Best of the Red-Backpacking, Kayaking and More!

Event Details

During this event, you will be participating in some of the best outdoor activities Red River Gorge has to offer. 2.5 days of backpacking in the Daniel Boone National Forest, a 4-hour SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) tour, and your choice of a Via Ferrata OR kayaking in an old abandoned limestone mine. You will also get a chance to visit the local shops and dine on some of the best food the area has to offer. Thursday and Friday will be backcountry camp in the Daniel Boone NF and then on Saturday, we will head to a local lodge where we will stay for the rest of our visit.

Itinerary

May 23 - Depart the Midwest. Arrive at Red River Gorge, hike 2-3 miles, and camp creekside (dispersed camping).

May 24 - Backpack in the Red River Gorge. Mileage TBD dispersed camp in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

May 25 - Depart the Red River Gorge and head to Southeast Mountain Guides for the Via Ferrata. Those who do not want to participate in this will have the option to choose the underground kayak/SUP tour. (You can decide during checkout). After these adventures, we will head to our lodge where we will be staying for the next 2 nights. You can find information on the via Ferrate here and information on the underground kayak tour here. All of this is followed by a community dinner at our Air BnB location which is about a 45-minute drive from the attractions. 

May 26 - Community breakfast at our Air BnB followed by a SUP tour with SUP Kentucky. Afternoon sightseeing at the local shops and cafes.

May 27 - Community breakfast at our Air BnB. Depart for the Midwest after breakfast.

Transportation

Leaving early Thursday morning (May 23), we will depart from the Chicagoland area. Carpooling options will be available along our route, and as always, there is no additional cost when meeting us at one of the predetermined Park and Rides. If you are unsure if you are along our route, please contact us prior to signing up. We will be returning to the Chicagoland area on the morning of May 27.

Ticket Options

We have 2 lodging ticket options available for this trip, as well as Gear Rental and Food Package options. 

1. Admission for 1 with Shared Lodging (4 spaces Available)-Includes sleeping accommodations for 2 nights in a double occupancy room at the lodge. The ticket price is $1187.82 per person.
2. Admission for 1 with Private Lodging (4 Rooms Available) -Includes sleeping accommodations for 2 nights in a private room at the lodge. The ticket price is $1312.82 per person.

Both ticket prices include snacks and water during transportation, fuel, tolls, parking, park permits, lodging for Saturday and Sunday nights, a 4-hour SUP tour, and either Via Ferrata adventure from Southeast Mountain Guides or if heights are not your thing, you will have the option for an hour-long underground kayak tour from SUP Kentucky. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning meals will be provided at our Air BnB and prepared by our guides. 

Other Ticket Options

1. 2-day meal package-$80. This package includes everything you will need for 2 days including breakfast bars/breakfast meal, protein/energy/meal replacement bars, jerky, nuts, lunch meal, dehydrated backpacking meal, and a dessert.
2. Gear rental. - $275. Includes the following: Backpack, 1 or 2-person tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, Backpacking stove/fuel canister, long-handled spoon, Water filter, Trowel, Headlamp, Trekking Poles, Dry Bag for food storage

Gear

Guests are responsible for obtaining their gear, although we do offer gear rental if you need gear. 

Gear rental includes the following

-Osprey Backpack

-River Country Products 1 or 2-person tent

-North Face, Eureka, or Kelty Sleeping bag

-Thermarest sleeping pad

-Jetboil Flash backpacking stove w/fuel

-Sawyer water filter

-Trowel

-Headlamp

-Trekking Poles

-Dry Bag for food storage 

Required Gear List

-Backpack (properly fitted)

-Sleeping bag

-Sleeping pad

-Tent-Stove-Cookware

-Trowel-Small Compass

-Appropriate footwear (trail runners or boots)

-Water filter-50' of paracord (minimum)

-Individual First Aid Kit-Headlamp (spare batteries)

-Rain Gear (poncho, Frog Toggs, rain suit)

-Toiletry Kit

-Fire starting kit

-Small knife

-Spare set of clothing-Spare set of socks x 2

-Appropriate backpacking meals for the length of the event

-Emergency blanket

-Hydration system or water bottles

-Whistle-Quick Dry towel

-Biodegradable soap

-Personal Medications

 

Optional Items:

-Trekking Poles

-Base layer (during inclement weather)

-Insulation

-Jacket, gloves, hat (inclement weather)

-Camp shoes (Crocs or similar

-Insect repellent-Earplugs 

Safety

All True North staff are certified in First Aid/CPR and every one of our events is led by a guide who is a paramedic/Wilderness First Aid instructor. Guides are experienced in wilderness and outdoor travel and are equipped with GPS.

True North Expeditions, Inc. reserves the right to substitute the events listed in the description above in the event of inclement weather, availability, or other uncontrollable events.

Cancellations 

• Cancellations more than 45 days from the date of the event will receive a 50% refund.
• There are no refunds for cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the event.
• We can not transfer your admission fee to another event or issue you a credit toward a future event.
• If you can find someone to take your place, we can transfer your admission fee to another client ONE TIME only. If they cancel they will not receive a refund on any portion of what has already been paid by the original client.
• Please allow 5-7 business days for processing, we will notify you when the refund has been issued.
• MEAL PACKAGE CANCELLATIONS: No refunds will be issued for meal package cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the event. A full refund will be issued for all meal package cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the event.

Event Disclaimer

Our guides are here to assist you if needed, but with multiple clients and safety in mind, If you are thinking about attending this event we ask that you have a basic understanding of hiking and the outdoors, and have the strength to carry a pack up to 40 pounds in weight for up to 8 hours. Additionally, spending time outdoors affects everyone physically, spiritually and emotionally in different ways. We know that the outdoors helps people "heal" in different ways, but we ask that you take that into consideration when considering registering for outdoor excursions such as this.

True North Expeditions, Inc. reserves the right to substitute the events listed in the description above in the event of inclement weather, availability, or other uncontrollable events.