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Key Cohort Dates
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We begin with an in-person kickoff to set the foundation for the adventure and months ahead. You’ll receive a clear logistics overview, thorough show-and-tell of gear, and a full pack demonstration so you can see how everything comes together. We’ll finish with a short hike to test pack fit and weight, ask questions, and make early adjustments together.
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New for this season, we’re adding 1-2 Baker Road community hikes each month. They’ll be held on trails throughout Central Ohio and be open to past and current Cohort members. Each will have varying distance options and kickoff with a collective wisdom share. Dates will be shared during kickoff.
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This training begins on Friday evening in Mount Vernon, OH. Following some fireside tacos, the Baker Road crew will do a deep education on packing, blister care, and purifying water. Afterwards, hikers will test their overnight kits under an overnight shelter. We’ll wake early, practice gear breakdown, and head to do a long hike at Mohican State Park.
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A final check-in to talk through personal decisions on gear, nutrition, weather readiness, and more. This also becomes a good target for being packed up - the heaviest decisions people make on gear happen the night before.
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Game time! Kicking off from Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle, PA in the morning.
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Just when you start to miss one another, the Cohort reunites at Valter’s on S. Hight St. in Columbus. This makes for a meaningful check-in on how everyone has navigated integration back into their lives.
FAQs
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Absolutely not. Though the challenge may feel out of reach now, it’s the Baker Road crew’s promise to meet your conviction with support, hospitality, and grace; ensuring you can hike your own hike out there 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.
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You’ll be responsible for your personal gear for the trip. This can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but our first meeting will cover all the requirements, including a full show-and-tell of each item on the provided list. The amount most people invest ranges wildly, but is based on your existing experience, gear, and patience navigating FB Marketplace. Essential gear you’ll need includes:
35-55L backpack
Sleeping pad
Sleeping bag
Hiking shoes and socks - we recommend trail runners
Trail nutrition
Wool or synthetic athletic wear
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Your investment in this adventure includes all guidance, crew support, group gear, permit fees, trainings, and dinners on the trail. Participants will incur additional costs for their personal gear, trail nutrition, and transportation to the trainings and trip itself.
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For most of our participants, these adventures necessitate meaningful gains in physical fitness and readiness, especially if you’re aiming for the full 75-miles. We’ve found those that treat the provided training plan with conviction, training thoughtfully 2-4 times per week, have the best experience on the trail. Being considerate of your capacity to do this is important.
With days of compounded mileage, the experience includes sustained physical output and recovery that many people have never experienced, especially with additional weight of 20-30 pounds on your back. We do our best to integrate training guidance and experiences to simulate this, but ultimately these experiences are best for those who feel called to test their physical limits and have the capacity to commit to preparation.
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Absolutely not. While many participants live in Ohio (or close by), we’ve had folks join from as far as Austin, TX and Seattle, WA. Those without easy access to live meetings and trainings work with our crew virtually to ensure readiness.
We encourage them to make it out to at least one group training experience to meet their Cohort and have accommodations and transportation in Ohio available for reasonable costs.
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Cool! We’d love to have you. If you’ve already gone self-supported on a backpacking trail, this is going to feel outright luxurious. You’ll only be hauling your daytime nutrition, clothing, and sleeping kit; our crew will shuttle the camp kitchen, make you dinners that don’t belong in the woods, and make sure you’ve got firewood to keep you warm all night. We offer this service so you spend your best energy building relationships and reflecting on your own season of life. Your call if this feels aligned.
As Baker Road begins incurring cost at participant registration, we’ve established the following refund policy - this protects the time and resources needed to accommodate canceled spots, regardless of the reason for cancellation.
3+ months prior to the trip — 50% refund, 100% credit
2 months prior to the trip — 25% refund, 50% credit
1 month prior to the trip — 0% refund or 25% credit
Refunds are made in the form of original payment and credits will remain valid through the next calendar year.