First Ascent Wilderness and Adventure

Discover. Explore. Transform.

Ready to challenge yourself and connect with other new students while exploring the wild places near campus? First Ascent, Wilderness Orientation program is for you!

For more information or questions please contact Jeremiah Haas, jhaas@wcu.edu or 828.227.8805

Wilderness Experience

Connect with other incoming students in a small group wilderness adventure!

You will travel from camp to camp and explore mountains, waterfalls, swimming holes, and spend a day rock climbing. You'll leave the trailhead on day 1 with everything you need for 5 days in your backpack. By day 6 you will feel different, more rooted, a different person than when you began. Trips are led by trained staff with experience in wilderness trip leadership and wilderness emergency medicine. Many trip leaders are former First Ascent participants!

Cost: $275 - (Registration Deadline July 7th)
Wilderness Experience Participant Packet & Gear List

REGISTER TODAY

Questions? Email Jeremiah Haas or call 828.227.8805.

Adventure Sampler

Want to try everything the WCU region has to offer but have a less immersive experience than offered by Wilderness? Adventure is the choice for you!

You and a small group of other new incoming students will go on a road trip and participate in a different activity each day while camping each night in tents at a Forest Service campground or designated road side camping spot. For each day's activity, you will bring only what you need for the day and leave the rest of your gear in the van. Activities include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, a swimming hole hike, canoe trip and a peak ascent hike of one of the tallest mountains in the East. 

Trips are led by trained staff with experience in wilderness trip leadership and wilderness emergency medicine. Many trip leaders are former First Ascent participants! In addition to the staff that accompany the entire trip, many days are also visited by additional staff to help with the technical aspects of some trips.

Cost: $300 - (Registration Deadline July 7th)
Adventure Experience Participant Packet & Gear List

REGISTER TODAY

Questions? Email Jeremiah Haas or call 828.227.8805.