WELCOME TO RUBICON OUTDOORS What we provide OUR MISSION Rubicon Outdoors is committed to providing detail oriented, environmentally friendly and professionally staffed adventure programs for youths, adults, families, and groups. PROFESSIONAL GUIDES Our Guides are certified in CPR and are Wilderness First Responders. Lead Guides are certified Top-rope climbing instructors by the American Mountain Guides Association and are certified LNT Trainers by the Leave No Trace organization. Many have a degree in Adventure Education, Wilderness Leadership, Environmental Studies, or a related field. They have a wide range of knowledge and experience. From extended wilderness expeditions to multi-week rock climbing programs, our guides have gained respect within the field of Adventure Travel. All guides have a current resume and copies of their certifications on file. Select Who We Are above to view our staff bios. SMALL GROUP SIZE Trips are limited to eight participants on backcountry trips and twelve participants for one-day group trips. We have an extremely high guide to participant ratio, at least one guide for every four participants. A maximum of two participants per guide for Private, multi-pitch rock guiding. Maximum number of participants varies with each program. EQUIPMENT Rubicon Outdoors uses only state of the art field equipment. All equipment meets or exceeds industry standards and is tracked and maintained on a regular base. MEDICAL All participants must complete the Medical form before the start of any trip. It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. Any food, insect or other allergies need to be addressed. A physician’s signature is required for all participants. WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING Rubicon Outdoors provides group food, camping and specialized equipment. Participants must provide their own personal clothing and some equipment. A list of required items and recommendations is attached. Pre-trip informational support is always available. FOOD All guides are well versed in the art of outdoor cooking and are certified “Safe Food Handlers” by the Department of Health. Special dietary needs and beliefs are respected and taken into account when planning menus. Be prepared for Dutch Oven cooking, Gourmet backcountry meals and traditional local fare. Some restaurant meals may be necessary during transport from one area to another. Participants will be responsible for these meals. LODGING/CAMPING All lodging and camping is included in all of our adventure trips. Type of sleeping
arrangements will vary with each course. All sleeping arrangements are based on two people per occupancy. These arrangements must be made in advance. Accommodations will range from two person tents in the backcountry, thatched roof huts or Yurts, to youth hostels, bed and breakfasts, five star lodges and inns. TRANSPORTATION Rubicon Outdoors provides all transportation during a program. Participants are responsible for all airfare or ground transportation to and from trip start and finish. Special transportation needs and logistical support can be arranged through our office. TRIP AREAS Rubicon Outdoors operates in urban, rural, wilderness + remote expedition settings. We specialize in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Southwest and South Africa. Rubicon Outdoors operates under a Special Use Permit in Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Prescott National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, the South African Tourism Board and other agencies where appropriate. WEATHER You can and should expect all types of weather on any Rubicon Outdoors program. Prior planning and stressing prevention are a part of every adventure program. Participants will be instructed on proper layering and preventative measures for cold, wet and heat. It is ultimately the job of the participants to follow the guide’s advice and requests. Weather, such as, but not limited to: lightning, hail, rain, sleet and snow are possible during all times of the year. WELCOME Our 2003 season is over and what a year we had! It began in March with our Women’s Wilderness Workshop, led by Tracey Taylor, in Joshua Tree National Park. In April we had an incredible eight-day trek down the seldom-used Boucher trail in the Grand Canyon, and in May we facilitated a two-day adventure and community building program for 30 seventh and eighth grade students from Skyview Middle School in Prescott, Arizona. Our Summer Teen-Adventure programs were awesome! We not only ran our popular four-week Multi-Element course in Yosemite, but also a two-week Whitewater Kayaking/Rock Climbing course and an all Girls Rock Climbing course led by Marieta and based at Lovers Leap near Lake Tahoe. Thanks to all the participants who made the summer a huge success! In August Matt completed an intensive ten day AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) Rock Instructor course, taught by Alan Jolley of Colorado Mountain Guides, and with our new special use permit at Lover’s Leap Matt was busy running guided climbing trips well into November! Fall of 2003 we had three incredible backpacking trips ranging from two nights to five nights below the rim of the Grand Canyon! We already have four Grand Canyon trips booked for April and are currently accepting reservations for October and November 2004. The 2004 season promises to be our most exciting yet! Please browse our website to find out more about who we are and what we provide. Happy Adventuring, Marieta and Matt Brown Who We Are Our Guides are certified in CPR and are Wilderness First Responders. Lead Guides are certified Top-rope climbing instructors by the American Mountain Guides Association and are certified LNT Trainers by the Leave No Trace organization. Many have a degree in Adventure Education, Wilderness Leadership, Environmental Studies, or a related field. They have a wide range of knowledge and experience. From extended wilderness expeditions to multi-week rock climbing programs, our guides have gained respect within the field