Men's 50 Spring Cohort

A meaningful personal challenge. Together.

New for 2026, Baker Road is offering a shorter mileage Spring Cohort. This adventure, adapted from our established Men’s 75 Cohort format, offers a new access point into the Baker Road mix, better suited for those with less space for preparation and training. It remains a challenging experience, emphasizing deep community, personal growth, and all the wisdom to be gleaned from immersing yourself in nature. As our boy Thoreau reminds us, we all “need the tonic of wildness.”

Over the course of 3-months, 15+ men will commit to working and training together to ready themselves for a 50-mile adventure in the Pennsylvania wilderness. The culminating trip, covers much of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail over the course of 4 days. Alongside inclement weather, rocky trails, and significant elevation change, hikers share wisdom they’ve encountered at critical moments in their lives. These ‘wisdom shares’ serve as a catalyst for deep connections, vulnerability, and often, disruptive moments where hikers shift their perceptions and identities in remarkable ways.

The trip is supported by a dedicated and committed crew, all alumni of past Baker Road adventures and with deep competency in wilderness safety. Though this challenge may feel out of reach now, it’s this crews’ promise to meet your conviction with support, hospitality, and grace; ensuring you can hike your own hike successfully, however it may transpire. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to invest in yourself and be open to the guidance of the Cohort.

This adventure is open to men as young as 14, so long as they’re accompanied by a legal guardian. Registration is open, we anticipate this trip will be filled up quickly. If you’ve got questions about your readiness or if cost is prohibitive for your participation, please contact us at service@bakerroad.com.

Baker Road operates with offered pricing, trusting the best groups have diverse experiences and often, diverse financial resources. So please hike your own hike and pick your own price. The offer for this adventure is $1,600 and discounts are available from 10 to 50% off. You’ll find this information after clicking ‘Register Now’ below.
Your investment in this adventure includes all guidance, group gear, permit fees, and dinners on the trail. Participants will incur additional costs for their personal gear, trail nutrition, and transportation to the trainings and trip. For prior Cohorts, participants have invested between $400 - $1,000 additional dollars in equipment. This secondary spend will be based on your existing experience, gear, and patience navigating FB Marketplace. Baker Road has limited rental kits available, if helpful.
Prior to registration, please consider the following commitments. Participation in the majority of training is critical to ensure your readiness and our collective experience. Most training experiences will happen in Knox County, OH, roughly 60 minutes from Columbus and 90 minutes from Cleveland.
- Feb 21, 2026 - Cohort Kickoff + Training, 8a - 12p
- Mar 21, 2026 - Training #2, 7a - 2p
- Apr 4, 2026 - Optional Community Training, 8a - 12p
- Apr 12, 2026 - Virtual Gear Check, 3p - 5p
- Apr 15-18, 2026 - Trip to PA
- May 1, 2025 - Reunion Lunch, 12p - 2p
This 50-mile adventure is perfect for someone with a base of fitness and a willingness to train 1-2 times per week. Our daily trip mileage will range from 7 to 18-miles with 20-30 additional pounds of gear carried. This focuses the experience on a physical challenge while creating more space for recovery, reflection, and relationship. We created this format for those who feel deeply drawn to the power of nature and community, but whose current season of life makes it harder to fully take on a higher-volume physical demand.
For those deciding between this trip or the Fall 75, know that both are demanding, formative experiences. The distinction is less about intensity, and more about your capacity for preparation. The 75-mile Cohort places greater emphasis on sustained physical output and recovery under load. It’s well suited for those who feel called to test their physical limits and have the capacity to commit to that level of preparation.
Regardless, the Baker Road crew is well acclimated to first-timers with no history backpacking. We’ll be ready to support you unconditionally alongside offering curated education opportunities and training protocols during the Cohort experiences.
As cost are incurred beginning at registration, we’ve established the following refund policy - this protects the time and resources needed to accommodate canceled spots. Refunds and credits are offered based on your chosen price.
- Before Mar 1, 2026 → 50% refund or 100% credit
- Before Apr 1, 2026 → 25% refund or 75% credit
- After Apr 1, 2026 → 0% refund or 50% credit

From Our Community

Dave P.

I've been broken open a bit, and I want to stay with the process and see what emerges. The Baker Road experience cultivated the conditions for some growth that I'm excited about.

Nate C.

Top notch. Easy to describe while in the experience, difficult to describe outside of it. Had the same internally rewarding feeling of a really good acid trip.

Mike P.

“One of the best opportunities I’ve had to push myself, to encourage and be encouraged, to have authentic conversations with other men, and INCREDIBLE food."

Justin N.

"Because of the physical challenge, social/emotional walls came down quickly. As a result, the group was incredibly open to each other and transformation took place."

Christian L.

"Amazing collective spirit amongst the men. Incredible set of guides and leaders. Great camp arrangements. Beautiful trail in so many ways."

Carlin G.

"Life changing. I gained a whole new perspective about community, my physical abilities, and what being around a group of men could be when everyone comes into it with intention. If someone wants to work on their own vulnerability, mindfulness, and introspection, this experience is a must."

Aaron B.

"....fantastic format for personal reflection, restoration and connection to deeper parts of yourself and others."

Brenen P.

"Genuinely life changing. The physical experience paired with the great group of guys made it an experience I will truly never forget."

David L.

“For me, the retreat was transformative, absolutely worth traveling in from New York. It wasn't just a chance to step back and reflect, but an outlet to push myself, to move beyond mild discomforts, and be in the moment. Joe and his team are brilliant guides and helped gently nudge my own journey in the right direction.”

Zoe S.

”My Discovery Day felt like the body and mind equivalent of opening the windows of a home on the first warm spring day, after a stuffy winter. It was a day of deep breaths, contentment, and reflection, prompted by the Baker Road team's thoughtful, detailed attentiveness, a much-needed slower, more natural pace than my typical days, and the beauty, harmony, and spaciousness of nature.”

Matt G.

"I spent half a day in Knox County with Joe. I came feeling weighed down by my work, without the tools to relieve the pressure. I walked away feeling lighter, grounded, and full of gratitude. Joe leads with care, empathy, wisdom, and heart. I am grateful for the opportunity to go below the pavement with him, to get to the earth underneath and feel supported in both my journey—and the adventure."

Yogi T.

"Being caught up in the movement of work and life can get so loud sometimes. So loud that it can become a drain and distraction from your "Why". The curated adventure with Joe was exactly what I needed. To be able to pause, embrace the world around me, and get back in touch with my adventurous inner child gave me life instead of draining it. Highly recommended for a reset as the inner work begins."

Bailey H.

"There are partnerships that feel like providence, and working with the team at Baker Road is one of them. Craig and Joe tend to every detail, the grand gestures and the unspoken necessities, with a kind of hospitality that feels both intentional and effortless. I place my full faith in their ability to hold and create space with patience, with intention, with the kind of care that allows something beautiful to grow.”

Lachandra B.

“Being with Joe in nature was liberating, soothing, and deeply healing. I even learned how to skip rocks—something I’ve wanted to do most of my life! That simple act carried such meaning: a reminder of how reconnecting with ourselves opens doors we often leave closed. My Discovery Day was not just time outdoors; it was time within.”

Men's 50 Spring Cohort

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