HMI Gap Semesters: Adventure, Conservation & Leadership in Wild Places

Name: HMI Gap Semesters: Adventure, Conservation & Leadership in Wild Places
Brand: High Mountain Institute
SKU: 66434
Rating: 4.89 (96 reviews)

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4.89 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +2

United States of America
Chile
- Patagonia

Length

4 - 26 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel After College Conservation Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Learning Differences Post-High School Social Justice Study Abroad Volunteer Abroad Wilderness +2

Need-based funding, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility

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Program Details

Activities

Backpacking Camping Canyoning Mountain Climbing Rafting Rock Climbing Sightseeing Skiing Trekking

Timeframe

Fall Spring Winter

Housing

Host Family Hostel Lodge Tent

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

17490

Price Details

The price of tuition includes room and board as well as all domestic travel throughout the program. Tuition does not include travel to and from Denver and to Patagonia, or the price of gear.

Need-based financial aid is available on a rolling basis. Our highest awards include full tuition, free gear rentals and travel to and from the program.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Park Fees Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Nov 15, 2023

Last Reviewed: Apr 25, 2024

Wish List

54 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

HMI’s Gap Semesters connect outdoor adventure, conservation, environmental curriculum, and leadership as students venture on an uninterrupted journey of self-discovery in the natural world. Our students thrive as engaged citizen by exploring some of the world’s most awe-inspiring places with intention. We believe the best learning occurs in nature’s classroom. Through experiential and field-based activities-- students explore complex cultural, environmental, and ecological issues in the areas that they visit.

Central to all HMI Gap year programs is extended experience and practice in outdoor adventure. Each course goes into great depth to advance students’ skill in either rock climbing or wilderness travel. Whether climbing iconic sandstone towers in Utah, hiking through a breathtaking glacial valley in Patagonia, or rafting down the pristine blue waters of the Chilean Futaleufu river, our outdoor curriculum is aimed at moving students toward excellence and independence.

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Video and Photos

American West Traverse expedition in Utah

Exploring Gravel Canyon in Bears Ears National Monument

HMI Students take a festive water break in the Sawatch Range, CO.

Taking in the breathtaking artistic remains of the ancestral puebloan ruins in Bears Ears National Monument

HMI Gap course at Cerro Colorado, outside Chile Chico

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

The High Mountain Institute believes that both diversity and inclusion are essential to growth and learning. We all achieve our potential when each person in the community feels a true sense of belonging, and has the confidence to express their full self.

At HMI, inclusiveness starts with an intentional and affirming community. Creating such a community is our priority. We connect deeply to each other through classes, wilderness expeditions, and shared responsibilities. We prioritize open communication and honest conflict resolution. These efforts inspire us to build trust, to value diverging perspectives, and to build communities greater than ourselves.

Historically, however, outdoor programs like HMI have attracted largely white and privileged populations. At times, this has made it challenging for all at our school to feel fully part of our community. We seek to address these challenges at HMI by increasing the diversity of our students, faculty, staff, trustees, and advisers; by creating classes and activities that explore and reflect students’ identities; by expanding the cultural competence of faculty and staff; and by continually challenging the assumptions we hold.

We engage with this challenging work because we are committed to building an exceptional learning environment rooted in community—not just for some, but for all who seek to be inspired by the natural world.

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Program Highlights

Rock Climbing, Backpacking, Backcountry Skiing, Rafting, Canyoneering
Stewardship, Community, Leadership
Environmental Studies Curriculum
Spanish language
College credit through Western Colorado University or Portland State

Popular Programs

Exploring the slot canyons of Southeastern Utah

Traverse Semesters

Spend a semester backpacking, backcountry skiing, canyoneering, and rafting through the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Greater Canyonlands of Utah, and vast deserts of Arizona. You’ll go into great depth to advance your backcountry wilderness skills while studying pressing environmental issues and participating in real-world conservation service work.

Dedicate a semester to honing your technical outdoor rock climbing skills.

