Follow in the footsteps of the great biblical leaders.
Over 100 times in the Bible the text explicitly identifies lives being changed as a result of a wilderness journey. Noah, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all spent 40 days in wilderness.
The 40 days & 40 nights course is a flagship course for SROM. It is our most epic, standalone course – the only course that has mountaineering, i.e. you get to learn how to use an ice axe! It is not only epic in the physical but also the spiritual. There seems to be something significant about 40 days in the Bible and a key part of developing leaders in the Kingdom of God.
DETAILS
June 15 – July 28, 2024
Arrive: 2 pm | Depart: 8 pm
Scholarships also available from Leave No Trace. (Must be enrolled to apply)
Age
18+
Duration
43 DAYS
START & END BASE
LOCATION(S)
Vedauwoo, Snowy Range & Wind River Range
Academic Credit
Essential Eligibility
There are no prerequisites for this course except a desire to learn and grow. We will teach you the skills of rock climbing and backpacking, including the essential backcountry skills of gourmet cooking and using the bathroom in the wilderness.
Physical Ability:
- Carry a backpack 40-60% of your body weight, hiking 4-8 miles a day on the backpacking section
- Hike and camp at elevations of 8,000 ft. and up
- Long days, often up at 6am and in bed at 9pm
We understand the physical requirements may be overwhelming, but we find most people can train and do great. We provide a training plan to help you be physically prepared for your trip so you can succeed and have the most fun.
Major Skills Learned
TALK TO AN ADVENTURE SPECIALIST
We would be happy to chat. Call (307) 755-0642 or email admissions@srom.org.
Frequently asked questions
ARRIVAL
Section 1 // Rock Climbing
Each day will have a spiritual theme with family time in the evenings that often includes worship, teaching and discussion. Your leaders will also model for you what it means to be a leader of the day (LOD) and then you will get a chance to be a leader of the day for at least one of the days on course.
A Typical Rock Climbing Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Gear packed for a day of rock climbing
Noon – Lunch: Eat while out climbing
3:30 PM: Head back to base camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Section 2 // Mountaineering
Each day will have a spiritual theme with family time in the evenings that often includes worship, teaching and discussion. Your leaders will also model for you what it means to be a leader of the day (LOD) and then you will get a chance to be a leader of the day for at least one of the days on course.
A Typical Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Gear packed for snow school
Noon – Lunch: Eat while on the snow
3:30 PM: Head back to base camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Section 3 // Backpacking
You will head deeper into the Wind River Range. There you will see towering peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and streams, meadows of wildflowers, and incredible starlit skies in some of the finest wilderness areas in North America. We will teach you the technical outdoor skills to thrive in the mountains, learning things such as campsite selection, route finding, and navigation.
In this section, you will also get an extended time to reflect and spend time alone with God on a solo. The lessons will build upon each other, putting it all to the test with your final peak attempt.
A Typical Backpacking Day:
(times are estimates and will vary)
6:00 AM – Breakfast: cook breakfast with your cook group
8:30 AM: Pack-up camp and head to your next campsite
Noon – Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a scenic spot on the trail
3:00 PM: Get to your new campsite and setup camp
4:00 PM: Time Alone with God (TAG), typically 1hr, and/or teaching.
5:00 PM – Dinner: Make a tasty dinner with your cook group
7:00 PM: Family Time – debrief day, worship, and devotional/teaching
9:00 PM: Bedtime
Special Days:
- Overnight Solo
- Peak Attempt
- Student Led Travel
Departure
Returning to the SROM base, you will de-issue group gear and rented gear before showering. After showering, teams will often go out for a celebratory dinner* at a local restaurant.
The next day you will wrap up de-issuing group gear, debrief the course with a SROM staff member, and prepare to share what God has done on course at the celebratory dinner that night. In the evening, the welcome home cookout will commence, with family and friends welcome and encouraged to attend. It will be a time of sharing and celebrating the accomplishments of the team. The party and course officially concludes that evening.
*This meal is not covered by SROM. However, it is a good thing to plan for.
PHOTOS & VIDEO
Testimonies of Transformation
“I was escaping the pressure to be me for a while…I needed a break from college and life! I was able to figure out my identity on this course…I was able to connect more with God through prayer and time alone with Him!”
“I have a new resolve and energy for my life and for the pursuit of God.”
Regular
Applications March 1st - 60 days priorLate
Applications 60-30 days prior- Onto the regular price of $6875 per person
Bring a friend and you'll both save $50!
Questions About Covid-19
What if SROM has to cancel the course?
You will receive a full refund if we need to cancel the course.
Should I get travel insurance?
Yes, we highly recommend getting travel insurance and checking to see if it covers Covid-19 or not.
Not only is travel insurance helpful for a potential change in plans or a course closure, some travel insurance plans will also cover if you needed to be evacuated from a course for a medical emergency.
QUESTIONS?
What is Wilderness Ministry?
Get a FREE mailed catalog to learn about our philosophy of wilderness ministry that we have developed over 40 years. Topics include:
- Why Wilderness?
- Creation Deficit Disorder
- The Reward of Risk
- Leadership Development
- Philosophy of Education
- and much more!