The Aspire experience follows a predictable pattern: (1) a gathering of motivated runners, (2) incredible trail days discovering wild landscapes, and (3) celebratory finishes with incredible food and libations. For years we have witnessed the laughter, exhaustion, friendships, and joy of runners who share in this cycle of community and connection. As the world emerges from physical isolation and digitally mediated communication, we are fully embracing a return to community with the announcement of a new trip “style,” the Rendezvous trips.
To rendezvous is to gather, and we’re going for it with gusto. While still following our traditional trip pattern, we are bringing a more festive and celebratory emphasis to this new category of trips. Running as an exploration of deep and inspiring wilderness trails remains the core of each Rendezvous, but we’re expanding this offering with increased basecamp amenities, more runners, live music, and special presenters with interactive discussions to ground each trip in a deeper sense of place and history. In designing these experiences, connection is our mantra, and a clear reverberating community is our goal.
To really get a feel for the Rendezvous experience, picture a central and static basecamp against a backdrop of deep emerald lakes and glacial rivers. Surrounding this camp are countless miles of trails. Gathered to this location is a tribe of 30 or so runners who for the next several days will become friends as you run, summit, swim, eat, revel, and repeat this shared exploration of mountains. Each night you’ll return to basecamp to recover, reflect, and to rock out. In short, Rendezvous are a celebration and expansion of the trail, ultra, and mountain loving culture.
Locations
We have 4 trips that we’re launching as Rendezvous for 2021. These trips have been on the calendar all year, but with the pandemic on the decline, we’ve upgraded each of these trips to full Rendezvous status.
The “Three Devils Rendezvous” is a 3-day trip based out of the Colonial Creek Campground on Diablo Lake. Lakeside camping augmented by runs up three separate breathtaking North Cascade peaks.
“Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous” is based in the emerald Nooksack river valley on the North side of Mt. Baker, and offers daytime excursions on the flanks of the Cascade volcano and its surrounding high country.
“Stehekin” is based out of the Stehekin Valley Lodge in the remote North Cascades town of Stehekin. Access to world class running from the Stehekin Valley and along Lake Chelan is coupled with the rustic opulence of cowboy coffee and baked goods, warm fires and camaraderie.
“Territory Run Camp”, now in its fourth year, also falls into the Rendezvous category. This September trip is based out of the Mt. Baker Mountaineers Lodge, offering access to alpine meadows and lakes in the throes of autumn colors. Due to shared indoor lodging, this trip is a tentative yes. Aspire will evaluate guidelines as the event approaches, with the decision to operate based on confidence that the event can be held safely.
“Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” Mileage
ALL levels of all ability and motivation are welcome. If a high mileage objective is what you are after, it’s there for you. Meanwhile, multiple daily route options provide the flexibility of a “choose your own adventure” approach, making Rendezvous perfect for training runs or runners looking for low mileage days. Aspire shuttles spiral out from basecamp to the nearby trailheads, the rides out filled with anticipation and the return trips filled with stories.
Rendezvous provide a unique opportunity for ride-alongs. Family and friends who camp with us while their runners head out for trail miles have the opportunity to relax in camp or hop in the shuttle to experience the trails in their own way.
Good Eats!
As always, days are bookended with the delicious meals that are cornerstone to every Aspire basecamp. Cue the berry-laden french toast, grilled salmon, and fresh vegetable sautees; vitality is plated up, served warm and in full color.
On Rendezvous trips, basecamp springs to life around evening meal time with spirited additions to Aspire’s usual après culture. Runners can expect fireside songs and good conversation. You’ll find the coolers well stocked for the occasion, with regional beers, wines and non-alcoholic options to help the conversation flow.
Mountain Programming
Mountain recreation as we know it exists as part of a broader context. Generations of indiginous stewards, conservation activists, naturalists, poets, and mountaineers have put in the sweat equity and hard work of advocating and honoring the places where we play. When we lace up and hit the dirt, we are participating in a lineage of mountain culture and connection with nature worth exploring, celebrating and participating in. On a Rendezvous trip, expect presentations that explore the history of alpine recreation, honor indiginous roots and stewardship, dig into regional ecology and history, and explore ways that our community can give back to the places we play.
Add musical performances and sing-a-longs lead by musicians who share a connection to nature, and the recipe is there for mountain parties steeped in great conversation and soul connections.
Covid Appropriate
We believe now is the perfect time to introduce trips focused on connection and community. The apprehension and struggles of the past twelve months have been challenging for all. What better antidote than a safely executed mountain gathering with a focus on interaction and celebration?
Aspire’s record of success and leadership regarding outdoor guiding and pandemic safety during the 2020 season will continue to inform our operations. Since the early days of the pandemic, studies have shown cases of outdoor transmission are rare. Recent data further supports this, suggesting outdoor transmission to be as low or lower than .1%.
As vaccination rates increase, updates from the CDC continue to flow in. As of time of writing, the CDC has updated guidelines to now state that “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting”. At this news, we recently opened up an additional 15 spots on our Sucia Island Trail Running and Beach Camp Extravaganza coming up June 4-6. These current trends bode well for the 2021 season and we are leaning in.
Trail Friends are the Best Friends
The Aspire staff spends hundreds of hours together with runners during the summer season. Over the years, they’ve developed a saying: “Trail friends are the best friends.” With the addition of the Rendezvous trip style, we extend the opportunity to develop new friendships and deepen old ones over trail miles, meals, fire and shared culture. We look forward to the connection that comes from the combination of physical challenge, relaxation and celebration in the mountains with you and your trail friends. See you out there!
Follow our IG and Facebook for updates to our pandemic protocols and news on programming on Rendezvous.