Tag: basecamp

Categories
Aspire Culture courses Culture Food Highlights NRL nutrition Rendezvous Runner Resources Trip Styles

Elevated Aprés: Aspire’s Basecamp Magic

Hannegan Pass beckons. Day 3 of the Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous. Credit: Jessica Vandenbush

It’s mid-summer, and runners on the Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous stumble off the dusty August trails physically depleted and parched, yet carrying that blissed-out affect only hours of alpine running can impart. Fortunately for their bodies, these runners find themselves at Aspire basecamp, a place where TLC flows like the glacier-fed Nooksack River we’re camped along .

The Ice Cream Social

The Aspire crew prides themselves on their playful and multi-dimensional approach to runner support. Attention to the little details creates the ideal setting for the recovering runner. The crew has a few tricks up their sleeve to bring bodies in line with spirits and minds, including often incorporating an element of surprise.

While magicians cannot reveal all their secrets, we will let you in on just one: the delight of hand-turned ice cream, this past August topped with grilled peaches and candied walnuts. If this sounds like an outrageous offering to partake in on an 85 degree day in the remote depths of the North Cascades, that’s because it is. Outrageously delicious.

Photo: Jessica Vandenbush

Backcountry ice cream is ephemeral by nature, demanding it be eaten in the moment or else be lost to the harsh realities of summer. This insistence brings everyone together. Eating dessert becomes an act of joy. Runners line up for seconds and the experience becomes the gel that defines a community.

Recovery can mean a lot of things, and watching runners forget about their tired bodies and buzz with anticipation at the pleasure of satisfying treats motivates the Aspire squad to keep the surprises coming. Aspire Rendezvous trips offer unique opportunities to get to know a region intimately on daily runs of self-selected mileage and come back to an elevated basecamp for relaxation and connection… and if you’re lucky, ice cream.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own ice cream social we highly recommend this recipe from Melissa Clark and the New York Times.

Join Aspire for a Rendezvous and experience the magic of mountain running parties that center exploration and a playful aprés culture.

All in for the handmade ice cream? Experience it on one of our North Cascades Rendezvous:

Nooksack Ridgelines Rendezvous
Three Devils Rendezvous

Curious what other surprises we’re holding on to? Join our community on any of our Rendezvous trips to experience our elevated basecamp approach:

Sucia Island Rendezvous
Ross Lake Rally
Cypress Island Beach Camp and Trail Running Extravaganza
Territory Run Camp
Stehekin Rendezvous

Trent Banks is a mountain runner, a disc jockey, and father of two daughters, based out of Bellingham, WA. He joined the Aspire crew in 2018. When not guiding trips with the Aspire crew, you can find him at work on Aspire’s marketing or DJing clubs and hosting events with Reflect.

Listen to his Spirit Ventures DJ mix series, inspired by and made for trail running.



Categories
Aspire Culture Blog Culture FAQ's Food Highlights on the fence Preparation registered runners Runner Resources update What to Expect on Trips

Glamp Out: The Aspire Basecamp

Exactly WHAT is glamping?

The Aspire basecamp is inspired by the culture of trekking in the Alps. European huts allow for a different kind of wilderness experience. Knowing there is a basecamp with full amenities at the end of your day means not only comfort, warmth, and a good night’s rest, but sometimes the important difference between safely pushing the limit and a dangerous epic. Aspire reproduces the European model with a playful combination of amenities and aprés- culture that allows runners to connect over shared adventure in incredible wilderness spaces.  

Grilling up summer veggies on the Lost Coast Trail.

One of the main reasons so many runners come back to do trips with Aspire year after year is our next-level base camps. Our approach is a time-tested collection of details and creature comforts that sets the stage for recovery, relaxation and new friendships.

The Aspire Menu

You know that moment… you’re nearing the end of a long run (or maybe you just started) when all the delicious food you could be eating takes over your thoughts, with dreams of immaculate feasts overwhelming the mountain views. Yet often, post-run trailhead noms don’t progress beyond the bag of potato chips or trail mix stashed in the car.

Entry into Aspire basecamp is a different scene. Colorful appetizer spreads await runners stumbling in from the days journey. Don’t be surprised by the jar of homemade pickles or the figs from the garden. Fresh capresé? Check. We like good food and we like to share.

Meals continue the trend: Steak with summer veggies, salmon with rice pilaf and asparagus, Sierra bowls, and the famous Aspire tacos… this is not your standard trailhead menu.

Have a special requests for specific drinks, foods, or dietary needs? Say the word. Don’t eat meat? No problem. Allergic to peanuts? No problem. Craving strawberries? They’ll be at camp that evening. 

Food at basecamp strikes a perfect balance between recovery focused backcountry food and the truly gourmet.

Recovery

Glamping with Aspire means everything needed to recover from time on trail and prepare for the next day. When you have to wake up the next morning and tackle another big distance, you’ll be glad for the comfort and care you were able to give your body the night before.
Runners often finish the first day of a big trip like the Wonderland Trail and think they’re spent. They couldn’t possibly wake up and do it all over again the next day.

Time to unzip our camp care kit. Theraguns and foam rollers work the tension out of tired muscles.

