<p>Outward Bound has winter backpacking in the desert or dogsledding or skiing up north trips. [Wilderness</a> Adventure Expeditions and Challenges](<a href=“http://outwardboundwilderness.org/index.html]Wilderness”>http://outwardboundwilderness.org/index.html)</p>
<p>A lot of colleges have four-week “January” terms; perhaps there is a way that you could be a visiting student during a January term. You would have to check with individual colleges to see what their criterion are for guest students. They would be unlikely to offer you dorm room space, so I would suggest looking at colleges where you have family or friends nearby to stay with.</p>