For the past 13 years, we have had had the great privilege of guiding the Deep Wilderness Experience for the Wild Gift, a local non profit dedicated to supporting better world entrepreneurs through mentor-ship, project funding and instilling a deep ethic of the wild. Each year, a class of recipients (known as Gifters) is selected from an ever growing pool of inspirational applicants who have begun social and environmental ventures. The 2016 class included 5 Gifters with varied and amazing projects across the globe and all related to this year’s theme on Climate Change including:
Dr. Arun Gupta: Who is developing ground breaking solar panels with his company, Skyven Technologies designed to capture thermal energy used to heat, process foods and for industrial applications.
Bryce Andrews: Rancher, writer and deep thinker, Bryce is beginning a non-profit educational institution: Swallow Tail Foundation, dedicated to critical evaluation of how to better ranching and farming in the West.
Tsechu Dolma: Growing up in a Tibetan refugee camp in Nepal, Tsechu Dolma recognized the need for developing sustainable solutions for the mountain people of the Himalaya. Her venture, the Mountain Resiliency Project , is dedicated to creating viable communities in these rugged and remote landscapes.
Sam Teicher: Has founded a company: Coral Vita, dedicated toward restoring threatened coral reefs by growing and replanting local endangered corals on degraded reefs worldwide.
Alex Wankel: Has begun a new social enterprise, Pachukuti Foods, to create markets for rare Andean superfoods while supporting farmers and protecting agro-biodiversity. Alex strives to tap into the huge potential of rare and underutilized crops by creating innovative new products that are uniquely natural, delicious, healthy, and good for the world.
Enjoy these pictures of our 18 days trekking deep in the wilds of Idaho with SVT guide, Joe St.Onge, and Wild Gift Facilitator, Raj Vable, and click on the links above to find out more about the Wild Gift and these phenomenal ventures:
-
-
Castle Peak Board Room
-
-
Castle Peak
-
-
The team, atop White Cloud Peak #9
-
-
Taking a break on the loose descent off the pass
-
-
Climbing above Cirque Lake
-
-
Joe and Bryce discussing options for the day ahead
-
-
Clean lines in the White Clouds
-
-
Straight from the source, Tsechu fills a bottle from the snout of a rock glacier
-
-
Climbing toward the last rays of sun
-
-
Focus on the final climb to the pass
-
-
2 legs and a pack among ancient sea beds and a living rock rock glacier at 11,000′
-
-
8 hours into an 11 hour trek on day 6
-
-
heading for the summit of D.O. Lee Peak
-
-
The team atop Cheese Grater
-
-
Heading over into Karma Basin on the dark side of the Boulder Mountains
-
-
Tsechu, feeling the air beneath her feet
-
-
Climbing toward the magical land of peaks, lakes and the ancient White Bark Pines in the White Cloud Mountains
-
-
Reflection on the day
-
-
Camp at sunset
-
-
Climbing the final granite slabs toward the “Cheese Grater” pass
-
-
mmm, a swim and then a some fish for dinner…
-
-
Evening light
-
-
Climbing out of Little Boulder Basin
-
-
Our 1st trail sign in 16 days was found at the very end of our trek, how fitting.
-
-
Climbing from one place of magic to another
-
-
The team after crossing the last of 7 passes on the route
-
-
Pass #3
-
-
Each evening, ideas related to the wild, entrepeneurship and making of a better worls were shared, discussed and debated
-
-
Loving the exposure high on the peak
-
-
Unbridled Joy!
-
-
Contemplating the wild, deep in the Boulder Mountains
-
-
Entering the Chamberlain Basin
-
-
The team, heading for the Peak!
-
-
the team, deep.
-
-
-
YES!
-
-
Blazing their own trails, Bryce and Sam point the way toward the future
-
-
Gazing toward our home for the night
-
-
presenting new ideas
-
-
morning Yoga
-
-
Pass #4
-
-
The beauty of each camp was unique
-
-
Tsechu, always smiling
-
-
Boulder hopping between the Boulder Chain Lakes
-
-
We began the trek at Coyote Yurt, deemed the “air lock”, serving as the acclimatization zone for the wild ahead
-
-
Many fish were caught, providing tasty nutrition along the trek.
-
-
Rugged country, no trail and lots of potential
-
-
Dropping down into the Boulder Chain lakes
-
-
heading toward “Cheese Grater” pass
-
-
Adrift in thought
-
-
Arun, enjoying an alpine bath
-
-
a point in nature
-
-
Summit Stoke!
-
-
Long shadow trek
-
-
Wild, Sublime, Beauty
-
-
Tsechu, bargaining with the bars
-
-
Sunset/moonrise
-
-
Sam collapses under his book
-
-
Looking toward the peak ahead
-
-
The Doctor, back in his element
-
-
Summit brain storm
-
-
Foot wash mid day
-
-
Lunch break siesta on a big day
-
-
Arun, lunch contemplation
-
-
Sam, adrift in the wild
-
-
Yahoo, the team atop the summit!
-
-
Morning yoga
-
-
Sharing humor
-
-
Bryce, siesta at the 1st pass
-
-
Bryce, in his element
-
-
Arun, psyched to to be high and exposed
-
-
The magic of a secluded camp deep in the mountains
-
-
The “Board Room” at Sapphire Lake
-
-
The rock glacier above Cirque Lake is one of the few living glaciers left in Idaho
-
-
Joe, employing a rope for the descent
-
-
Sam likes his fish al dente
-
-
Stoked to make the pass, Castle Peak in the background
-
-
The team, above Boulder Chain Lakes
-
-
The 1st steps up into the Boulder Mountains
-
-
Most mornings began with yoga and/or a meditation
-
-
Alex, feeling the immensity of it.
-
-
Alex, grazing on route
-
-
Arun, enjoying the exposure
-
-
Lake contemplation
-
-
morning beauty
-
-
Serene beauty in it’s natural form
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.