2014: Another Great Summer of Biking!

We're closing out another fantastic season!  This summer, our Treks brought together kids from all over the US, plus Europe and Asia, for biking adventures they'll never forget.  They visited lively cities and small towns --

 -- and got out in lots of wide-open spaces:

They camped out together,

cooked out together,

learned how to fix their own bikes out on the road,

devoured gallon after gallon of ice cream,

and made lots of close friendships:

They hiked and biked through stunning wilderness spots --

 -- and breezy beaches,

stopping along the way to learn about local history,

pick up lunch goodies at farms,

get off their bikes and out on the water,

and check out museums, art, comedy shows, music festivals, thrift shops, and pretty much everything else they could pack into each day.  They biked hundreds of miles together, up hills and down them, on bright, sunny days and through the rain.  Not a lot of kids can say they've accomplished these kinds of things, but every one of our Trekkers can!

We'll post our 2015 trip schedule later this year, so you can start planning your Trek for next summer.  See you then!

Maine Coast Trekkers Get Ready to Summit Cadillac Mountain

Our Maine Coast Trekkers went an entire 24 hours without biking, but they found more than enough to keep themselves busy.  They did some laundry, popped out to explore downtown Bar Harbor, then had lunch and played hacky sack on the village green.  In the afternoon, they went swimming at Sand Beach. For dinner, they gave themselves a night off from cooking and went out for pizza, then enjoyed an ImprovAcadia show.

Tomorrow, they're hoping for good sunrise weather -- everyone's ready to bike Cadillac Mountain before sunrise, then coast back down to Blackwood Campground for breakfast burritos.

There's essentially no cell reception in the park, so leaders Andy and Carol are in the same tech-free environment as the teenagers in the group.  They're going retro, using paper maps and asking strangers where to find the best spots in the park.

One more night camping out, then a cozy night at a hotel in Bangor, and this group's Trek will be finished!  They're going to squeeze everything they can out of it.

Pacific Northwest Trek Summits Hurricane Ridge

The Pacific Northwest Trekkers biked up to the top of Hurricane Ridge -- a 12.5 route that climbed a full mile, vertically.  Along the way, they saw wildlife including deer and marmots, and lots of colorful alpine flowers.  From the summit, they had a stunning view out over the snow-capped Olympic Mountains.

After a hike, some snacks, and ice cream, they got to cruise back down the ridge, averaging 25 miles per hour.   Back at their campsite, they took a well-deserved siesta and closed out the night by cooking dinner together and playing games.

Pacific Northwest Trek Climbs Mount Constitution

Our Pacific Northwest Trekkers had a big day -- or at least some big hills -- and they really rose to it!  Here's how Dan described day 5:

Break Day! After biking 25 miles yesterday, with the MOST ANNOYING HILL, we made it to Moran State Park on Orcus Island (part of the San Juan Islands), surprisingly in one piece. After setting up tents and eating delicious sloppy joes and brownies, we sat around the campfire and told stories of our childhoods: gerbils in RC cars, purposely lighting hair on fire, and accidentally calling 911 on a fake firefly cell phone. 

David made a great video capturing the bikers' reactions to that all-capsed MOST ANNOYING HILL:

More from Dan:

Today, we woke up late, and the guys made the most delicious breakfast we've had: eggs and bacon! Then, we biked up to a hiking trail (on a somewhat less annoying, but still pretty annoying, hill). We hiked up this steep mountain to get to the summit. There, we ate lunch, climbed up a castle tower, and enjoyed a wonderful scenic view that included Mt. Baker.

In addition to sloppy joes, our Pacific Northwest Trekkers got to enjoy another campfire classic, s'mores:

Tomorrow, they'll be crossing into Canada, making their trek officially an international adventure!

Adventure awaits you!

May is National Bike Month, and to celebrate it, we thought we'd show off some of the adventures Teen Trekkers get into while traveling by bicycle.

Hiking through the lush woods in the Pacific Northwest:

Climbing the rugged landscapes and rocky beaches along the Maine Coast:

Kayaking on a sunny afternoon, which we do on the New York-Montreal trek, as well as on the Pacific Northwest:

 

Stopping for an afternoon swim on our way Across America and on the 1000 Mile Challenge:

Grilling over a campfire on our way around Lake Ontario:

And of course, biking. . .

Biking. . .

Biking!

There's nothing like the thrill of discovering the world under your own power:

Celebrate National Bike Month by getting out on your bike and seeing where it takes you!

Many of our trips are filling up, but we do have spots available. Don't miss out -- apply now to make your summer unforgettable!

Bike Across America this summer with Teen Treks!

Biked across America with Teen Treks this past summer. What an incredible experience!!!  I learned so much about myself, my bike, and my country over my eight weeks of biking.  I loved my experience this summer and would definitely recommend it.  It's hard work (with fun), but if you want to push yourself and do something so amazing that you can tell stories about it for the rest of your life -- go for it!! 

