It’s mid-summer, and runners on the Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous stumble off the dusty August trails physically depleted and parched, yet carrying that blissed-out affect only hours of alpine running can impart. Fortunately for their bodies, these runners find themselves at Aspire basecamp, a place where TLC flows like the glacier-fed Nooksack River we’re camped along .
The Ice Cream Social
The Aspire crew prides themselves on their playful and multi-dimensional approach to runner support. Attention to the little details creates the ideal setting for the recovering runner. The crew has a few tricks up their sleeve to bring bodies in line with spirits and minds, including often incorporating an element of surprise.
While magicians cannot reveal all their secrets, we will let you in on just one: the delight of hand-turned ice cream, this past August topped with grilled peaches and candied walnuts. If this sounds like an outrageous offering to partake in on an 85 degree day in the remote depths of the North Cascades, that’s because it is. Outrageously delicious.
Backcountry ice cream is ephemeral by nature, demanding it be eaten in the moment or else be lost to the harsh realities of summer. This insistence brings everyone together. Eating dessert becomes an act of joy. Runners line up for seconds and the experience becomes the gel that defines a community.
Recovery can mean a lot of things, and watching runners forget about their tired bodies and buzz with anticipation at the pleasure of satisfying treats motivates the Aspire squad to keep the surprises coming. Aspire Rendezvous trips offer unique opportunities to get to know a region intimately on daily runs of self-selected mileage and come back to an elevated basecamp for relaxation and connection… and if you’re lucky, ice cream.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your own ice cream social we highly recommend this recipe from Melissa Clark and the New York Times.
Join Aspire for a Rendezvous and experience the magic of mountain running parties that center exploration and a playful aprés culture.
All in for the handmade ice cream? Experience it on one of our North Cascades Rendezvous:
Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous
Three Devils Rendezvous
Curious what other surprises we’re holding on to? Join our community on any of our Rendezvous trips to experience our elevated basecamp approach:
Sucia Island Rendezvous
Ross Lake Rally
Cypress Island Beach Camp and Trail Running Extravaganza
Territory Run Camp
Stehekin Rendezvous
Trent Banks is a mountain runner, a disc jockey, and father of two daughters, based out of Bellingham, WA. He joined the Aspire crew in 2018. When not guiding trips with the Aspire crew, you can find him at work on Aspire’s marketing or DJing clubs and hosting events with Reflect.
Listen to his Spirit Ventures DJ mix series, inspired by and made for trail running.