Registration for 2019 summer retreats is OPEN! Learn all about our retreats on this page, then register for ONE or TWO trips (only one Estes Park trip, please) now. You will be able to sign up for more retreats later in the summer.
On the trail above the Peter Estin Hut
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On top of the world!
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Uncle Bud’s Hut
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About Live By Living Retreats
Cancer treatment can leave you feeling pretty crummy. You want to feel better — physically, emotionally, spiritually. Recovering from cancer is hard work, and sometimes it helps if you can set a goal for yourself. One of our cancer survivor-caregiver retreats could be just the thing. Maybe you want something that’s not too strenuous. Or maybe you want a challenge, but want to be sure it’s something that is still realistic. Perhaps you’re recovered physically, but still looking to find that “new normal.” Whatever the case, we have a retreat that’s right for you.
Being a caregiver is no easy road, either. That's why all of our retreats are open to survivors and caregivers. We consider anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer to be a survivor. And a caregiver is someone who cares for a person with cancer.
What do we do on a retreat?
On most of Live By Living’s 2-night retreats, we hike to cozy log cabins high in the Rockies, and spend a couple days relaxing, hiking, and enjoying the beauty of nature. We lead the way, and we have a sag wagon to carry your gear and the food. If you don't think you're up for the hike in to the cabin, we can give you a ride. Once you're at the cabin, you can relax, get to know your new friends, and let yourself be pampered by our crew of caring volunteers.
We also offer slightly more “civilized” retreats based at the amazing YMCA Conference Center in Estes Park. On the Estes Park retreats, you drive right to our large, modern cabin at the Y. We then carpool into Rocky Mountain National Park for day hikes and sack lunches, and return to our cabin for dinner and shuteye.
Being a caregiver is no easy road, either. That's why all of our retreats are open to survivors and caregivers. We consider anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer to be a survivor. And a caregiver is someone who cares for a person with cancer.
What do we do on a retreat?
On most of Live By Living’s 2-night retreats, we hike to cozy log cabins high in the Rockies, and spend a couple days relaxing, hiking, and enjoying the beauty of nature. We lead the way, and we have a sag wagon to carry your gear and the food. If you don't think you're up for the hike in to the cabin, we can give you a ride. Once you're at the cabin, you can relax, get to know your new friends, and let yourself be pampered by our crew of caring volunteers.
We also offer slightly more “civilized” retreats based at the amazing YMCA Conference Center in Estes Park. On the Estes Park retreats, you drive right to our large, modern cabin at the Y. We then carpool into Rocky Mountain National Park for day hikes and sack lunches, and return to our cabin for dinner and shuteye.
What does it cost?
We are glad to announce that our 2019 retreats are FREE, thanks to generous grants from the George Karl Foundation, the Colorado Cancer League, the Colorado Cancer Coalition, the Cielo Foundation and the Miller Family Foundation.
After you attend one of our retreats, you can share the great feelings you got by paying it forward in some manner. Check out the Get Involved page for ideas. We are an all-volunteer organization. We need help doing just about everything.
Or, just do this: spread the word. Make it your mission to convince 2 or 3 other survivors and caregivers to attend their first LBL retreat. Still getting treatments or checkups? Tell your care provider what a great time you had! Ask them if they have any Live By Living brochures, and if not, let us know so we can send them some.
How hard are the retreats?
Our retreats vary in difficulty. The trips to the Tenth Mountain Division Huts are challenging, because we hike to these cabins. Most of the hikes are about 4 miles long, with one to two thousand feet of elevation gain. And, the cabins are all above 11,000 feet, so the thin air can also be a challenge. Contact us, and we’ll help you determine whether you’re ready for a trip, and if so, help you choose the trip that’s best for you. We’ll work with you and your physician to assess your level of fitness, and what training you may need to prepare. We strongly encourage you to join us for at least one hike (a hike, not a walk -- see the hikes and walks page) before you go on your first retreat. Still, it’s not a race, and with appropriate training, going on one of our Tenth Mountain retreats is a realistic goal for many cancer survivors. And if you’re just not able to hike to the cabin, we can always give you a ride.
If you live at sea level, have difficulty with altitude, have low blood counts, or enjoy being a couch potato, you should choose one of the YMCA retreats instead of the Tenth Mountain Division Huts. As mentioned above, you drive to the lodging. The YMCA and the hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park are both at much lower altitude than the Tenth Mountain huts. On the YMCA trips, we also have options for easy or moderate hikes each day.
