REFUGE: WILDERNESS BACKPACKING TRIPS FOR WOMEN AND FEMALE-IDENTIFIERS
6 Day Backpacking trips in the Western United States
Spring Trip: April 15-21 in the stunning canyons of Cedar Mesa, Southern Utah
Trip Details TBA
“The old knowing is long overdue”
– Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Please note that this page contains details of our Summer 2022 trip to the Gila Wilderness, but is an accurate frame for every trip we offer. Specific details for the Utah trip TBA very soon.
Next Trip: Southern Utah, April 15-21.
It’s time for us to claim the old knowing, and to do so together.. This 5 day wilderness immersion will breathe life back in and re-member us down to the bone. The deep canyons, vast expanse and infinite river tributaries of the Gila Wilderness, unceded indigenous homelands of the Chiricahua Apache peoples and the world’s first designated wilderness area, is a wild place like no other. These lands and waters will shepherd us into a profound encounter with our inner worlds, the wild, our circle of and the astonishing loving wisdom of Life itself. This is a place to bring all of you. A place that can hold all of you.


These are no ordinary wilderness trips. They are a dive into the brave and bountiful work of soul, of cycles, and of wildness – yours and that of the earth. We will let the wild into our skin, let ourselves be touched by her immensity and power and remember to carry her with us everywhere. We return to a more natural state and revive right relationship with our planet, each other, and what is being asked of us in these times. We go to the wilderness not to get out of our lives, but to reconnect with Source so we can step more fully into them, with greater coherence and soul-fire.
We will dive deep, slow down, and become the breathing body that the wild wants to be near. We will remember more that we are part of wise living- system, an intelligent web of life. We will relish in the play of light on water for hours at a time, give space enough for the tender, fierce and soul-soaked parts of us, touch the wildness that we know we are made of but that somehow evades us in the busyness of our lives. We will honor our cycles. Gather the courage to see hard truths, the fire to shift what no longer serves, and the balm to gentle and replenish ourselves. Here lies the support to see, be seen and dive deep. We will raise up as a “sudden village” with the longed-for medicine of face-to-face connection and intimacy.


No matter our ancestry or heritage, across cultures we share ancestry that understood Nature as teacher and elder, as eternal wisdom and love. But many of us have forgotten. It is possible to go into nature and miss it altogether. It happens all the time. We hold on to our “front-country” mindsets and use nature as a backdrop and stomping ground for the drives of our ego. These trips are not that. We will go into the wild with deep intention and listening, to recover and commune with a bone stirring memory of our place in and as the “family of things”. We will find the wilderness and all of her cycles of life and death, and be gifted map, mirror and medicine- trustworthy maps to follow and locate ourselves within. Mirrors in which to see ourselves and lives . And reservoir of medicine to fill our cups until they run over.
Come for adventure, for solitude, for sovereignty and challenge. For refuge, connection and inspiration. To feel your animal body. To wash your mind with beauty, ceilings of stars and the sound of waters wide, both above and below. If you feel a call, I assure you there is big medicine waiting for you on this trip.
Among whatever arises in the moment, we will explore through primal gesture and movement on the earth, archetypal qigong forms, stillness, silence, voice, creative writing, land-art, play-time, solo time, the mythic world of story in Women Who Run with the Wolves, and the art of simply being.
“The old knowing is long overdue”
– Clarissa Pinkola Estes

These are no ordinary wilderness trips. They are a dive into the brave and bountiful work of soul, of cycles, and of wildness – yours and that of the earth. We will let the wild into our skin, let ourselves be touched by her immensity and power and remember to carry her with us everywhere. We return to a more natural state and revive right relationship with our planet, each other, and what is being asked of us in these times. We go to the wilderness not to get out of our lives, but to reconnect with Source so we can step more into them.

We will dive deep, slow down, and become the breathing body that the wild wants to be near. We will remember more that we are part of wise living- system, an intelligent web of life. We will relish in the play of light on water for hours at a time, give space enough for the tender, fierce and soul-soaked parts of us, touch the wildness that we know we are made of but that somehow evades us in the busyness of our lives. We will honor our cycles. Gather the courage to see hard truths, the fire to shift what no longer serves, and the balm to gentle and replenish ourselves. Here lies the support to see, be seen and dive deep. We will raise up as a “sudden village” with the longed-for medicine of face-to-face connection and intimacy.


