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