We are glad to announce that our 2019 retreats are FREE, thanks to generous grants from the George Karl Foundation, the Colorado Cancer League, the Colorado Cancer Coalition, the Cielo Foundation and the Miller Family Foundation.
After you attend one of our retreats, you can share the great feelings you got by paying it forward in some manner. Check out the Get Involved page for ideas. We are an all-volunteer organization. We need help doing just about everything.
Or, just do this: spread the word. Make it your mission to convince 2 or 3 other survivors and caregivers to attend their first LBL retreat. Still getting treatments or checkups? Tell your care provider what a great time you had! Ask them if they have any Live By Living brochures, and if not, let us know so we can send them some.
How hard are the retreats?
Our retreats vary in difficulty. The trips to the Tenth Mountain Division Huts are challenging, because we hike to these cabins. Most of the hikes are about 4 miles long, with one to two thousand feet of elevation gain. And, the cabins are all above 11,000 feet, so the thin air can also be a challenge. Contact us, and we’ll help you determine whether you’re ready for a trip, and if so, help you choose the trip that’s best for you. We’ll work with you and your physician to assess your level of fitness, and what training you may need to prepare. We strongly encourage you to join us for at least one hike (a hike, not a walk -- see the hikes and walks page) before you go on your first retreat. Still, it’s not a race, and with appropriate training, going on one of our Tenth Mountain retreats is a realistic goal for many cancer survivors. And if you’re just not able to hike to the cabin, we can always give you a ride.
If you live at sea level, have difficulty with altitude, have low blood counts, or enjoy being a couch potato, you should choose one of the YMCA retreats instead of the Tenth Mountain Division Huts. As mentioned above, you drive to the lodging. The YMCA and the hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park are both at much lower altitude than the Tenth Mountain huts. On the YMCA trips, we also have options for easy or moderate hikes each day.
What are the accommodations like?
It depends on whether you are going to one of the Tenth Mountain Division cabins, or to one of our retreats based at the Estes Park YMCA.
The Tenth Mountain Division Huts are beautiful log cabins, but they are rustic. These cabins have wood-burning stoves for heat, propane cooktops, well-equipped kitchens, solar-powered lights, and stunning vistas. Some things the cabins do NOT have: private bedrooms, running water, electrical outlets. They also do not have flush toilets -- they either have indoor composting toilets or outhouses. Sleeping accommodations vary from cabin to cabin; Uncle Bud’s and Peter Estin have a couple bedrooms that sleep 2-4 people, and a larger area that sleeps up to 10. Francie’s Cabin has 6 bedrooms with 2-4 beds per room. Each bedroom has comfortable foam mattresses and pillows. The cabins sleep 16-20 people; trips typically will have 10-14 guests and 6 volunteer staff. Live By Living appreciates the generosity of the Tenth Mountain Division Hut Association in supporting our use of these huts.
If you want to read more about the cabins, click here, then browse under the “10th Mtn Huts” drop-down menu for the name of the cabin you are interested in.
The accommodations at the YMCA are fully equipped modern cabins and lodge rooms with electricity, showers, etc. Rooms configurations vary, but our trips are based on double occupancy.
It depends on whether you are going to one of the Tenth Mountain Division cabins, or to one of our retreats based at the Estes Park YMCA.
The Tenth Mountain Division Huts are beautiful log cabins, but they are rustic. These cabins have wood-burning stoves for heat, propane cooktops, well-equipped kitchens, solar-powered lights, and stunning vistas. Some things the cabins do NOT have: private bedrooms, running water, electrical outlets. They also do not have flush toilets -- they either have indoor composting toilets or outhouses. Sleeping accommodations vary from cabin to cabin; Uncle Bud’s and Peter Estin have a couple bedrooms that sleep 2-4 people, and a larger area that sleeps up to 10. Francie’s Cabin has 6 bedrooms with 2-4 beds per room. Each bedroom has comfortable foam mattresses and pillows. The cabins sleep 16-20 people; trips typically will have 10-14 guests and 6 volunteer staff. Live By Living appreciates the generosity of the Tenth Mountain Division Hut Association in supporting our use of these huts.
If you want to read more about the cabins, click here, then browse under the “10th Mtn Huts” drop-down menu for the name of the cabin you are interested in.
The accommodations at the YMCA are fully equipped modern cabins and lodge rooms with electricity, showers, etc. Rooms configurations vary, but our trips are based on double occupancy.
What if I’ve never climbed a mountain?
