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Adults

Blue Ridge – Women Veterans – Backpack and Rock Climb

Join fellow women veterans for a transformative backpacking expedition through some of the world’s oldest mountains. Climb to new heights, rappel rugged rock faces, and strengthen bonds with a supportive crew.

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North Carolina

CB20 Course Overview

About This Course

Activity

  • The image shows a blue outline of a hiking backpack against a black background. The backpack is fully packed, with a sleeping bag or similar item strapped to the top. It has multiple compartments and straps, suggesting it's designed for carrying a substantial amount of gear. The style is simple and graphic, resembling an icon or a line drawing. Backpacking
  • The image shows a stylized, blue drawing of a foot and ankle, possibly representing a ballet dancer's foot in a pointe shoe. The foot is positioned vertically, with the toes pointing downwards. The drawing has a simple, almost cartoonish style, with thick lines outlining the shape of the foot and shoe. The background is black, which makes the blue drawing stand out. The image could be used to represent dance, movement, or elegance. Rock Climbing

Setting & Location

  • The image shows a simple, hand-drawn style illustration of three evergreen trees, possibly pine or fir trees. They are depicted in a solid blue color against a white background. The trees are stylized with jagged edges to represent the needles and branches, giving them a whimsical and slightly abstract appearance. The trunks are simple vertical lines. Forest
  • The image shows a simple, cartoon-style drawing of two mountains. The mountains are depicted with triangular shapes and jagged peaks, suggesting a rugged terrain. Dashed lines adorn the sides of the mountains, possibly representing snow or rocky textures. The drawing is done in a single color, giving it a minimalist and somewhat childlike appearance. The overall impression is one of a basic, almost iconic representation of mountains. Mountains
  • The image shows a stylized, pixelated scene of nature. Two tall, slender pine trees frame a view of distant mountains. A body of water, possibly a lake or river, is visible in the foreground, reflecting the scenery. The color palette is limited, with a dominant dark blue against a black background, giving the image a retro, digital aesthetic. River
  • airplane Course Start Location: Asheville NC
  • airplane Course End Location: Asheville NC

Session Details

1 session are available for this course

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What You’ll Learn

Outward Bound Veterans courses have helped thousands of service members and veterans draw on the healing benefits of teamwork and challenge. Through adventurous wilderness expeditions, you’ll find the camaraderie, confidence, and clarity to thrive in civilian life.

What You'll Do

With the company of an all-female crew, you’ll brush up on your backcountry living and navigation skills, strengthen communication abilities, and have the opportunity to share stories and experiences with your crewmates.

Where You'll Be

Venture into the ancient and misty Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With your crew by your side, you’ll discover rushing rivers, hidden waterfalls, and forests brimming with wildlife in one of North America’s most biodiverse regions.

Why It Matters

Life after Military service can feel disorienting. Our Veterans courses offer a supportive crew and purposeful challenge through adventurous wilderness expeditions—so you can reset, refocus, and return home with renewed confidence.

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Veterans Courses

What if you can find familiar connections in unfamiliar places?

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Lead in New Ways

Tap into familiar leadership skills and learn new ways to engage with your crew to meet and navigate through unique challenges.

Connections That Last

Build connections that outlast the adventure as you and your crew learn to recognize each other’s strengths and celebrate success together.

Confidence Beyond the Uniform

Leaving the military can feel disorienting. Our Veterans courses offer a supportive crew and purposeful challenge—so you can reset, refocus, and return home with renewed confidence.

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Life on Course

Ready to challenge yourself in new ways while connecting with a supportive crew of women? This course will provide hands-on training in the wilderness, fostering adaptability and personal leadership skills to help you discover new ways to contribute to family, work, community, and the world.

This 6-day course is designed to help shape and support the self-confidence and sense of purpose many veterans need to continue serving as leaders in their families, communities, and the nation. Starting with a backpacking expedition through Pisgah National Forest, you will learn to travel safely in the backcountry, navigate varied terrain, and practice Leave No Trace principles.  Then, you’ll hone your technical skills with a day of rock climbing, working with ropes, tying knots, and belaying your peers. Along the way, there will be opportunities for self-reflection, building new coping strategies, and team camaraderie.

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Sample Itinerary

Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.

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6-Day Course

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Day 1 Course start, duffle shuffle, and camp craft
Day 2-3 Backpacking training expedition: practice navigation and risk management
Day 4 Rock climbing, belaying and repelling, and solo
Day 5 Backpacking expedition
Day 6 Personal challenge event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony, and banquet. Course end and transportation to airport.
CB27 Pull Quotes

Being in the military I have had field time and experienced wildlife. This course did so much more for me… This course came at a very hard time in my life. I feel like it has been a blessing. It gave me time to breathe and actually think about myself. I laughed more during this week then I have in a long time.

Tina

The experiences here at Outward Bound has helped me find peace and serenity. Both are feeling that have been absent from my life for many years.

Catherine

CB17 FAQs

FAQs

Where does course start and end?

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All Blue Ridge Mountains courses start and end at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). A North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) representative will meet participants at baggage claim for check-in. Transportation is provided between Asheville Regional Airport and the course area at course start and end.

Is there a maximum age limit for this course?

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No, there is no maximum age limit. Ages vary widely on adult expeditions. Our Essential Eligibility Criteria shares what participants must be able to do during course. Full disclosure of all health and medication information is required during the admissions process.

What gear is provided? Can I bring my own?

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All group gear, including shelter, backpacks, and climbing equipment, is provided. You will receive a detailed packing list upon enrollment outlining additional items to bring, including clothing layers, footwear, and other personal items.

What is solo?

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A little more than halfway through course, students will participate in a reflection period called solo. During this time, Instructors assign students their own individual spaces within a designated area. These sites are secluded while remaining within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students will be given all the necessary gear, food, water, and skills to enjoy solo time. Solo is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge, and reflect on their course after having long days of strenuous group activities. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience.

THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE.
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