Backpacking

Rocky Mountain Adventure

June 19-26, 2027
Buena Vista, CO
Challenging
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Trip Overview

This is a 8-day (10 days with travel) backpacking adventure and an excellent opportunity to experience the wonder of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, challenging yourself to a week-long backpacking adventure that is sure to be a life-long memory!

At a Glance
June 19-26, 2027
Buena Vista, CO
Anyone
Challenging
Tents
$950
Trip Details

This is a 8-day backpacking adventure (10 days with travel) for individuals who want a backpacking adventure and an excellent opportunity to experience the wonder of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, challenging yourself to a week-long backpacking adventure that is sure to be a life-long memory!

Wild Hearts will provide all necessary equipment, food for the week and guides.  We will also provide transportation out there and back, some training before the trip. Participants will be responsible for bringing appropriate clothing and food/money for food on the way there and back.

This backpacking trip will be done as a complete group, moving at the pace necessary for the whole group. We will utilize 2-person tents, we will be cooking together, and we will have the opportunity to summit two 14,000'+ peak if conditions permit.

This trip is for anyone looking for a mountain adventure! This promises to be an amazing adventure for those who are up for some mountain fun!

Additional info (this itinerary is "Plan A" and subject to change):
  • We generally leave very early Saturday morning from the Twin Cities area. Usually, we want to depart no later than 5am. This allows us to arrive in the Denver area somewhere around 6:30pm Mountain time that same day.
  • We stay in a hotel in the Denver area Saturday night. We will have 2-4 people stay in each room.
  • We will get all the gear ready for backpacking in the hotel parking lot early Sunday morning and then head out to our trailhead destination.
  • We will do a 3-day backing excursion.
  • We will then come out and head to another destination.
  • We will spend another 3 days backpacking.
  • We will attempt to summit a 14,000' peak for those that desire to do so.
  • On Friday, we will head out of the mountains, travel beyond Denver and spend the night in a hotel near Sterling, CO.
  • We will arrive home Friday evening.
**If you are NOT traveling with us from the Twin Cites area of Minnesota but, instead, are meeting the group in the Denver area:
  • Please plan on meeting us at the hotel on Saturday evening to be with and stay with the group that night.
  • If you are flying into Denver, please allow plenty of time in case there are delays with your flight. At the very minimum, you NEED to meet us at the hotel on Sunday morning no later that 7:00am.
  • Please plan on making arrangements to get to the hotel. It can be difficult timing to pick people up at the airport.
  • You will be back in Denver on Friday afternoon. Please plan your departure flight accordingly. We have to allow for extra travel time out of the mountains in the case of bad weather or traffic issues (an accident in the mountains can back up traffic for a few hours).

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We will have Zoom meetings prior to the trip to discuss these details and many other items and questions you may have.

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Documents
Important stuff will show up here when needed and when available! Check back often if you are going on an adventure with us because there could be some really, super-important stuff here. No, really, it could be the kind of stuff that decides whether you have a great trip or not like... oh, a list of things to pack, for example. That could be crucial. Actually, there's no "could" in that... it's definitely crucial.
Participant Waiver of Liability and Expectations Agreement
This is a required document to be signed by the participant or guardian before your upcoming trip. (.pdf download)
Participant Agreement & Liability Agreement
You agree to these expectations on our adventure and must sign this liability agreement.
Meet Your Guides

Paul Lanhart

Lead Guide

I started Wild Hearts because of a longing to reach out to those who have struggled with substance abuse and other destructive life choices to help them rebuild relationships with their families and with God. My desire to do this through wilderness experiences comes from a life-long love of the outdoors nurtured by my parents’ many family camping and canoeing trips. I now share this passion with my wife of 44 years, Pam and our four children, Diana, Andy, Jake and Nikki. I am also blessed with 10 grandchildren that I can share the beauty of God’s creation with!

I am an experienced outdoorsman and have led numerous trips to the Rocky Mountains, the BWCA, St. Croix River, the Appalachian Trail and many of our state parks and forests. Along with wilderness adventures, I love kayaking, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, home projects, watching movies, video games and VR gaming/videos.  I am also a commissioned pastor with The River Fellowship and a tech nerd.

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Nikki Lanhart

Guide

Nikki has a genuine interest in and cares deeply for people from all walks of life!  She also loves to explore and is an avid outdoorswoman.  

Nikki has extensive experience, not only personally, but also leading groups in the mountains of Colorado and the North woods of Minnesota.  She also backpacked 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail in 31 days.  We’re very fortunate (and so are you) to have Nikki helping guide our women’s and mixed-group trips!

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Adventure is calling but you can call Adventure!  952-807-3121