You don’t need to be an experienced mountaineer to enjoy these trips! Whether you’re a veteran of the Appalachian Trail, or your outdoor experience has been limited to walks in the park, you can enjoy our retreats. If you’ve never done a trip like this, we will provide the necessary instruction and training events to help you get in shape. We will work with you to be sure you have appropriate clothing and gear to keep you comfortable on the trail and at the hut. We have packs, sleeping bags, rain gear, etc., we can loan you, but you will need to bring a pair of good-fitting sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
Once we’re at the cabin, you’ll have a choice of activities. Join us for a hike or snowshoe tour, or just relax around the cabin and soak in the views and solitude. We also offer training in various techniques to help you through the cancer journey. Gain calmness and clarity with mindfulness (meditation) training. Relax and center yourself with a gentle yoga practice. Or really relax under the skilled hands of a masseuse. We are a volunteer-based organization, so specific activities offered vary from trip to trip.
But it’s not just about filling your soul: we’ll pamper you with great food, too! Our menus emphasize healthy, gourmet, cancer-fighting recipes. We accommodate special dietary restrictions.
Is this a cancer support group?
Well, yes and no. We sometimes say Live By Living is a support group for people who don’t really want to sit around a table talking about cancer. By the time people have finished treatment, many have had it up to their eyebrows (or where their eyebrows used to be) with cancer, cancer treatment, cancer side effects, and talking about cancer. They just want to be treated as a person, not a patient, and want to figure out how to get on with their lives.
We can help with that.
The experience of being in nature does something to our brains, to our spirits, that helps recalibrate our internal compass, and gives a clarity and assurance to our outlook. And being there with people who understand what you’ve been through means you’ll be in a supportive, caring social environment while you’re exploring the natural environment. Want to share experiences with that really nasty chemo drug? Sure, no problem. Want to talk about the last book you read instead, or just sit on the deck and watch the sun and shadows lope across the forested mountain ridge? No problem, there, either. What you won’t find is a 45-minute scheduled discussion about “Fear of recurrence,” or “Dealing with Difficult Emotions.” We leave that important work to your oncology social worker or counselor.
You don’t need to be an experienced mountaineer to enjoy these trips! Whether you’re a veteran of the Appalachian Trail, or your outdoor experience has been limited to walks in the park, you can enjoy our retreats. If you’ve never done a trip like this, we will provide the necessary instruction and training events to help you get in shape. We will work with you to be sure you have appropriate clothing and gear to keep you comfortable on the trail and at the hut. We have packs, sleeping bags, rain gear, etc., we can loan you, but you will need to bring a pair of good-fitting sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
Once we’re at the cabin, you’ll have a choice of activities. Join us for a hike or snowshoe tour, or just relax around the cabin and soak in the views and solitude. We also offer training in various techniques to help you through the cancer journey. Gain calmness and clarity with mindfulness (meditation) training. Relax and center yourself with a gentle yoga practice. Or really relax under the skilled hands of a masseuse. We are a volunteer-based organization, so specific activities offered vary from trip to trip.
But it’s not just about filling your soul: we’ll pamper you with great food, too! Our menus emphasize healthy, gourmet, cancer-fighting recipes. We accommodate special dietary restrictions.
Is this a cancer support group?
Well, yes and no. We sometimes say Live By Living is a support group for people who don’t really want to sit around a table talking about cancer. By the time people have finished treatment, many have had it up to their eyebrows (or where their eyebrows used to be) with cancer, cancer treatment, cancer side effects, and talking about cancer. They just want to be treated as a person, not a patient, and want to figure out how to get on with their lives.
We can help with that.
The experience of being in nature does something to our brains, to our spirits, that helps recalibrate our internal compass, and gives a clarity and assurance to our outlook. And being there with people who understand what you’ve been through means you’ll be in a supportive, caring social environment while you’re exploring the natural environment. Want to share experiences with that really nasty chemo drug? Sure, no problem. Want to talk about the last book you read instead, or just sit on the deck and watch the sun and shadows lope across the forested mountain ridge? No problem, there, either. What you won’t find is a 45-minute scheduled discussion about “Fear of recurrence,” or “Dealing with Difficult Emotions.” We leave that important work to your oncology social worker or counselor.
All retreats are open to survivors and caregivers. Feel free to bring a spouse, significant other, friend or relative to accompany you on this restorative weekend. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Thanks to the generosity of our great sponsors and donors, our retreats are FREE!
