Campus News
November 6, 2017
Brett Simpson to Speak at GC Adventure Sports Colloquium on Nov. 14
In 2013 Brett Simpson entered into and completed what is considered one of the hardest bike packing races in the world, Tour Divide. Tour Divide travels 2,745 miles down the Rockies from Canada to Mexico. This solo, self-supported race involves over 200,000 feet of climbing. Simpson is scheduled to give a presentation as part of the Adventure Sports colloquium series on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 p.m. in room 1013 in the Center for Adventure & Outdoor Studies (CAOS) building at the McHenry campus of Garrett College.
The adventure sports colloquium series presentation is part of a course for students enrolled in the Adventure Sports program. The general public is also invited and welcome to attend the presentation.
After the Tour Divide, Simpson participated in other bike races and tours including the Arrowhead 135 (a winter fat bike race with temperatures reaching -50F) and bike touring the Idaho Hot Springs Route. He will share with the audience his adventure of a lifetime, and will also have his bike and some ultralight racing gear with him at his presentation.
Originally from Portland, Ore., he has worked in the field of experiential education for almost 25 years. During that time, he spent time working for a wide range of companies throughout the country in multiple outdoor disciplines including trekking, backpacking, biking, whitewater and sea kayaking, rafting, canoeing, rock and ice climbing and mountaineering.
His travels eventually brought him to Bloomsburg, Pa. to work for one of the oldest college outdoor programs in the country, known as Quest. A long-standing leadership development program at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Quest uses experiential and outdoor education to develop self-reliance and leadership skills in student leaders, and serve the greater community throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Working his way up from staff coordinator to associate director, he eventually became the executive director for seven years before leaving to pursue other opportunities.
During his time at Bloomsburg University, he also worked with the College of Business to start an executive training program known as LEEP (Leadership and Executive Education Program). He continues to work for NOLS Wilderness Medicine teaching throughout the country. His professional life has transitioned into work that involves splitting his time between carpentry, wilderness medicine, executive consulting and professional photography.
Simpson has led multiple trips in Ethiopia, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador taking in their breathtaking beauty, rich culture and diverse outdoor activities. Additionally, he has managed trips and traveled, biked, climbed, paddled, and backpacked extensively throughout the United States and Canada.
He has an undergraduate degree in outdoor recreation and leadership and a master’s degree in education.
For more information on the November 14 colloquium presentation that is open to the general public, persons may contact the Garrett College Adventure Sports office at 301-387-3330.
