Experience the thrill of adventure and wilderness while creating a close circle of new friends. This program is designed as an introduction to Kroka and will cover the basics of our curriculum: navigation, backpacking, canoeing, camp craft, and rock climbing. After two days of "Kroka 101" training at our base camp, we will depart for our journey by foot and paddle, experiencing the beauty of the wilderness as we swim, craft, and spend evenings by the campfire. This program is designed as a bridge for students who are new to Kroka's expedition lifestyle, and participants will be able to enter any intermediate Kroka program with competence and confidence.
The White Mountains are famous for their dramatic rocky summits and steep valleys, and boast the highest peaks in the northeast. This exciting multi-sport adventure connects many hidden gems of the Whites and introduces students to all of Kroka’s core adventure sports. We begin at Kroka Village preparing food and equipment for our extended expedition. Setting off on foot, we follow the Appalachian Trail up and over Mount Moosilauke (elevation 4,802) and down to a network of old logging roads perfect for practicing map and compass navigation. Switching from backpacks to mountain bikes, we travel for three days along stunning singletrack bike trails to the headwaters of the Pemigewasset River. Here we find canoes awaiting ready for a paddle down the swiftly-flowing river that takes us to the foot of one of the most famous rock climbing crags in New England. Along the way we will be rewarded with breathtaking views, practice low impact camping, and study geography, geology and ecology of Eastern Alpine.
There is no adventure sport more secretive and alluring than caving. Hidden deep in the infamous Berkshire Hills are miles of underground passages with hidden entrances off the beaten track. Many of these caves were just discovered within the past 10 years! We begin the week at Kroka Village exploring abandoned mines and practicing vertical rope skills. From here we head west and establish a wilderness camp at the base of Mount Greylock. With map and compass and our traveling gear we will set out each day to explore the region's known caves and search for those that have not yet been found. We will swim in pristine waterfalls, descend into abandoned quarries, and visit natural marble bridges. We will cook delicious meals over the fire, share stories, and learn a wilderness craft. The journey ends with a 3-day expedition to a mountain peak, an exciting day of multi-pitch climbing, and a day-trip through one of the longest and most notorious caves in the Northeast.