WILDERNESS FOR EVERYONE
Who We Are
Ascend Wilderness Experience, based in Weaverville, CA, offers experiences in wilderness that encourage personal and social development as well as appreciation for the natural environment. Since the organization’s founding in 2006, Ascend has led hundreds of adventurers into the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area in Northern California, providing all food, gear, transportation and training at no cost.
OUR STORY
How Ascend Began
Ascend has operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since December 2006, but its roots go back to 1999. For seven years, founder Scott La Fein designed and led a wilderness excursion program through the Human Response Network (HRN), a Trinity County social service agency. The strong response to those early trips inspired the creation of an organization dedicated specifically to connecting people with wilderness.
What began primarily as summer programming for Trinity County youth has grown to serve a broader community, with Ascend continuing to expand opportunities for youth, teens, adults, families and organizations.
