Challenge Camp Virginia

Greenville, VA, USA

BT
Bret Tkacs, LLC
  • Email address verified
38 reviews
Apr 11 - 13, 2024
Group size: 6 - 12
Challenge Camp Virginia
Greenville, VA, USA

Bret Tkacs, LLC
  • Email address verified
38 reviews

Apr 11 - 13, 2024
Group size: 6 - 12

About this trip

Looking to learn in a more challenging environment?  This is your event! Designed for returning students and riders looking for a more challenging learning environment. The same low energy, technique-over-brawn concepts that are taught in the ADV Camp are taught during the Challenge Camp, however they are all learned in more challenging environments.


Due to the nature of this training camp unexpected learning opportunities will occur, ensuring the lesson plan will be fluid, creating a unique class you will never forget!

Make sure you watch this video before signing up.

Riding Conditions

This training primarily takes place on Class 3 and Class 4 or unintentionally Class 5 terrain at Penmerryl Farm. You are not expected to be able to ride your adventure bike through this type of terrain when you arrive, but you are expected to have the physical conditioning and mental drive needed to methodically work through challenging terrain.


This is not a class to show how much you already know or to pound your chest and “just send it”. This is a place to learn strategy and skills for overcoming difficult terrain on big bikes in a controlled manner. 

Additional Requirements

1.  Boots. Due to the high risk locations in this training environment, you will not be allowed to participate wearing "Adventure" boots, work, street, or hiking boots.

2.  Tires. It is highly recommended you show up with 50/50 tires or better. Each lesson is taught in a different area and your bike needs to be able to make it to the next location.

3.  Mental Stamina. You need to show up with the mental ability to override your fears.

4.  Physical Condition. Due to the mobility of this course, if you become physically exhausted, you may not be able to attend all lessons.

Tuition / Trip Insurance

Cancellations typically occur when a rider because of an injury or a damaged motorcycle. In these situations, we seldom have enough time to sell your spot and are unable to issue a credit or refund. This is due to the considerable amount of time and money invested into preparing your event - transporting equipment cross-country, flights, lodging, food, and transport for instructors & staff, renting property, ordering food, etc. as well as a limited number of training spots, a short training season, and our goal to keep tuition low by minimizing profit margins.


Please consider purchasing tuition insurance (through us upon registration) or trip insurance (Travelex, Allianz, or any other) if you cannot afford the loss of your tuition in the rare case you are not able to attend.

What’s included

  • Welcome dinner
  • Graduation dinner
  • Daily breakfasts
  • Snacks and beverages
  • Camp / hammock spots
  • Dry RV camping

What’s not included

  • Lunches & Friday dinner
  • RV spots with hookups
    Available on-site for purchase
  • Cabins
    Available on-site for purchase
  • Gasoline
  • Medical/Travel insurance
  • Motorcycle rental

Available Packages

Adventure Training
$1,500
Adventure Training PLUS Sunday School

Sunday school is all about mastering trail strategies while putting your newly polished riding skills to use during a  4-5  hour ride on Sunday. This optional add-on is not just going for a ride, but is an intense full day of learning critical ADV riding strategies, developing road reading skills, and polishing your skills from the previous days in a real life environment. 

$1,950

Available options

Guest Welcome & Graduation Dinners
$20

If your guest (anyone not signed up for class) is planning on eating with you during the two dinners, please click this option.

Guest Breakfasts
$20

If your guest is NOT staying in a room at Penmerryl and would like to join you for incredible breakfasts, please add this option. 

Tuition Protection Insurance
$110

Protect your tuition from unexpected cancellation due to personal injury, illness or accident that prevents you from attending. More info.



Itinerary

Thursday
Meet & Greet

Check-in begins at 3:00pm on Thursday afternoon.  You will have time to check into your room/cabin or set up your tent (if camping), and get acquainted with your fellow participants.


Around 6:00pm, join your instructors and fellow riding partners at the BYOB Tavern for a catered dinner and discuss what specific skills you will be learning. 


Penmerryl Farm is only 170 miles from Washington DC. At this location, you have the option of staying at this incredible privately-owned farm in a cabin, tent camping (no cost) or your RV.

Your Organizer


BT
Bret Tkacs, LLC
38 reviews
Bret is a master of ADV riding and an exceptional instructor who started teaching adventure bike specific classes in 2006. Bret is now recognized as one of the most accomplished ADV instructors in the nation.