Prerequisites
- No prior backpacking experience necessary. Participants must be physically able to carry a 35-40lb pack, and to 2-6 miles per day with this pack on their back. (You definitely don’t have to think this will be easy, it just needs to be physically possible for you- the rest is a mental dance)
- *Participants need to know they have the confidence, physical centering, and psychic anchoring to hold them in time and space. A clear sense of containment is required. This trip is not a fit for those who may be currently feeling destabilized, traumatized, struggling to heal, or in need of reestablishing basic nervous system or life coherency.” We will be moving not only into the vast wilderness of this coastline, but into the wilds of our psyches, hearts and somas. ( *Thank you to Liz Koch for this language). Of course, much healing is available here. And so many of us have been moving through instability…if you’d like to join but are wondering if this may apply to you, please reach out to Sarah. She is happy to get on the phone to see if this trip and timing is a fit for you.
Prerequisites
- No prior backpacking experience necessary. Participants must be physically able to carry a 35-40lb pack, and to hike up to 8 miles per day with this pack on their back. (You definitely don’t have to think this will be easy, it just needs to be physically possible for you- the rest is a mental dance)
- *Participants need to know they have the confidence, physical centering, and psychic anchoring to hold them in time and space. A clear sense of containment is required. This trip is not a fit for those who may be currently feeling destabilized, traumatized, struggling to heal, or in need of reestablishing basic nervous system or life coherency.” We will be moving not only into the vast wilderness of this coastline, but into the wilds of our psyches, hearts and somas. ( *Thank you to Liz Koch for this language). Of course, much healing is available here. And so many of us have been moving through instability…if you’d like to join but are wondering if this may apply to you, please reach out to Sarah. She is happy to get on the phone to see if this trip and timing is a fit for you.