Rock Semesters

Spend a semester rock climbing and traveling through the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Greater Canyonlands of Utah, and breathtaking Patagonia. You’ll go into great depth to advance your climbing and outdoor skills for the entire semester while studying pressing environmental issues and participating in hands-on conservation projects.

Work with climate scientists to study the glaciers in Patagonia's wild Northern Icefields.

Trek Semesters

During an HMI Gap Trek Semester students focus on honing technical backpacking and backcountry travel skills.

In the fall students travel through the American West and Chilean, Patagonia. In the Spring students travel through Chilean, Patagonia.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.89 Rating

based on 96 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year

5 rating 88.54%
4 rating 11.46%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 4.75
Support 4.9
Fun 4.85
Value 4.9
Safety 4.85

Good for Adventure travelers, Students

Showing 49 - 56 of 96 reviews

I had the best semester of my life doing this program! I got to meet awesome people and make some of my best friends ever. I also got to have some of the coolest experiences of my life and the instructors were super encouraging and supportive. I learned so much about myself and I feel that I’ve grown so much after doing this program. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to grow, make connections, and spend time outdoors. The people on my trip were awesome and I felt close with every single one of them. We got to have deep conversations and hilarious conversations alike.

What was your funniest moment?

Our funniest moment was on Halloween when we all created costumes with what we had in our packs on the last night of a backpacking expedition and had a dance party.

This semester was totally unexpected for me - I was fully committed to going right into college, not even considering a gap year. COVID hit and I did a last minute pivot, figuring anything would at least be better than online classes. This semester has turned out to be such an amazing experience - I've met so many cool people, seen and truly experienced some of the most incredible places in the US, and become a lot more comfortable with myself in community and as a leader. A total growth experience - if you're interested to be challenged physically and mentally, have awesome, inspiring mentors, and have a chance for some self reflection, this program is for you.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would try a little harder to learn more of the flora and fauna by name and identification before and during the semester. There's so much life out in these places, and I think I would have felt even more connected to the place if I'd been more aware of all the species around me.

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HMI Gap was such an amazing experience! Each place we went was so unique and rewarding in its own way. The program was physically quite difficult at times but that made everything feel really rewarding. There was a nice balance of backpacking and trying climbing and rafting. Sleeping under the stars for 80 days was so nice and being out in the backcountry for so long gave a great opportunity for reflection. Backcountry baking was definitely a highlight and bonding experience. Would definitely recommend!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

We got to hike through the Paria Canyon which was incredible!

I was hesitant to enter HMI and take a gap semester. I didn’t realize how much one can learn from being out backpacking in the wilderness. Had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I met some amazing people that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life. As someone who hasn't ever gone backpacking before this semester I felt comfortable because of the expertise of the instructors. They taught many important technical and non technical skills that took a complete rookie to being very comfortable in the backcountry. Definitely recommend.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

How much I learned, technical and non technical skills.

Choosing to spend my gap semester with HMI was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I learned so much more about backpacking and life in the backcountry than I ever thought I would and went to the most amazing places! One of my favorite parts of the semester was our 5 day backpacking trip in the Paria slot canyon in Arizona. It was unlike anywhere I have ever been and so cool to walk through and camp in the same canyon for 40 miles. I would do the entire semester all over again if I could.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

A baby coyote ran right in front of me during my 24 hour solo in Arizona!

Went in with no wilderness experience and was completely satisfied. Allowed for in depth exploration of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Great amount of support from staff and administration, incredibly motivated group of students. The environmental studies curriculum helps maintain an academic component to the experience while also allowing for an added layer to the places we visit. This is a great experience for experienced backpackers and newbies alike. Staff does a great job of catering to the needs of students! 10/10!

