Camp Champions

Our ideal candidates have significant hiking experience in the White Mountains (or other hikes of similar difficulty level).

This is because the northern Presidentials, which we’ll traverse on Day 1, require hiking a steep incline on rocks for an extended period of time, and we want you to to be fully prepared both physically and mentally for this challenge.

A great example is Mount Monroe, so candidates who have completed this hike should be sure to note it in your application. If not, then you should have completed several other long and/or very steep (1000 feet/mile) hikes.

In the application, you’ll be able to tell us more about any experience you have. We’ll reach out if we have any questions!

Not sure this program is for you? Check out our Summit Seekers program for another way to hike for kids with cancer!

We are seeking very strong hikers who are able to sustain a pace of 1.2 mph on very steep hikes (1000 feet/mile), and/or 1.6 mph on more moderate hikes.

This is a rough idea of the pace that our Camp Champions will maintain throughout the two-day hike excursion. Both hike days will require ~12 hours to complete even at this fast pace. Hikers who move at a much slower pace may risk missing transportation down from Mount Washington on Day 1 when the Auto Road closes. Further, conditions like unfavorable weather can make it harder to complete quickly, even for the fastest of hikers.

We’re looking for hikers who are at this pace, and committed to sustaining this pace through two long hike days. If you are close to this pace, but not quite there, we will want to see a commitment from you to put in the training hours to reach this pace by May 2024.

In the application, we will ask you to provide documentation of past hike paces through Strava, Garmin, or similar tracking devices. You’ll also be able to tell us more about your current pace and how you plan to train. We’ll reach out if we have any questions!

Not sure this program is for you? Check out our Summit Seekers program for another way to hike for kids with cancer!

How you need to train for this hike will depend on how frequently you are already hiking, running, climbing, etc. To start, a basic training plan looks something like:

December - January

• Start hiking every few weeks, if you aren’t already

• Prioritize hikes on rocks, especially mountains we’ll be tackling on day 1 (Mt. Madison is a great place to start)

• Work up to 10+ mile hikes

February - March

• Begin doing medium-length hikes (~10-15 miles) weekly

April - May

• Hike weekly: alternating between medium-length hikes and big hikes

• Continue tapering hikes up throughout late April into May

• Rest last weekend of May before our May 31-June 2 hike weekend

We’ll work with accepted Champions to discuss your specific situation and what you can do to prepare. All accepted Champions should plan to hike as frequently as possible in the months leading up to hike weekend.

Hike weekend entails two very challenging 12-hour long hike days, not to mention starting at 3 AM on Day 1.

We expect our hikers to prepare appropriately through months of hiking. Some of those hikes should be longer and require 10-12 hours to help you get accustomed to being on your feet for an extended period of time, and understand the types of fuel your body needs to sustain itself.

When you’re unable to hike (weather, life circumstances, etc.), you should be training regularly through running and other cardio workouts designed to increase your VMax. Stair climbers are a great way to strengthen your legs for a steep climb.

Ultimately, you should be prepared to commit several hours a week to training for this hike from December 2023 through May 2024 to ensure your hike is successful.

• Sept. 8-Nov. 10: Applications open

• Nov. 30: All applicants will be notified of their status in our 2024 program

• Mid-January: Camp Champions announced publicly!

• January (date TBD): Virtual Team Meeting

• March (date TBD): Virtual Team Meeting

• May (date TBD): Virtual Team Meeting

• May 31-June 2: Hike Weekend!

The safety of our hikers throughout hike weekend is our #1 priority. We have a number of precautions & procedures in place to keep you safe leading up to, and throughout, the hike.

• Clearly Defined Path: We strictly adhere to a pre-determined hike path, which we encourage you to familiarize yourself with prior to the hike. Knowing the exact trails the team should be taking will help you reorient yourself in case you find yourself separated from the group.

• Regular Check-Ins: At each bolded waypoint or timepoint along the hike path, our hikers check in with our support crew via text. This allows the support crew to keep tabs on general progress and assist if needed.

• First Aid Certification: Our Team Captains are all certified in First Aid/CPR. These team members are prepared to assist in case of injury.

• Emergency Communication Devices: Multiple Garmin devices are provided to the group by Camp Casco to ensure your access to a hike map throughout the trek, and allow your Support Crew to see your location at any time. These devices can also be used to send text messages and check oncoming weather, even when out of cell service.

• Designate Escape Routes: Before embarking, we designate specific escape routes that will lead you off of the Presidential Traverse in case the hike needs to end early for any reason.

• Emergency Rescue Preparedness: In the worst-case scenario that an emergency rescue is necessary, we are well-equipped to work with local authorities to assist in this process. Additionally, voluntary Hike Safe cards are purchased by Camp Casco on behalf of each hiker to provide financial protection if a costly rescue is required.
  

While we have never needed an emergency rescue and hope to never need one, we are committed to being as prepared as possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our hike team, and respecting the limited resources of the White Mountains.

Bad weather is a natural risk of any hike program, especially when you’re exploring the Whites. In general, we will attempt to complete the hike if our Team Captains agree it can be done safely. This may mean hiking in rainy, icy, very cold, or hot conditions, and hikers should be prepared for any type of weather during this weekend.

Hikes will not take place if our Team Captains agree weather conditions are too unsafe to proceed. This may mean that we miss one or both days of the hike. Whenever possible, we will identify alternative nearby hikes that can be completed safely instead.

Yes! Please visit our Sponsorships page to learn more about sponsoring our 2024 hike programs.