Beyond the Summit: How Veterans Adventure Group Transforms Lives Through Mountain Challenges

In the unforgiving cold of Denali at 17,000 feet, seven veterans huddled in their tents for seven days, weathering negative 40-degree temperatures and blizzards. Among them was Derek Roberts, a former Army Ranger turned climbing program lead for Veterans Adventure Group (VAG), who would spend 22 days on North America's highest peak, half of those days were above 14,000 feet.

"You learn a lot about yourself when you're stuck in a tent for seven days in those conditions," Derek reflects on that expedition. "And shit gets pretty interesting."

But for Derek and the veterans he guides, these moments of extreme challenge represent something far more profound than adventure, they're opportunities for transformation, healing, and rediscovering the camaraderie that many veterans miss after leaving military service.

From Maine Mountains to Military Service

Derek's journey to Veterans Adventure Group (VAG) began in the rugged terrain of his native Southern Maine, where he cut his teeth on the rock, mixed alpine, and ice climbing of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's White Mountains. "I spent more time in the woods than I feel like I did in my own house," he says of his youth.

After graduating from Maine Maritime Academy, where he worked at the rock gym in exchange for tuition, Derek transitioned straight into the Army, serving for five years in Special Operations as an Army Ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. 

The connection to VAG came through social media, a former Ranger's post about climbing Denali caught Derek's attention. "I reached out to Nick and I was like, dude, you got to tell me, what is this program? How did you climb Denali? I need to know everything about it."

That curiosity led to a four-hour Zoom call with Austin, VAG's program director, and after that Derek was sold on the program. "Yep, I'm hooked. Sign me up. Let's go."

More Than Just Climbing

What sets Veterans Adventure Group apart from traditional guide services isn't just their military background, it's their understanding of what veterans need beyond the summit. VAG provides resources and support across multiple disciplines, from skydiving to mountaineering, empowering military veterans to achieve individual and team objectives across land, sea, and air.

"The organization was really, really bent on the camaraderie of both active duty, reservist, National Guard, and veterans," Derek explains. "You come out of where you are in the military, and then you move over to this organization that is still trying to value the leadership, the resiliency, the brotherly, sisterly camaraderie, with a mission set being focused on the summit of a mountain."

This year alone, VAG received over 250 climber applications for their mountaineering program. But Derek emphasizes that the organization's strength lies in its flexibility and growth. "If it benefits veterans and it's relatively safe and we get to check the box from Justin [the founder], we're able to expand into new ventures."

The program now includes multiple verticals: scuba diving, skydiving, and even an endurance athlete program for ultramarathons. "Not everyone's into climbing, not everyone's skydiving. So the more we can expand, the more we can get our program out to more veterans and service members where it gainfully benefits them."

Building Teams, Not Just Climbing Routes

On Denali, Derek faced his own challenges alongside the veterans in his climbing team. As one of only two climbers who hadn't been above 14,000 feet, he had to rely on his technical proficiency while learning from teammates with high-altitude experience.

"Technically speaking, I was coming in as probably one of the more technically proficient climbers. So I was able to leverage my ability on some of the technical aspects of the climb," Derek says. "But honestly, they just supported me emotionally, getting up that mountain because there were a couple moments above 17,000 feet that I was struggling."

This dynamic exemplifies VAG's team-first approach. "Everyone just leaves their ego in the parking lot. And then you're able to cross-collaborate and teach or support each other where they need."

The transformations Derek witnesses make the challenges worthwhile. He recalls a veteran on Mount Rainier who had never been on a mountain or worn crampons: "There were several moments where the guy was pretty scared... but on the summit, he was like, 'this is the most badass thing I've ever done.' Having that in a group, being able to witness it from a lead's perspective and a climber's perspective is pretty awesome."

Fueling the Mission

In environments where every ounce matters and nutrition can mean the difference between success and failure, Derek relies on gear that performs when it counts. During his 22-day Denali expedition, he carried RecPak for every single day.

The convenience factor proved crucial during summit pushes. "I took two of them on my summit push, so there were 1,500 calories right there that I was able to quickly access. I had a significant portion of the first one before I even made the summit just to fuel me on the way up."

For an organization that values reliable gear as much as they value their team members, RecPak has become an essential part of their kit. Through our partnership, we're proud to support VAG's mission by donating RecPaks for their expeditions, ensuring these veterans have the nutrition they need to push their limits safely.

"I personally took a RecPak for every day that I was on the mountain. So I think I ended up taking 20 of them," Derek explains. "It was a super lightweight pack, 750 calories, 41 grams of protein. They could sustain you as opposed to just carrying five granola bars or protein bars or shit that's going to freeze on you."

 

Beyond the Summit

Derek's approach to balancing safety with challenge reflects VAG's unique philosophy. Unlike traditional guide services where the guide makes all decisions, VAG operates as a team.

"From a lead standpoint, I'll pitch, 'hey, we have to cross this crevasse. These are the risks.' The team then makes a team decision as to whether or not we want to do it," Derek explains. "At the end of the day, each individual climber is ultimately responsible for their own decisions."

This approach recognizes something fundamental about the veterans VAG serves: they're capable of making tough decisions under pressure. They just need the right environment and support to rediscover that capability.

As Derek puts it, "Our tolerance for risk is generally higher than that of your average civilian, which means we are comfortable operating with a lower margin of safety than most guide groups"

Supporting the Mission

Veterans Adventure Group's transformative work depends entirely on donations and sponsorships to make these life-changing expeditions accessible to veterans. Multi-day mountaineering expeditions, especially to peaks like Denali, require significant resources including specialized gear and permits to food and transportation. Many veterans face financial barriers that would otherwise prevent them from accessing these healing experiences. Through the generosity of supporters and partners like RecPak, VAG can focus on what matters most: providing veterans with the tools, community, and challenges they need to rediscover their strength and purpose.

The result is an organization that doesn't just take veterans on adventures but it reminds them who they are and what they're capable of achieving. Whether it's a first-time climber conquering their fear of heights or a seasoned mountaineer pushing their technical limits, Veterans Adventure Group creates space for transformation that extends far beyond any single summit.

In a world where many veterans struggle to find their place after service, organizations like VAG provide something invaluable: a renewed sense of purpose, community, and the reminder that their best adventures may still lie ahead.

If you are interested in helping more veterans access these healing experiences by supporting VAG and its programs or to make a donation, you can find more information at visiting the VAG Website or by reaching out to Derek Roberts or Austin McCall.