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:
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Camp at sunset
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Looking toward the peak ahead
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The “Board Room” at Sapphire Lake
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The team, heading for the Peak!
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Entering the Chamberlain Basin
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Climbing toward the last rays of sun
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Lake contemplation
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Sam likes his fish al dente
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Climbing above Cirque Lake
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YES!
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Arun, enjoying an alpine bath
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Lunch break siesta on a big day
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The team after crossing the last of 7 passes on the route
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Blazing their own trails, Bryce and Sam point the way toward the future
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8 hours into an 11 hour trek on day 6
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heading for the summit of D.O. Lee Peak
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morning beauty
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Taking a break on the loose descent off the pass
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Summit brain storm
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The team, above Boulder Chain Lakes
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The team, atop White Cloud Peak #9
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Loving the exposure high on the peak
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Joe and Bryce discussing options for the day ahead
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Bryce, siesta at the 1st pass
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The beauty of each camp was unique
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The rock glacier above Cirque Lake is one of the few living glaciers left in Idaho
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Climbing toward the magical land of peaks, lakes and the ancient White Bark Pines in the White Cloud Mountains
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morning Yoga
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Reflection on the day
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Serene beauty in it’s natural form
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Sharing humor
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Summit Stoke!
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Evening light
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Most mornings began with yoga and/or a meditation
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Wild, Sublime, Beauty
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Climbing from one place of magic to another
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Climbing out of Little Boulder Basin
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Arun, enjoying the exposure
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Straight from the source, Tsechu fills a bottle from the snout of a rock glacier
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Unbridled Joy!
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2 legs and a pack among ancient sea beds and a living rock rock glacier at 11,000′
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Many fish were caught, providing tasty nutrition along the trek.
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Sam collapses under his book
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Alex, feeling the immensity of it.
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The Doctor, back in his element
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The magic of a secluded camp deep in the mountains
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Foot wash mid day
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The team atop Cheese Grater
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We began the trek at Coyote Yurt, deemed the “air lock”, serving as the acclimatization zone for the wild ahead
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Tsechu, always smiling
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Pass #4
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Boulder hopping between the Boulder Chain Lakes
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Tsechu, feeling the air beneath her feet
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Castle Peak
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Dropping down into the Boulder Chain lakes
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Gazing toward our home for the night
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Morning yoga
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Clean lines in the White Clouds
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Arun, lunch contemplation
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a point in nature
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Joe, employing a rope for the descent
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Sunset/moonrise
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Climbing the final granite slabs toward the “Cheese Grater” pass
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Tsechu, bargaining with the bars
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The 1st steps up into the Boulder Mountains
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Stoked to make the pass, Castle Peak in the background
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Focus on the final climb to the pass
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Pass #3
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Alex, grazing on route
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Adrift in thought
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Yahoo, the team atop the summit!
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Arun, psyched to to be high and exposed
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Bryce, in his element
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mmm, a swim and then a some fish for dinner…
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presenting new ideas
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Each evening, ideas related to the wild, entrepeneurship and making of a better worls were shared, discussed and debated
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the team, deep.
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Sam, adrift in the wild
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Heading over into Karma Basin on the dark side of the Boulder Mountains
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Castle Peak Board Room
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Contemplating the wild, deep in the Boulder Mountains
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Rugged country, no trail and lots of potential
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heading toward “Cheese Grater” pass
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Our 1st trail sign in 16 days was found at the very end of our trek, how fitting.
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Long shadow trek
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