Trip Details: Please note these details are for the Gila trip. Utah details TBA very soon
THESE DETAILS ARE FOR A PAST TRIP BUT HERE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR FUTURE TRIPS. UTAH details coming soon.
Location: This trip will take place in the stunning Gila Wilderness of Southern, NM. Exact route TBD.
Meeting Time and Place:We will meet near the Cliff Dwellings in the Gila Wilderness, NM at 9 am on Wednesday August 31. Exact Location TBD
Hot Springs!: Gila Hot Springs is already booked for the holiday weekend and and has no openings for soaking on the evening of the 4th. They do, however, have day-soak openings (and overnight camping openings) on September 5th (as well as August 30th, before the trip), and are a 45 minute drive from Silver City, where you will likely be staying the night before and after the trip. I will definitely be soaking before and after our trip at this gem! Please book your personal reservation at http://gilahotspringscampground.com/ .
Travel: Please plan to arrive near our field area no later than August 30 and please DO NOT BOOK any travel or make any plans prior to September 5. We will not make it back for any plans on September 4th. Requested time off from family and work should be no shorter than August 30-September 5th. Giving yourself extra days on either end, especially upon landing back into your life is a good idea, if its logistically possible. And if not, that will be just perfect as well.
Closest Airports: NOTE: These drive times are to Silver City, not our trailhead. Unless you are camping near the Cliff Dwellings, Silver City is where you’ll stay the night before our trip if you want to avoid a 4 am or 5 am leave time on the 31st. (Silver City is 1.5 hours from our trailhead).
El Paso TX- 2.5 hours hour drive .
Tucson AZ – 3 hours hour drive
Albuquerque 4 hour drive
Santa Fe- 5 hours
** PLEASE NOTE: Silver City is a 1.5 hour drive from our trailhead, and is the closest large town (population 10,000) with amenities (accommodation, rental cars, hotels etc.). There is an AIRPORT here, and flights available from Albuquerque (approx. $150 RT). So if this seems more cost/time effective, know it is an option to connect on a plane from ABQ to Silver City.
CARPOOLS AND COST SHARING: As soon as our circle begins to gather, we’ll connect you for carpools and sharing the cost of rental cars and accommodations…which we highly recommend. This happens every trip and creates a really fantastic connection and spirit of adventure before the trip, if you do want to create joint plans. Others make it more of a solo adventure, which is just as beautiful and personally needed.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE AND AFTER OUR TRIP: Because we’ll be meeting at 9 am on August 30, and won’t be out of the field until later on September 4, your best options for the nights before and after our trip are to stay in Silver City in an Air B n B /hotel or to camp somewhere near the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Pre-Trip ZOOM call: Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00 pm MDT
Trip Details: Please note these details are for the Gila trip. Utah details TBA very soon
THESE DETAILS ARE FOR A PAST TRIP BUT ARE LEFT HERE AS AN EXAMPLE. UTAH in APRIL details coming soon.
Meals: We provide all meals and food for the trip. You do not have to think about or shop for these! We will be well fed and you’ll have a chance to tell us about your dietary needs on your medical form. Please come with a full belly on the morning of the 31st, and plan to feed yourself for dinner on the 4th. (If you’re planning on coming to the hot springs on the night of the 4th, we ca talk about food options on our pre-trip ZOOM call, mentioned below)
Location: This trip will take place in the stunning Gila Wilderness of Southern, NM. Exact route TBD.
Meeting Time and Place: We will meet near the Cliff Dwellings in the Gila Wilderness, NM at 9 am. Exact Location TBD
Hot Springs: THE GILA HOT SPRINGS CAMPGROUND AND HOT SPRINGS is a short drive from our trailhead, but is booked on the evening of September 4th for the holiday weekend. They do have day-soaking availability starting at 9 am on September 5th. This hot springs is a 45 minute drive from Silver City, the town where you will most likely stay when we come out of (and go into) the field. I, for one, will be heading back to soak on the morning of the 5th. Please make your personal reservation at http://gilahotspringscampground.com/
Travel: Please plan to arrive near our field area no later than August 30 and please DO NOT BOOK any travel or make any plans prior to September 5. We will not make it back for any plans on September 4th.
Closest Airports:
These drive times are to SILVER CITY. Not to the trailhead. Unless you are planning to camp the night before the trip, Silver City is where you will stay- it is the closest town, and is 1.5 hours from our trailhead. Silver City has a small airport, and there are flights to and from the ABQ airport if this makes sense for you.
El Paso TX- 2.5 hours hour drive .
Tucson AZ – 3 hour drive
Albuquerque 4.25 hour drive
Santa Fe: 5.25 hrs
As soon as we have our circle gathered, we’ll connect you for ride shares and carpools, which we highly recommend.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE AND AFTER OUR TRIP: Because we’ll be meeting at 9 am on August 30, and won’t be out of the field until later on September 4, your best options for the nights before and after our trip are to stay in Silver City in an Air B n B /hotel or to camp somewhere near the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Pre-Trip ZOOM call: Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00 pm MDT