Reviews

Riding to Tibet is not for the faint of heart. There can be surprises from the Chinese government-- and their were. There can be surprises from the weather-- and there were. From terrible roads in Nepal, snow riding down from the Everest Base Camp, monsoon rains in the Himalayas causing landslides and road closures, Chinese border shut-downs, unexpected evacuations dictated by the government, ATMs that would not produce local currency, etc. etc. Through it all, Bret kept everyone informed and was up front with the options and the recommended choices. He kept charge of everything and worked well with our Tibetan guide and the "minder" who was in charge of our group. The route was varied and intere4sting and the opportunity to visit Lhasa and the Potala Palace unique. I would readily travel with Bret again...and I did! Thanks!
By John D for Tibet & Everest Base Camp on Oct 28, 2024
This was a truly amazing motorcycle adventure-- from the roads to the sights to the varied places to stay to the yak-burgers in Kagebeni! This was not an easy ride but could be handled by anyone with a bit of off-road experience. And, it was rarely "off-road." It was just on very bad roads that at times present a true challenge. Bret did an outstanding job of keeping everyone informed and making sure everyone was having their expectations met. The equipment he rented from Hearts & Tears in Pochara was up to the task and the H&T crew were knowledgeable and skilled. I would readily recommend traveling with Bret.
By John D for Nepal Upper Mustang Adventure on Oct 28, 2024
Absolutely unforgettable trip of a lifetime! For me, it's about 3 things: The meeting and talking with the local people to get an understanding of how others live and how we all, basically crave the same things; meeting new friends in the adventure motorcycling community; and experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and geography of a new country. This trip provided the best of all three. The Nepali people are wonderful...gentle, kind, friendly and open. I've never felt more safe on an international trip. The fellow riders were terrific. We came from all corners of the country, aged between 32 and 76, vocations as varied as a commercial cabinet builder, to restaurant owner, hospital executive, retired social worker just to name four. We all had the moto-affliction and had an incredible time with no shortage of conversation. And Nepal...my goodness. From the crazy traffic in Kathmandu, to the incredible peace, serenity, and sheer spirituality (with occasional craziness thrown in) of riding through the Upper Mustang region, it was an experience like no other. And throughout it all, Brett maintains control, even in the situations beyond all of our control, to provide an experience you'll just want to repeat for as long as you're physically able. I can't recommend any more highly.
By Jon K for Nepal Upper Mustang Adventure on Oct 20, 2024
We had a great time. One of the best trips I ever made!
By Wolfgang S for Nepal Upper Mustang Adventure on Oct 19, 2024
SW
Bret and the team he had did a great job on this trip. What really made the difference was when everything went wrong, outside of the control of anyone on the trip. Let me explain. While we were in Tibet, an out of season monsoon hit, primarily in Nepal but it also washed away the only road that we could use to re-enter Nepal from Tibet. Bret and his team did an outstanding job keeping us up to date on the situation. Eventually the Chinese government instructed us that we had to leave but the only way to do so was to fly from Lhasa to Chengdu and then to Nepal. Bret and the team organized a bus to drive us the two days to Lhasa and prioritized those of us that needed to be back by specific dates so that we could get out of Tibet and hopefully make it back in time. I was in the first group of 7 and while it was a very difficlut process, navigating the Chinese visa requirements, passport control and the bureaucracy for us to leave the country, we eventually made it back to Nepal in time so that I was able to return to the US with no issues. I'm sure Bret and those working hard behind the scenes were very stressed by all this, their professionalism and positive attibute kept all of us free from the worry of how we were going to get home. I personally want to thank Bret, Christina, Matt, Samdup and Namgyl for dealing with all these issues behind the scenes in order to get us out of Tibet and back to Nepal. As Bret says, Attibute Matters and when everything is going well, that's easy to say but this situation shows that Bret lives by those words. In the end, we accomplished 90% of the trip as planned. That 90% was full of great riding, interesting experiences and amazing sights. So much of what I experienced was a first for me and challenged my expectations. This trip wasn't what I expected and that's a good thing because it expanded my world, which I guess was what I had hoped but it was unlike what I had imagined.
By Steven W for Tibet & Everest Base Camp on Oct 14, 2024
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References

YL
I searched a long time to find the right course for me. I was following Brett on YouTube but didn’t know he was doing Adventure training so close to my location. What a wonderful experience! Of course the training was of a great quality but I didn’t expect less, it is everything around it which made this experience so enjoyable and profitable. As we all already know, Brett is really knowledgeable but he is also easy to follow in his training and really relation oriented. He makes you feel confident, provide the right advises and he is funny. Like he says “Attitude Matters” and he always has the right one. The second instructor was Paul. What to say about him…. He is as knowledgeable as Brett, always here to help you in any ways and this Paratrooper veteran probably landed once or twice on his head to be that funny. Great Team, Great Training and a wonderful group of student (We may do some ride together in the future). ….. I’ll be back.
By Yves L on 08 May, 2024

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