of Adventure Travel. All guides have a current resume and copies of their certifications on file. Read more about our founders and instructors by linking to their pages below: Matt Brown, Co-Founder Matt is co-owner of Rubicon Outdoors as well as Program Coordinator and Lead Guide. Growing up in California, Matt was fortunate enough to live close to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. At an early age his parents instilled in him a healthy respect for the Outdoors and helped foster a desire to go further into the mountains. He has gone on to backpack and explore the length of the Sierra’s and eventually found himself wintering in the Desert’s of the Southwest. He has been working in the field of adventure travel for over ten years and has worked for such Outdoor programs as: Prescott College, United World College, The Academy at Adventure Quest, The Athenian School and The Chadwick School. Matt is an AMGA Certified Top-Rope Site Manager, Certified Wilderness First Responder from the Wilderness Medical Society, has successfully completed the AMGA Rock Instructor course and is currently pursuing his Rock Instructor Certification from the American Mountain Guides Association. He holds a degree in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College with an emphasis on Human Development. Marieta Brown, Co-Founder Marieta grew up on her families’ banana farm in the sub-tropical valley of Letaba, a rural farming region in the northeastern corner of South Africa. Growing up only forty-five minutes from the Palabowra gate of the famed Kruger National Park, some of her earliest memories are of playing in the Bushveld while her father surveyed the family game farm. A world of adventure away, Marieta is now co-owner and guide for Rubicon Outdoors. Marieta has a deep connection and understanding of nature. From the Indian Ocean to the Grandest of Canyons her passion for exploration and belief in the incredible life changing experiences the Wilderness can hold, Marieta has dedicated her life to sharing her passion with others. Jason Kroll, Lead Guide Jason is a Lead Guide for Rubicon Outdoors and has worked with us since the beginning. Jason is a Certified Top-Rope Site Manager by the American Mountain Guides Association as well as a Certified Wilderness First Responder by the Wilderness Medicine Institute. He has worked for respected programs such as the Chadwick School, Prescott College, Azure Adventures Professionals, and the Athenian School. Laura Schmonsees, Lead Guide Laura graduated from Prescott College in 1996 with an M.A. in Environmental Studies and has been teaching and guiding climbing since 1993. She has worked for world-class programs such as Adventure Quest the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. She loves the natural history of the outdoors and enjoys sharing her passion of climbing with others. She is certified in CPR and a Wilderness First Responder as well as a Certified Rock Guide with the American Mountain Guides Association. Laura currently lives in Teton Valley, ID. Trevor Deighton, Guide Trevor has been an active climber since 1989 and a climbing guide and teacher since 1993. In 1996 he received his BA from Prescott College in Outdoor Experiential Education and Natural History. He is currently a senior instructor and instructor trainer at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). His love of the mountains transcends traditional rock climbing to snow and ice mountaineering, backcountry skiing and snowboarding and natural history. His humor, energy and love of climbing are infectious. “Any day climbing is a perfect day.” Brian Ford, Guide Brian has been involved in the field of Adventure Education for the past 12 years. Growing up in the foothills of the southern Adirondack Mountains of New York State, Brian was naturally drawn to the outdoors. Early on, his passion for natural history fueled his interest in adventure-based recreation taking him to exotic destinations throughout New England, The Rocky Mountains, and the Himalayas. At the age of 22 he attended Prescott College were he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural History and Outdoor Recreation. Since college, he has worked at a variety of different jobs in the field of Adventure Education including, rock climbing guide, ropes course facilitator, state park naturalist, adventure camp director, and whitewater kayak instructor. For the past 4 years he has been employed as a Faculty Instructor of Adventure Education at Prescott College. Brian is a certified Wilderness First Responder, CPR provider, and Lifeguard. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona. CALENDAR View our course calendar from month to month. Please contact us via email or at 800-903-6987 if you have any questions — or if you are interested in setting up a special trip at a time that it would suit you. NEWS AND REVIEWS Check out the latest of Rubicon Outdoors in the news, as well as what past customers have to say about us. If you'd like to send us comments of your own, we would love to hear them—please send us a line! CERCA Magazine article Two Wild Weeks TESTIMONIALS I run a year-round youth program with the First Baptist Church of Tahoe City, CA. We have been using Rubicon Outdoors as a regular part of our summer Cross Training program since 1999. Our students range in age from 11 to 18, and just as vastly in experience and ability. Matt and his team work well with all students, no matter their age, ability, sex, or level of climbing experience. He always has a smile on his face, and acts like leading our group is not work, but a pleasure. I have been impressed by his administrative attention to detail, as he always returns phone calls and e-mails, and sends us any paperwork we might need well before we need it. The fact that Rubicon Outdoors is such a small company allows them to maintain the highest level of quality and personal attention while on the mountain. Being responsible for these teenagers, I don't take safety lightly, and I am confident that Matt's immaculate