Scholarships/Access
FAQ’s
What is different about these backpacking trips?
Do I need prior backpacking experience?
What about transportation to and from the trailhead?
What if I’m having trouble getting everything on the packing list?
Will I be able to call my family?
How much hiking do we do?
Will this be hard?
What kind of foods do we eat?
Who should not come on this trip?
PACKING LIST
REI rents some gear. Lots of your friends have gear and would be happy to lend it to you to support your journey! Thrift stores are a score for outdoor gear. No need for shiny Backpacker Magazine gear. This list doesn’t need to break the bank.
A few rules backcountry gear thumb:
Cotton kills. It doesn’t dry quickly or keep you warm if its wet, and this can create serious safety hazards and threats of hypothermia. Warmer is the way to go- you can always de-layer. You know your own body best…so tend it well based on your own idiosyncrasies. It’s ok if you bring more than you’ll need. On the first day, when we will dump out our packs at the trailhead and go through gear, so we can help you decide between jackets, how many pairs of long underwear etc. So, if you need to bring it to feel better, bring it and we can check it out with you. Don’t bring full gallons of milk for your morning Chai (no joke…and she carried these for 5 days on one coast trip, and smiled all the way- one of my favorite memories for sure).
- Backpack (55-70 liter size). Internal Frame recommended. Please go to REI or another outdoor store to make sure you have the right pack size. Packs are not one-size-fits-all, and if you have a pack that is too big or small for you, it can be extremely uncomfortable. By size I mean S, M, L. Make sure whatever it is that it is 50-65liters in capacity.
- Rain cover for your pack, or a heavy duty garbage bag that can be a rain layer that lines the inside of your pack
- Sleeping pad- Inflatable recommended. Make sure this is insulated. Your sleeping bag won’t keep you warm if you are losing heat through the ground. If you have an inflatable pad, an R value of 4 or higher is a good idea (that’s the insulation rating). If it has a lower R value, bringing a thin closed-cell foam pad in addition will help. Full length pads recommended. Small enough that it will roll up and fit inside or on the side of your pack.
- Sleeping bag (<20 degree). This can be synthetic or down, whichever you prefer, but be sure that it packs down to a backpacking size
- Sleeping Bag and compression sack (compression sack is handy but not a deal breaker. It’s ok if you don’t have one)
- Sleeping bag liner if you run cold- these are light, packable and add a lot of warmth if you aren’t sure your bag is warm enough.
- Large stuff sac or light fabric with handles or a draw string to store your food in (handles/drawstrings are important so we can hang it from tree branches to keep it away from creatures and critters)
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Metal or plastic Bowl, mug, spoon/fork
- Water bottles or camelback (or similar) bladder. Big enough to carry at least 2.5 liters( do not bring insulated hydroflasks- these are way too heavy)
- 3-4 Underwear
- 1 pair shorts
- 2 pair hiking Pants (no jeans)
- 1 pair fleece pants or expedition weight long underwear (if you run cold) or if you don’t run cold, a pair of leggings or yoga pants to change into at camp (nice if they can also double as long underwear in a pinch)
- 1-2 Mid-weight layers, top and bottom, depending on how cold you run (like fleece or wool)
- 1 Warm outer layer (like a puffy/down jacket). If you run cold, bring 2 of these style jacks or add in a vest
- 1 Rain Jacket
- 1 Rain Pants
- 1 Beanie (warm hat)
- 1 pair warm gloves
- 1 Sun hat
- 3-4 Pairs of hiking socks (not cotton)
- 1-2 pairs sock liners (will help prevent blisters!)
- 1 pair sleep socks- these are socks that will live int he bottom of your sleeping bag and will only be used for sleeping. They will never get wet, dirty or sweaty and will help you sleep cozy!)
- 1 Hiking shoes or boots. Go for boots if you have weaker ankles. Make sure these fit well, are comfortable and are broken in
- 1 pair Sandals/slippers/Crocs for camp
- 1 Sunglasses
- 1 Bandana
- 1 Swimsuit
- Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, facial moisturizer, hand lotion is nice, comb/brush if needed)
- Chapstick with SPF
- 2 rapid COVID tests- one to take within 24 hours of your arrival to the group, and one to bring on the trip in the event you start developing symptoms
- Personal Medication
- Camp Chair – crazy creek style or one that is light and can fit in your pack. This is optional but everyone I’ve ever led has always wished they brought one.
- Camera or phone for pics (optional- you are free to leave your phone in the car)
- Sunscreen
- Hiking poles (optional but recommended- more so if the terrain is steep)
- Journal and 2 pens
- A small and personally meaningful gift that will be given away to someone in the group. You’ll be carrying this so make sure its small and light. Trust your gut on this one.
ITEMS FOR MOVEMENT/SOMATIC EXERCISES
- sarong or light cloth to lay on
- smaller size squish ball
- larger Franklin-style ball (smooth)
- *Please note that you can purchase the small and large ball from Sarah at cost (about $13). Please bring them. We will use these.
EXTRA ITEMS BASED ON RELEVANCE AND NEED
- If you are celiac, oats/breakfast cereal and some bars/snacks that are safe for you to eat
- Menstrual supplies if you’ll be bleeding (2 quart ziplock freezer bags, small package of wipes for your hands, pads/tampons/cup/sponge or whatever you use, we will have TP for you)
- 2 Epipens if you use these for anaphylaxis or allergies
- Medication if you are prone to UTIs or yeast infections
- Medication if you currently have a dental issue that could flare
- Diabetes medication if applicable
THE ELEMENTAL SELF PROVIDES
- FOOD- All Meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on the last day..
- Stoves/fuel
- Cook-set/pots and pans
- Water filtration devices
- 1st aid supplies
- Trail maps
- Knives for cooking
- Shovel etc. for pooping in the backcountry
- Satellite texting device for emergencies