Blisters? Our team of Wilderness First Responder certified guides is ready with our foot care kit and expert advice on blister management. Tomorrow isn’t only possible, but it’s going to be awesome!

Comfort

One word: SHOWERS! Yes, the backcountry shower is real, alive, and unbelievable refreshing. Warm water and soap go a surprisingly long ways towards revitalizing and rejuvenating.

Add to that our heaters and walled tents, and even the coldest alpine summer evenings are comfortable.

It’s not just about comfort. Being able to put the walls on our tents helps keep us warm and dry if the weather turns. The heaters don’t just warm up cold runners, they also dry out wet gear for the next day’s miles.

Connection

It’s been said that friendship is a history of shared meals… we extend that concept to miles, campfires, and sunsets. Aspire trips feature a healthy dose of all of the above, converging at basecamp. Not much beats recounting the days adventures and swapping mountain stories over beers, ciders or yes, margaritas.

Topped off with dessert, and you’ll find yourself feeling restored on mind, body, and soul levels.

We may not have European style huts in the US, but running a trip with Aspire is probably the next best thing. We bring your bags to camp for you, cook for you, and light up the campfire, all while leaving no trace. Everything in the Aspire model is designed to help runners achieve their goals out in deep wilderness with maximum enjoyment. It’s more fun this way. The food’s tastier, the beers are colder, the wilderness is wilder, and your big backcountry objectives are now within reach.

by Aspire guides Ian Carroll & Trent Banks

Check out our “What to Pack Blog” for details on what to to show up to Aspire trips with.

Categories
Aspire Culture Blog Culture FAQ's Food Highlights nutrition Preparation Resources for Registered Runners Runner Resources update What to Expect on Trips

Nutrition Matters: A look into the Aspire Kitchen

We get it! Food on the trail is important. While we know the ravenous hunger that comes after a long day on the trail can make almost any kind of food appealing, we put care into all our meals to make your entire experience on our trips all the better.  We’re committed to using high quality ingredients to make delicious, satisfying meals. So save that old bag of mixed dehydrated mashed potatoes for your solo trips and let us work some magic.
 
Finishing a long trail day at Aspire camp means enjoying a big spread of fresh hors d’oeuvres – from juicy local figs, a full charcuterie board, or tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella caprese bites – prior to diving into a delicious and nourishing campsite dinner.

It’s been said that friendship is a history of shared meals. At Aspire, we love good food almost as much as we love mountain miles with friends. Meals are a focal point of our trips, where runners come together and connect over the day’s adventure. We take time to plan out a full menu to ensure everyone on the trip feels fully satiated and enjoys every bite, ready to get out for more running and more camaraderie when morning calls.

All of our guides have some background in the food industry or deeper connection to food – whether they’ve worked as a cook in various restaurants, make fresh sauces and preserves at home,  grow their own food in the veggie garden or continue to master their own cooking techniques in the kitchen. On top of this, all of our guides have completed the Washington State Food Worker course and have valid permits and education on proper health and safety regulations required to serve and prepare food on our trips. We believe that all of this experience and our love of quality food has carried forward to create a culture of delicious meals for everyone who joins Aspire trips.

Some of our personal favourite meals include freshly caught salmon with lemon wedges aside grilled seasonal vegetables, fully loaded breakfast burritos, burger night with all of the fixings, and a fire roasted seasonal fruit cobbler to end the night. 

We also can’t forget taco night, which has become a legendary bookend for those finishing the Wonderland Trail. After three big days of mountain running, you’ll come back into Longmire greeted with a full spread of fresh pico de gallo, roasted veggies, grilled chorizo, a dollop of sour cream and a handful of fresh cilantro. Top it all off with a mountain of guacamole, we like to think we know a thing or two about tacos.  

In addition to our delicious breakfasts and dinners to start and end each day, we also have food available to prepare a lunch for your big adventure on the trails.  With a large variety of bars, gels, chews, and snacks to take on route, we also provide various ingredients for loaded wraps and hearty sandwiches.  From hummus, veggies, meat and cheese wraps or a good old fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  And let’s be honest, trail snacks are great, but the added moral boost of a fresh lunch wrap can be a great pick me up to help fuel you better throughout a long day.  

For some, a cause of concern may be varying food preferences or dietary needs, but we have experience of catering to all diets.  Whether you’re gluten free, vegan, keto, a heavy meat eater or really just want your favorite salty snack at the end of the night – we got you covered.  We are diligent in our camp kitchen when it comes to issues of cross contamination for celiacs, various allergies that may be present, and happily cater for vegetarians and vegans alike.  

So not only will a trip with Aspire include epic trails, unreal mountain views, and connecting with amazing people, but we also ensure you are eating some of the highest quality, mouth watering, and thoughtfully prepared trail food you can get your hands on. 

Kara Folkerts is a plant powered trail runner, sustainable travel advocate, yoga teacher, and passionate about all things travel, sustainability, health, and outdoor movement.  Originally from Canada, Kara has spent the last few years living and travelling in various places across the globe, guiding trips and going on personal expeditions before joining the Aspire crew in 2020.  She writes about her experiences and adventures on her blog at www.karafolkerts.com.