 Daniel, Across America Trekker, 2012

Welcome to our toughest trip!

Ride 3,800 miles across the U.S. over 8 amazing weeks -- this trek is truly an accomplishment and always a life-changing experience.

Your trip begins in Oregon, where you'll dip your wheels in the Pacific Ocean on a cool, misty beach. Then it's out toward deep forests and the wide-open plains, the Rocky Mountains, Chicago, and so much more!

You'll bike through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and along the Great Lakes to Niagara Falls. Then, follow the Erie Canal bike route across NY state to the Hudson River for a short 150 miles into NYC, ending the trip at Coney Island.  Along the way, you'll camp, hike, and swim, stop in picturesque town squares and ride past some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.

Across America’s northern route lets our bikers enjoy their summer travel experience, compared to (much, much hotter) southern cross-country routes. But don’t kid yourself -- you will bike close to 100 miles, some days, so you’ll need to be in good shape.

When you travel by bike, you get to know the world better.  You get the flavor of the culture in the small towns and rural areas, and you see cities differently, too.

America is full of quirky -- and kind of amazing! -- independent art, friendly small-town diners, and beautiful vista after beautiful vista.  See it all with us this summer!

Even George Washington wants to come -- we just need to find him a bike!

We're running two Across America trips this summer, for teens entering grades 10 and up:

• June 25 - August 18
• June 29 - August 22

Apply now to reserve your place on this one-of-a-kind experience!  Or sign up for one of our other super trips: New York City - Montreal, Pacific Northwest, California Coast, New England Shore, European Phantom, Maine Coast -- and more!

Bike through the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with Teen Treks this summer!

Spend time in some of the world's most beautiful natural settings and check out hip northeastern cities on this unforgettable 18-day bike adventure. You'll follow the Puget Sound out of Seattle, riding alongside breathtaking views and through laid-back Washington towns, north into Canada.

A ferry will take you to the San Juan Islands, a lush, wooded archipelago where great blue herons, barred owls, harbor seals, and even orcas make their homes. 

Next, you'll head into Victoria, British Columbia's charming capital city.

Then it's back down to Washington, where you'll get 3 days to camp, bike, and hike in the almost impossibly green forest of Olympic National Park.

The weather in Washington in the summer is nothing short of idyllic, perfect for biking and camping out.

You'll visit historic Port Townsend and lovely Birch Bay, which has the warmest and safest salt water beach on the coast, then visit Vashon Island and stay at an especially fun hostel -- it has teepees and covered wagons to sleep in!

This trip ends with 2 days sightseeing in Seattle, enjoying great local restaurants and culture.

The Pacific Northwest Trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day). Teenagers entering grades 10-12 will have a blast on this trip. We're running two Pacific Northwest trips this summer:

• June 26 - July 13 (trip code PN-JN26)
• July 17 - August 3 (trip code PN-J17)

 Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike the Pacific Northwest with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, New York City – Montreal, Pacific Northwest, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!

Lake Ontario Trek Living the Canadian Life

Our Lake Ontario Trek has gotten off to an exciting start, with the first day taking the group right into the Canadian province on Ontario!  Here is Laura's (one of the Leaders) recap of the first few days:

The whole gang

Taking a break along the Lake

Adventures at Niagara Falls:

The Lake Ontario Trekkers spent their first 2 days at Niagara Falls. We took a scenic ride from Buffalo to the Falls checking out each view of the magnificent falls. Those who had never been here before were pretty amazed by their power and beauty.  After a day with many stops to do some bike tune ups and fix flats we cooked a delicious meal at the hostel and went to bed to get ready for another busy day at the falls.  The next day, we rode the Maid of the Mist boat tour, getting up close and personal with the massive falls.  Then we followed the river to the Niagara Glen gorge area, which had amazing views of the falls and whirlpools.  We hiked down into the gorge which ended with a view of the whirlpools and a refreshing run off waterfall to cool down in. 

No shortage of mist here!

The next days were spent riding to a campsite in Jordan, ON and then to Hamilton, ON. The highlight was spending some time at Ball's Falls--a perfect opportunity for a swim.

Your fearless Leaders, Laura and Luke

Ball's Falls-great swimming spot!

Then we made the final trek to Toronto--our first 50 mile day! As we set off from our campsite in the morning we could see Toronto in the horizon and knew we had quite a trek ahead of us. But spirits were high as we could see the city getting closer and closer.  The view was amazing because we were riding on a bike path right along Lake Ontario, the Lake that Toronto sits on! 

We will spend 2 full days here before we continue around the lake!  Toronto is a great city for cyclists-the roads have bike paths, traffic isn't crazy and they have a cool bike culture-bike commuters and students whiz around (lots of fixed gear bikes and stylish outfits) at all hours.

The Trekkers setting of on the bike path to Toronto

Because the Trekkers are in Canada, blog posts will be less frequent-about every 5 days.  Once the group in back in New York State, it will be easier for Leaders to send up photos.