A MOMENTUS RETREAT · OCTOBER 2026
Higher Ground.
Three days with men who are paying attention.
Fern Ridge Lodge at Sweetgrass · Blowing Rock, NC · 15 spots.
8 of the 11 men who came in year one came back in year two. They didn't know each other when they arrived either.
Three days off the grid, on a mountain, with people who take their lives seriously enough to step away from them.
Choose your room
15 spots available. Beds are first-come, first-served. When a tier sells out, it's gone.
Deposit and payment terms
Reserve your spot with 50% down today.
Remaining balance due July 15, 2026.
Deposits are fully refundable through July 15, 2026.
No refunds after July 15, 2026.
Transfers to another guest are allowed with Momentus approval.
If Momentus cancels the event for any reason, all payments are refunded in full.
The Accommodations
See all room specifics and registration below.
Solo king room with en-suite baths — our most private option. Space to spread out between sessions, a real door to close, and somewhere to recover on your own terms after the trail and the sauna. Returning attendees tend to claim these first.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Solo king room with en-suite baths — our most private option. Space to spread out between sessions, a real door to close, and somewhere to recover on your own terms after the trail and the sauna. Returning attendees tend to claim these first.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Solo king room with en-suite baths — our most private option. Space to spread out between sessions, a real door to close, and somewhere to recover on your own terms after the trail and the sauna. Returning attendees tend to claim these first.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Solo king room with en-suite baths — our most private option. Space to spread out between sessions, a real door to close, and somewhere to recover on your own terms after the trail and the sauna. Returning attendees tend to claim these first.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Solo king room with en-suite baths — our most private option. Space to spread out between sessions, a real door to close, and somewhere to recover on your own terms after the trail and the sauna. Returning attendees tend to claim these first.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
2 Queen Beds, shared room, private bath. Two queen beds in one room with a private en-suite bathroom. Best for two friends or family members attending together who want to split the bath without sharing a bed.
Solo queen room, shared bath. One person in their own private queen room, sharing a hallway bath. Best for solo attendees who want their own space to decompress.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Four XL twin bunks in a shared room with a shared bath — and downstairs access to a pool table and jacuzzi that's where most of the late-night conversations actually happen. Same programming, same food, same trail as everyone else. You're here for the weekend, not the bed.
This is a 50% payment deposit that reserves this room and bed. The purchase will be listed as sold, to the public. The remaining 50% balance will be due on July 15th.
Learn more about the home and its aminities: HERE
What's in the price. What isn't.
NOT INCLUDED
— Thursday early arrival ($99 add-on)
— Friday pre-event activity cost
— Saturday dinner in Blowing Rock
— Personal travel to and from Blowing Rock
INCLUDED
✓ Lodging at Fern Ridge Lodge at Sweetgrass
✓ All leadership and wellness presentations
✓ Guided group discussions and reflection
✓ Grandfather Mountain team challenge
✓ Sauna and river cold plunge recovery
✓ All meals — Friday dinner through Sunday brunch
✓ Access to optional Friday pre-event sign-up
Why we built this
The strongest predictor of how well you'll age is not your VO₂ max, your bloodwork, or your portfolio.
It's the quality of your relationships, your sense of purpose, and how often you actually do something about both.
That's the finding from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study of adult life ever conducted. It's echoed in the McKinsey Health Institute's 2023 survey of more than 22,000 adults across 21 countries: when people ranked the 53 factors that most affected their overall health, the top six were purpose, balanced stress, conscious movement, lifelong learning, opportunities to learn new skills, and meaningful connection. Money and exercise mattered. Purpose and people mattered more.
Most of us know this. Almost none of us schedule it. Higher Ground is one deliberate, well-built attempt to do exactly that.
What people leave with
Across two years of men's retreats and one year of women's, attendees describe the same handful of after-states: a clearer head, a renewed sense of who they are, sharper insight into the version of themselves they want to grow into, and a kind of quiet renewal that lasts well past the drive home. We don't promise any of that, outcomes don't work that way. But the pattern is consistent enough that we'll say this: people leave different than they arrived.
You might be wondering
"Do I need to be in peak shape?"
No. The Saturday challenge is built to scale. Past retreats have included participants ranging from 28-70 years old, people working through orthopedic limitations, and folks who hadn't hiked in a year. Our coaching team will meet you where you are and make it appropriately hard. That's the point.
"I don't know anyone going."
Most people come solo. By Saturday afternoon, you won't be. The weekend is structured around small-group conversations and shared physical effort, the two fastest ways adults make real friends. Of the eleven men who came in year one, eight came back the next year. They didn't know each other when they arrived either.
"Is it worth $699 to $999?"
