On Tuesday, Nov. 14 the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Outdoor Connection opened registration for students to sign up for the 2018 winter break trips.  

The trips available are Arizona Trail, Big Bend, California Dreamin’ and Winter in the Boundary Waters. 

The Arizona Trail trip is an off-trail experience that will feature backpacking through the Alamo canyon, a four-hour horseback riding expedition through the Goldfield mountains, and a trip to Brown’s Peak Summit.  

The Arizona Trail will start on Jan. 12 and go until Jan. 21. This is the most physically demanding trip offered, however no backpacking experience is required. This trip will cost $655 on or before Dec. 1 and $680 after Dec. 1 with transportation is included in the pricing. 

The next trip offered will be to Big Ben National Park in West Texas from Jan. 3 to Jan. 12. For the first three days of the trip, students who sign up will canoe 33 miles down the Rio Grande River. Other trip activities include camping in the canyons and a hiking trip to the Hot Springs in Big Bend National Park. 

The Big Bend trip will cost $680 on or before Dec. 1 and $705 after Dec. 1 with transportation included in this pricing. 

The third option will be in California starting Jan. 6 and will end on Jan 13. The trip is called California Dreamin’ and will include many memorable California experiences. These include, kayaking a day in Mission Bay, biking the front country in San Diego, hiking to Potato Chip Rock overlooking the city, and camping a few hundred feet from the ocean.  

California Dreamin’ will also include three days of surfing with lessons from the San Diego Surf School.  In addition to the deposit, the trip will cost $850 on or before Dec. 1 and  $875 after Dec 1. This pricing does not include transportation to San Diego. 

Moreover, those who are looking for a trip that will include all the winter activities, the Boundary Waters is the perfect option. This adventure will include snowshoeing across many lakes and through the woods, cross country skiing, sledding, and dog sledding which will be accompanied by skilled mushers. 

The trip to Boundary Waters will cost $450 on or before Dec. 1 and $475 after Dec. 1 with transportation included. As an added bonus, those who attend the Boundary Waters trip will stay in a warm YMCA cabin that includes a sauna.  

When asked why students should sign up, UWL Senior and Winter in the Boundary Waters trip leader, Beau Sandleback noted, “Going on a trip with the Outdoor Connection is a great way to spend your winter break. You not only go on an awesome adventure, but you make so many lasting friendships and get to see parts of the country you might have never gotten the chance to see before”. 

“I went on my first trip with the OC four years ago and I still keep in touch with the people I went with. Not just that, but I find myself going back and looking at the pictures every now and then. The memories are just too good”.  

To learn more about these trips, click here.