Selection · Not a Checkout
Tourists book. Capable people apply.
Every Untamed Tribe participant is screened. We read every application. If your intent, fitness baseline, and readiness align with the program you're applying for, we'll get you on a 30–45 minute discovery call with Derek or Sam. If it's not the right fit yet, we'll tell you that too — and point you to where to start.
Read this honestly. It saves both of us time.
We don't run "adventures of a lifetime." We run training programs and expeditions with documented readiness standards, real consequence environments, and 4–6 person teams where nobody hides. The application below exists because we owe it to every person on the rope, in the boat, or on the trail to know who they're operating with.
If you're looking for a guided vacation, a corporate ropes course, or a weekend of curated suffering for the social post — there are companies built for that. We're not one of them.
If you want to be developed — physically, mentally, operationally — and you're willing to be held to a standard, keep reading.
02 // Pick Your Entry Point
Where in the pathway do you start?
Most applicants begin at ETP regardless of background. It's the fastest way for us to evaluate fit, and the fastest way for you to evaluate us. Skipping forward is possible — but only with verifiable experience.
ETP Weekend
$500–$800 · 2.5 days
Foundational fieldcraft, navigation, load carry, evening debriefs. The honest place to start if you've never operated in a structured expedition environment, or if it's been more than five years since you have.
- Ruck 25 lb for 5 miles, rolling terrain
- Cleared by primary care for moderate exertion
- No technical prerequisites
EPC Multi-Day
$1,500–$2,500 · 4–5 days
Expedition preparation course. Wilderness medicine fundamentals, technical systems work, decision-making under fatigue. This is where we determine if you're expedition-ready.
- ETP completion or equivalent documented experience
- Ruck 35 lb for 8 miles under 2:30
- Sub-28:00 5K or equivalent aerobic baseline
Domestic Expedition
$2,500–$4,500 · 7–10 days
Colorado alpine traverses, North Florida spring and cave country, Appalachian routes. Real environments, real weather windows, real go/no-go decisions made in the field.
- EPC completion or verified equivalent
- WFA minimum (WFR preferred)
- Documented multi-day backcountry experience
International Expedition
$5,000–$9,000 · 10–14 days
Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Reef and jungle integration in Belize. Future zones in Patagonia and Iceland. Altitude, remoteness, and logistical depth that domestic operations don't replicate.
- At least one completed Untamed Tribe domestic expedition
- WFR current, Global Rescue or equivalent evac coverage
- Discovery call with Derek before deposit accepted
From application to boots-on-the-ground.
Average timeline from submitted application to confirmed cohort spot is 7–14 days. No instant checkout. No pressure to commit before the fit is mutual.
Submit Application
Fitness baseline, relevant experience, medical screening flags, and the intent question that matters most: why this, why now.
Internal Review
Derek and Sam review every application personally. You'll hear back either way — including an honest recommendation if a different entry point is the better fit.
Discovery Call
30–45 minutes with Derek or Sam. Not a sales call — a fit assessment. Both sides decide if there's alignment. Questions are encouraged and expected.
Deposit & Onboarding
25% deposit secures the slot. 50% at 90 days out, final 25% at 30 days. Cohort Discord opens 8 weeks pre-expedition. Training and gear plan begins immediately.
04 // Who This Is Not For
A short, honest disqualification list.
Counterintuitively, telling people who shouldn't apply increases the quality of who does. If any of these describe you right now, we'd rather you wait — or look elsewhere.
You're looking for a vacation.
If your primary goal is to relax, see beautiful country, or post highlight footage — REI Adventures and Backroads are excellent at what they do. We're a different product.
You haven't trained.
Fitness baselines are non-negotiable. Showing up unprepared puts the team at risk and the expedition at risk. Start with ETP, train for 12 weeks, then apply up.
You don't take feedback well.
Evening debriefs are direct. Lead guides make calls you might disagree with. If you need to be the smartest person in the field, this is the wrong team.
Active medical contraindications.
Uncontrolled cardiac conditions, untreated mental health crisis, or recent unresolved injury. Get cleared, get stable, then come back. We'll be here.
05 // Application
Tell us who you are and why this.
Plan on 15–20 minutes. Be specific. Vague answers slow down our ability to assess fit and route you to the right program.