Dare to peak your adventure

John Saelee

Before winter comes to a close, Peak Adventures is inviting all students and adults, in the Sacramento area on a cross-country ski trip through the Royal Gorge near Lake Tahoe.

The trip will be held on Feb. 6 and participants should meet at 7 a.m. at the Peak Adventures office for transportation.

The deadline to sign up for this excursion is today and Peak Adventures will hold a pre-trip meeting at 6 p.m. The meeting will cover proper clothing attire required for the trip.

The trip costs $80 for Sacramento State students, $103 for affiliates and $114 for the general public.

These costs cover lessons, equipment, a trail pass and transportation to and from the gorge.

Betty Sun, adventure specialist for Peak Adventures, will be attending the ski trip to Royal Gorge on Saturday and recommended participants to come prepared for a fun day of learning.

“Participants should dress for a fun, aerobic day in the snow,” Sun said. “Bring a sack lunch to eat at one of the trailside warming huts and plenty of water and snacks.”

Sun said before participants set their skis on the path, they will go through an hour and a half ski lesson with Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort’s professional instructors.”Expect a few falls and wobbles – that’s part of the learning process,” Sun said. “The recent storms have brought plenty of soft powder to land on.”

Peak Adventures was created in 1989 and later adopted by Associated Students Inc.Formerly a bike shop called Mountain Wolf Sports, Peak Adventures evolved into an outdoors program that included ropes courses and team building.

Last year alone, Peak Adventures served more than16,300 people with its services and events.

According to Peak Adventures’ website, the advantage to trying new things with their organization is that they provide employees who are skilled in their field of expertise and act as guides on each organized trip.

Jael Young, director of Peak Adventures, said she is passionate about her career because it allows her to implement the two pillar points, “adventure education and leadership development,” within the program.

Young said she enjoys sharing her knowledge with participants.

She said she feels with her expertise she is able to encourage others to try something new.

Yesenia Ramirez, senior social work major, snowboarded for the first time through a Peak Adventures program.

Ramirez said her adventurous personality led her to Peak Adventures and from there the employees persuaded her to try something new – snowboarding.

Young said it is great to see Peak Adventures bringing Sac State students together with members of the community.

Outdoor adventures build self-awareness and self-growth for people, Young said, furthermore, these experiences help to maintain a balance in people’s lives.

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