safety record is no accident. He is intensely careful in preparing climbs as well as providing helmets for everyone near the climbing area. I have noticed many instances where a student wanders to the base of a climb without a helmet, and Matt wastes no time in sending the student back for one. No one begins climbing without all the necessary safety equipment checked and rechecked. Even though he requires us to bring adult supervision, he works as though from the moment we arrive on site, he is solely responsible for all of our safety, whether we are swimming, climbing, hiking, or just having lunch. Lastly, I must share what a pleasure it is to work with Rubicon Outdoors. Every year, our needs have been slightly different, and every year, Matt has worked to accommodate our needs. Because we have such a packed calendar, we work hard to keep our cost down each week, and he has been more than generous to us in that aspect as well. Rubicon Outdoors is professional, fun, safe, affordable, and challenging for our students. I couldn't ask for a more positive experience for myself or my youth. Michael Tolar First Baptist Church of Tahoe City, CA August 2003 Matt, Jason and Marieta, You have taken us beyond the “Rubicon” and have instilled in us a desire to continue to go further. Your guidance through extreme situations has instilled in us a deep rooted knowledge and a chance to discover and take a risk to strengthen our own worth as individuals. Thank you Matt, Jason and Marieta for one heck of a profound lifetime experience. P.S. You made our mother happy knowing that we were safe with strangers taking her two adolescent sons up and down mountains, on rivers and having a positive safe interpersonal environment to grow interpersonally. With respect, Asa and Jesse Robbins Summer 2002 Our son, Chris Smith, has been climbing with Matt Brown every summer for the past five years. Sending a twelve year old cross-country to rock climb takes a lot of trust on a parent's part. Though Rubicon Outdoors and Matt Brown had a wonderful reputation, this was a leap of faith for us. Chris's experiences with Matt and his staff have gone far beyond our expectations. Matt has instilled a sense of respect for the environment, self-reliance and climbing professionalism that Chris has carried with him into all areas of his life. Matt has reinforced values Chris has seen at home, from a love of the outdoors to pursuing activities with a passion that is mixed with a healthy respect for inherent risks. Chris is now off to college and Matt has taken on the role of a mentor and friend. As parents we feel that Rubicon Outdoors has contributed significantly to embellishing who Chris is — a pretty wonderful person who continues to climb with incredible enthusiasm. Toni Nagel-Smith and Tom Smith August 2001 Matt, Thanks again for all the hospitality. I want you to know that the AMGA course that I took with Rubicon was one of the most professional and fun courses I have been a part of. The guide, Alan Jolley, was superb in his knowledge and teaching ability. I really enjoyed having Amos Whiting there as I felt he added a good complement to Alan. The accommodations and food that were part of the package were amazing. I would not hesitate to encourage people to take this course from Rubicon. They are a great company. Jeff Skinner Program Director Boojum Institute June 1, 2001Dear Matt: I am writing to thank you for taking the youth group of the First Baptist Church of Tahoe City for a day of rock climbing. . . . As the person who schedules all of the events for the children's and youth ministries of our church, I must tell you that I am very impressed with you as a person and with your business practices. The youth have said for the past two years that the trip with you was the highlight of their summer. . . . The parents have all commented about how secure they felt letting their kids go rock climbing with you. I too, have been very impressed. You have been easy to communicate with and you follow through on everything. . . . You have been very flexible on scheduling and have tried to accommodate our needs and desires. Thanks again for such a great trip! I'll be talking to you soon to set up rock climbing days for the youth for next summer! Debbie Wohler Home Missionary/Missionary Coordinator First Baptist Church of Tahoe City August 10, 2000 COURSES CONTACT US For information on all of our courses, contact us at: P.O. Box 3986 Prescott, AZ 86302-3986 Phone: (800) 903-6987 Email: info@rubiconoutdoors.com You can also email us directly: matt@rubiconoutdoors.com marieta@rubiconoutdoors.com Please let us know what you think of our website! If you would like us to send you information in the mail, please fill out our online form at the "Get More Info" link at left. DOWNLOAD FORMS Below you can download the pdfs you will need to enroll in a course and complete your application. If you need any further assistance call us at our toll-free number (800) 903-6987. You will need Acrobat Reader to download and view these files. If you do not have Acrobat, you can download it for free from www.adobe.com Enrollment Packet Grand Canyon Info Packet Or download individual formd you may need separately: Enrollment Form Risk Form Policy Form Medical Form Payment and Refund Information Equipment List LINKS The following links have been put together by our instructors. We update it frequently, and hope it becomes a useful resource for you. If you feel there is an important link that we should include, please send a note to us. Thanks! GENERAL INFORMATION Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CSA Travel Insurance U.S. State Department Passport Services U.S. Dept of State Travel Warnings EQUIPMENT EMS Lowe Alpine Patagonia REI ORGANIZATIONS Access Fund American Mountain Guides Association Colorado Mountain Guides Current Adventures Leave No Trace Foundation Lover’s Leap Guides Prescott Outdoors Professional Paddlesports Association Sun Valley Trekking ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel vendome OTHER LINKS ann-design