you, and how will you address them? Who will you have in your company of men? You don't need to have this all completed by the time we hit the trail, but it's a good idea to have a formulation in mind so you can engage your son accordingly.

Additionally, you will notice how often we refer to "Your Story." While this passage process is about your son, it starts with you finding healing in your own life and story. Before we head out to the woods, please spend some significant time reflecting on your own father-story. What aspects of your heart have been well cared for? What aspects have been wounded? The more you seek healing in these areas, the more you will be free to intentionally father your son. If you need resources (i.e. books, counselors, etc.) to aid in this process, please let us know.

Finally, do not be afraid to create anticipation and mystery for your son. Let him know you what you are working on, thinking about, and planning. Tell him about the trip, and involve him in the planning process. He will be thrilled!

Back Country Colorado will begin at 7 am on the morning of July 21st. Because of this we recommend all out of state participants to arrive in Fort Collins, CO by the evening of July 20th.

We will be leaving together from Fort Collins (exact location TBA), packing everyone and all our gear into a few vans. You will meet the guides, do a safety check and run-through of all gear, and pack efficiently and lightly. Traveling together will offer us the opportunity to get to know one another before we hit the trail. We will then gear up and get the first few miles in once we arrive at the trailhead. We will not be back to civilization until the late afternoon of July 25th. Please plan accordingly. You will be able to leave your car at our departing location.

As you know, this experience is a 4-night, 5-day excursion into the wilderness. Each day we will be hiking between 3-5 miles, discovering beautiful mountain lakes, summiting beautiful vistas, and enjoying all the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains.

This year, our expedition will be in the Zirkels. This beautiful area is located west of Walden and east of Steamboat, and boasts of some of the most fantastic vistas in all of Colorado. We will be hiking the Lone Pine Trail up to Bighorn Lake and Katherine Lake. We have mapped out our days, and have divided them up to maximize our time together as a group, as well as having significant time just for father-son engagement. Feel free to do your own research on this area, as well as visit this site:

http://www.mountzirkelwilderness.com/pages/mountzirkelwilderness/lone_pine_trail.htm

Please keep in mind this area is remote, and there will be no cell reception. Be good men and let your wives and significant others know where you will be, and when they can expect to hear from you. We do have experienced trail guides trained in first aid and wilderness emergencies.

We will be providing you with an emergency number to leave with your loved ones in case of emergency in the front-country. They will be able to reach us if needed. But tell them to assume no news is good news.

Please note: We've included recommended amounts of clothing so your pack is not too heavy. Remember that more clothes = more weight. All food and cooking items will be provided. We will all share the load in carrying them, but you do not need to bring anything unless you have special needs or desires!

Camping Gear:

Tent (for you and your son)
Sleeping bag (32 degree rating or better)
Sleeping pad
Backpack
Lightweight camp chair
Trekking poles (optional)

Clothing:

2 Moisture-wicking T-shirts
2 Moisture-wicking pairs underwear
1 Quick-drying pants/shorts
1 Long-sleeve shirts (for sun, bugs)
Sun-shielding hat
Swimsuits (there are lakes)
Hiking Boots/shoes - Make sure these are NOT NEW (at leaset 2-3 months old and broken in)
Socks (synthetic or wool) - NO COTTON SOCKS PLEASE!!
1 Insulating jacket or vest (i.e. fleece)
Warm hat
Rainwear (jacket and pants)
Water sandals
Warm gloves

Personal Items:

Refillable 1L water bottles
Bandanas (useful for many things
Multi-tool/knife
Headlamps/flashlights
Extra batteries
Reusable coffee mug/cup (1 each person)
Bowl and/or plate (1 each person)
Spoon/fork/spork (1 each person)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Hand sanitizer
Eyeglasses/contact lenses if needed
Prescription medications if needed
Toothbrush
Toiletry kit
Eye-mask for sleeping
Earplugs for sleeping
Camera
Notebook and pen/pencil
Bible
Fishing gear for trout fishing (if desired)
Fishing license (for over 16 only)
A sense of humor and adventure!

While our days will not be overly strenuous hiking distance wise (3-5 miles), we will be at 10,000 feet elevation and carrying ~50 pound packs. Because of this it's important for participants to be in good physical condition.