Three nights of lodging in the Blue Ridge. All meals. A guided trail challenge on Grandfather Mountain. Sauna and cold plunge recovery. Six-plus hours of programming. And, the part the spreadsheet can't price, a small group of people you'll still be texting in a year. Compare it to a long weekend at a comparable lodge with none of the above. Then decide.
Secure Your Spot Now
We only have 15 spots
Lock in your place with a 50% refundable deposit (fully refundable through July 15).
Remaining balance due July 15.
What Attendees Said About Last Year
“It is not often you pay to go on a men’s only retreat with guys from your gym to actual talk for real about what is going on in our lives followed by a day of collectively getting your ass kicked (misery loves company). And then followed by a proper celebration of what we accomplished with guys you knew from the gym that are now guys you know in a much more meaningful way. Well it was all of that and more. Don’t think about it, just sign up and know you are in good hands because you are!”
“For me, the men’s retreat came at a perfect time. I needed to unload a lot of emotional stuff going on in my life. The group provided a great opportunity for me to do so. In addition, we engaged in some incredible physical activity and great overall finding.”
“The men’s retreat of 2024 was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. We enjoyed the camaraderie and made great friends.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of shape do I need to be in?
You should be healthy enough for a strenuous hike and open to being physically and mentally challenged. If you are in our program…you are confirmed fit enough! We encourage preparation, not perfection. Remember, we are in this together.Can I bring a guest?
Yes. Our initial open registration is to our internal clients. You know who would be a good fit and add value. Guests register at the same tier pricing and are subject to availability.
What's included in the price?
Lodging, all programming, the Saturday team challenge, sauna and cold plunge, and all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday brunch. Not included: Thursday early arrival, Friday pre-event activities, Saturday dinner in Blowing Rock, and travel to the lodge.
What's the refund policy?
Reserve with 50% down. Balance due July 15, 2026. Full refunds until July 15. After that, no refunds, but transfers are allowed with Momentus approval. If we cancel, you get every dollar back.
How are rooms assigned?
First paid, first served within each tier.
What time does the retreat begin and end?
Main check-in opens Friday at 5:00 PM. The first session begins at 6:00 PM. The retreat closes Sunday at noon. Optional Thursday early arrival is available from 4:00 PM.
Are the men's and women's retreats happening at the same time?
No. The Women’s weekend is October 2-4 and the Men’s is October 16-18. The itineraries will be similar with slight differences based on gender preferences. Check the Women’s and Men’s pages for more info.
2. Build What Matters
Guided sessions on purpose, stress, relationships, and the second half of life, drawn from the actual research on what keeps people healthy and happy as they age. Real conversations, with breakouts.
1. Move with Intention
A scaled team challenge on the Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain. Sauna and cold plunge in the Watauga River to recover. Hard enough to matter, accessible enough that no one gets left behind.
4. Leave with People
Eat together. Sweat together. Sit by the fire. The connections made on weekends like this are the ones the research says will matter most thirty years from now. That's the entire point.
3. Time with Purpose
The lodge is remote by design. Cell service is spotty, and that's the point. Three days without notifications rewires something. You'll notice it on the drive home.
John Lytton Founder, Momentus
John founded Momentus to fix what he saw as a broken fitness industry — and built Higher Ground as the deepest version of that mission. After playing professional soccer in Brazil, where he encountered movement as an art form, he returned to the U.S. and spent 14 years coaching at the highest levels (Carolina Panthers, US Soccer, Texas Tech, Army). The 7 Pillar framework that anchors every Momentus retreat came out of that work. He leads core sessions on both weekends.
Billy Ward General Manager, Momentus | Programming & Education Lead, Performance Unlimited
Billy runs day-to-day operations at Momentus and leads programming and education across Performance Unlimited. He arrived in Charlotte in 2016 after captaining Syracuse's Division I lacrosse team as an All-American and has spent nearly a decade coaching adults — building the systems, training the coaches, and running the programs that the rest of Momentus is built on. Former pro lacrosse player with the Charlotte Hounds. He leads strength and conditioning programming across the weekend.
Daniel Reinken Lead Coach, Momentus | Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist · U.S. Army Veteran
Daniel is a Lead Coach at Momentus and a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist who specializes in helping active people stay active — and return to the hobbies they love after injury. More than a decade serving in the U.S. Army gave him firsthand experience managing pain while staying in motion, which now informs his work across both Momentus and Body Heal Therapy in Charlotte. A competitive weightlifter himself. He assists in facilitating physical breakouts throughout the weekend and runs meal prep across all three days.
Speakers announced in the weeks ahead — past retreats have featured guests in performance, longevity, and applied psychology.
This Is Your Invitation.
Three days. One trail. The kind of weekend you'll still be talking about next October.
This retreat isn’t about escaping life, it’s about getting back to the part of you that built it in the first place.
Come away with renewed energy, clarity, and a brotherhood you didn’t know you needed.
We’ll be waiting in the mountains.