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You are invited to come for a weekend of fun and adventure! Bring your favorite gear and tent. Sign up as a two-person team or come alone and be matched with another adventurous person.  You will learn how to survive this challenge hike and camp-out for whatever winter weather conditions the mountain throws at us for this weekend!
Teams of two will be challenged to complete the Peaks of Otter 12-mile hike.  The Peaks of Otter is an impressive trio of mountains and is known as one of seven natural wonders of the Blue Ridge. The 3 Peaks of Otter are Flat Top (4004 ft.), Sharp Top (3875 ft.) and Harkening Hill (3375 ft.).  The team will then set up a winter camp in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and spend the night out in the elements.

Cold Weather Survival Skills

  • Safety/winter weather safety
  • How to avoid hypothermia/frostbite
  • What to Pack
  • How to pack for your trip
  • 4-layer winter clothing principle

  • Building a shelter
  • Building a fire
  • Cooking food outdoors over a fire
  • Finding and managing water in the winter

Must be in reasonable physical, mental and emotional shape, be able to walk/hike uphill on uneven terrain, and be willing to endure adverse weather conditions* during this hike and overnight camping trip.  A packing list will be provided.

*Weather is not predictable so expect to be flexible/adaptable.

Your Survival Guides

Wilderness Guide, Certified Firearms Instructor

Jason Wood

Jason is the Founder of Cloud and Fire Outdoors, a firearms training and wilderness survival school. He has been a wilderness guide for over 20 years guiding hundreds of people from all over the world to the most remote and pristine wilderness areas in North America. He specializes in guiding people on adventures to see and photograph Coastal Brown Bears in Alaska. While guiding, Jason has led groups on ski-in adventures sleeping in igloos on the frozen Canadian Shield while being serenaded to sleep by howling timberwolves.  Diving into icy whitewater to keep rafts from drifting into fishing grizzly bears and chasing hungry black bears out of camp on wilderness canoe trips, is just another day at the office for Jason.  He has led groups over the Rocky Mountains, through the slot canyons of the South West, and across the granite monoliths of the Sierra Nevada’s. Jason also has years of experience in ministry in the US and Honduras as an ordained Christian Minister. He is currently a member of MorningStar Ministries Healing Teams and is an NRA and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Certified Firearms Instructor.

Founder & Director Crisis Response International

Sean Malone

Sean found a front-row seat at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. There he provided lighting for the search and rescue operations. This is where the seeds for being involved in crisis response work were planted. In 2007 he and his wife Laura officially launched Crisis Response International. Since then, CRI has trained thousands of responders to reach the harvest in the midst of crisis.

Registration Details

When?

Friday, February 24-Sunday, February 26 (see registration for more details).

Where?

CRI Missions Base – 2494 Camp Jaycee Rd. Blue Ridge, VA 24064

Who?

Open to anyone over 16 (with registered parent) and who is able to fully participate as described above.

How Much?

$199 all-inclusive.

Lodging?

Complimentary Base lodging Friday night in gender-specific dorms.

Food?

Meals are provided while at CRI Base. Partial meals will be provided while on the mountain. Hikers will be asked to provide some freeze-dried meals for preparation on the trail.

Transportation?

Complimentary airport pickup and dropoff between Roanoke Airport or Amtrak Train Station and the CRI Base. Reservation link will be provided upon registration.

Questions?