Exactly WHAT is glamping?
The Aspire basecamp is inspired by the culture of trekking in the Alps. European huts allow for a different kind of wilderness experience. Knowing there is a basecamp with full amenities at the end of your day means not only comfort, warmth, and a good night’s rest, but sometimes the important difference between safely pushing the limit and a dangerous epic. Aspire reproduces the European model with a playful combination of amenities and aprés- culture that allows runners to connect over shared adventure in incredible wilderness spaces.
One of the main reasons so many runners come back to do trips with Aspire year after year is our next-level base camps. Our approach is a time-tested collection of details and creature comforts that sets the stage for recovery, relaxation and new friendships.
The Aspire Menu
You know that moment… you’re nearing the end of a long run (or maybe you just started) when all the delicious food you could be eating takes over your thoughts, with dreams of immaculate feasts overwhelming the mountain views. Yet often, post-run trailhead noms don’t progress beyond the bag of potato chips or trail mix stashed in the car.
Entry into Aspire basecamp is a different scene. Colorful appetizer spreads await runners stumbling in from the days journey. Don’t be surprised by the jar of homemade pickles or the figs from the garden. Fresh capresé? Check. We like good food and we like to share.
Meals continue the trend: Steak with summer veggies, salmon with rice pilaf and asparagus, Sierra bowls, and the famous Aspire tacos… this is not your standard trailhead menu.
Have a special requests for specific drinks, foods, or dietary needs? Say the word. Don’t eat meat? No problem. Allergic to peanuts? No problem. Craving strawberries? They’ll be at camp that evening.
Food at basecamp strikes a perfect balance between recovery focused backcountry food and the truly gourmet.
Recovery
Glamping with Aspire means everything needed to recover from time on trail and prepare for the next day. When you have to wake up the next morning and tackle another big distance, you’ll be glad for the comfort and care you were able to give your body the night before.
Runners often finish the first day of a big trip like the Wonderland Trail and think they’re spent. They couldn’t possibly wake up and do it all over again the next day.
Time to unzip our camp care kit. Theraguns and foam rollers work the tension out of tired muscles.
Blisters? Our team of Wilderness First Responder certified guides is ready with our foot care kit and expert advice on blister management. Tomorrow isn’t only possible, but it’s going to be awesome!
Comfort
One word: SHOWERS! Yes, the backcountry shower is real, alive, and unbelievable refreshing. Warm water and soap go a surprisingly long ways towards revitalizing and rejuvenating.
Add to that our heaters and walled tents, and even the coldest alpine summer evenings are comfortable.
It’s not just about comfort. Being able to put the walls on our tents helps keep us warm and dry if the weather turns. The heaters don’t just warm up cold runners, they also dry out wet gear for the next day’s miles.
Connection
It’s been said that friendship is a history of shared meals… we extend that concept to miles, campfires, and sunsets. Aspire trips feature a healthy dose of all of the above, converging at basecamp. Not much beats recounting the days adventures and swapping mountain stories over beers, ciders or yes, margaritas.
Topped off with dessert, and you’ll find yourself feeling restored on mind, body, and soul levels.
We may not have European style huts in the US, but running a trip with Aspire is probably the next best thing. We bring your bags to camp for you, cook for you, and light up the campfire, all while leaving no trace. Everything in the Aspire model is designed to help runners achieve their goals out in deep wilderness with maximum enjoyment. It’s more fun this way. The food’s tastier, the beers are colder, the wilderness is wilder, and your big backcountry objectives are now within reach.
by Aspire guides Ian Carroll & Trent Banks
Check out our “What to Pack Blog” for details on what to to show up to Aspire trips with.