My time at HMI was absolutely wonderful. I had the opportunity to both sport climb and spend time backpacking in beautiful locations in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Every trip we did encompassed so many essential aspects of the outdoor and gap year experience. Included in our gaining of outdoor skills was an environmental studies curriculum that allowed us to gain perspective on the land on which we recreated. Adding this curriculum made me feel much more responsible about how I used the land. The instructors throughout the course always provided support and guidance in every expedition.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

We dry camped on an unscheduled travel day while also celebrating a birthday.

The HMI gap program is a must if you’re an outdoorsy young adult who wants to explore the American west in a hands on way that goes hand in hand with an environmental studies curriculum. It’s an experience of a lifetime that I’ll always keep dear to my heart and has helped me develop a plan for my future. The inclusive community of HMI allows you to truly be yourself which fosters a positive community of students and instructors alike. If you’re seeking an adventure that gets your body and mind moving, this is the place to be.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Come into this program with an open mindset. Being able to step out of your comfort zone and try new things was something I frequently did on this trip and has made me enjoy life much more.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I'd always wanted to do some kind of wilderness expedition or trip - but it just never ended up happening when I was younger. When I realized I could take a gap year to go do something awesome in the backcountry I was pretty much hooked - HMI particularly appealed to me because of the environmental studies/conservation curriculum which appealed to my curious, academic side as well as my desire to go adventuring!

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I had to figure out travel to and from the program myself, and get gear. HMI was incredibly supportive before and during this semester, though: There was a comprehensive gear list to work off of, there were lots of staff who were incredibly receptive to the (many) questions I had going in, and during the semester the instructors of my semester were always open to questions and provided support when I needed it.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

First: bring a wildlife book or guide of some kind! And generally bring your curious spirit. There's SO MUCH you can learn just by asking questions out there and looking for the answers, and it's totally worth making the extra effort to understand the landscapes around you.
Second: you're going to spend a lot of time with a small group of people. Be open to them all during the whole semester. It feels great to be given a clean slate during the semester, and even better when you can reciprocate that for everyone.
Last, and perhaps most important: This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. Approach it every day with gratitude and wonder and an open heart.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The wilderness and conservation semester (HMI's heaviest backpacking semester) is essentially a series of 2-week-long expeditions. In the backcountry, most days mean waking up, cooking breakfast on the WhisperLite and packing a lunch, and then packing up camp to leave for a hike to the next campsite. When you get there, you set up camp, hang out and explore depending on the length of the hiking day, cook dinner, and then turn in for a night under the stars, usually exhausted and incredibly glad for the warmth of your sleeping bag. There are usually some layover days where we do day hikes or play group games sprinkled into the expeditions. Then, between expeditions, we stay in a hostel, clean our gear and get it ready for the next expedition, reconnect with family and friends, and rest up.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was quite nervous about spending so much time with so small a group, and also about the climbing portion of our semester.
I shouldn't have worried about the group - the community is facilitated well by instructors, and I think HMI attracts interesting, kind people so we really got along. There were obviously some moments of conflict, but we worked through them, and if I needed time alone I could usually take a moment when we got into camp to journal or nap or whatever I needed.
In terms of the climbing, I felt like I was incredibly good hands - the HMI staff are really qualified and competent and great teachers, so the climbing portion ended up being for me a real chance to conquer some fears.

What should I bring with me?

You should bring small games and things like that. Playing cards was a huge icebreaker for us, and playing party games like Salad Bowl and others was a lot of fun.
Bring plenty of bandanas - you'd be amazed at the multitude of uses they have!
Bring books related to the places you'll be in - I thought it was totally worth the extra weight to be able to read about the landscapes we trekked through.
Bring a packable daypack - the bigger the better! We use them for all kinds of things, and being able to fit more stuff in them is very helpful...

Maya Shyevitch

2019 Alum

Caitlin Durcan

2015 Alum

About High Mountain Institute

The High Mountain Institute's (HMI) programs lie at the intersection of where nature and minds meet. With courses traveling through Patagonia and the American West, students embark on an incredible three-month journey to some of the world's wildest places. With options to choose a rock climbing or wilderness travel focus, students explore these...