It all started when…

I worked at a beautiful residential camp in the mountains of N.C. during my summers away from Appalachian State University. The camp wasn’t simply an escape from the rigor of school, it was at the roots of understanding authentic adventure. Growing up doing numerous adventure sports - Mountain Biking, Snowboarding, BMX, Skateboarding, Surfing - I thought adventure was all about me. But then, I discovered the power of adventuring with others and I was hooked. Cross country trips connecting roads from South Carolina to Texas, Arizona, Northern California, Wyoming, Illinois and back home to North Carolina. All in a matter of weeks with over 50 friends - that’s a life changing experience. Not only did it help me see the diverse and incredible country we live in, it grew my faith in ways I couldn’t explain. A quote from Christian author Max Lucado says, “Nature is God’s workshop. The sky is his resume. The universe is his calling card. You want to know who God is? See what he has done.” I saw landscapes in our beautiful country that could not be explained, and I saw the same feelings on my friends faces beside me. How did God do this? Nature transcends our small understanding of self to spectacular truth, and adventure is the vehicle that we discover the connection. Ascent exists to adventure together - changing young peoples lives and living more connected because of it.