REFUGE : A 6-DAY FALL BACKPACKING AND HOT SPRINGS TRIP IN THE GILA WILDERNESS

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REFUGE: A 6-DAY BACKPACKING TRIP IN THE GILA WILDERNESS

April 2024: Owl Canyon, Southern UT 

September 2024: Gila Wilderness, Southern NM

Exact Dates TBA

$1775 

7 spots available at full price. 2 spots at a 20% discount. 1 spot at a 40% discount. Please read my SLIDING EQUITY SCALE page for details and discount codes.  Payment Plans (4 biweekly payments)are available and calculated at check out.

When it’s time, it’s time.  There is no substitute for refuge, for a deep community of solitudes, for the medicine that it is to drop everything and lay our bodies down on the earth for 5 nights, to remember who we are, where we come from and what is natural to us. To return to the wild. To feel “of one piece” and “of one peace” again. 

No phones, no schedules, no lists, no screens. No children, no partners, no work, no traffic. 

These are no ordinary wilderness trips. Sarah Byrden, a wilderness guide of 25 years, is a master of her guide-craft, of facilitating and opening a life-shaping dialogue and communion between the human and more than human worlds, between wild self and wild earth. These trips will be a more intimate, sensual and vulnerable encounter with wilderness than perhaps ever before in your life.

These trips are a call. A call back home to self, to soul and to a truer rhythm of living and being. To claim back our deeper, older knowing, to step away from the bric-a-brac whirl of our daily lives and information overload to return to a more original skin. To something deeper and more coherent. To the earth and the elements. 

These trips are a direct experience of wildness. Not an imagination, not an idea, not a maybe, but real. We will slow down. Way down. Move into deep time, into the rhythm of the earth which is the biorhythm of our bodies. 

The land will be our primary guide, shepherding us into a profound encounter with the natural world and the wild, inside and out.   We will raise up as a “sudden village” and together create an emergent culture of  sincerity, unselfconsciousness and embodied homecoming, which Nature herself mirrors for us. This is an incubator of wildness, which lives inside of us all- fierce instinct, wise intuition, profound resilience, indestructible soul, animal-body intelligence, profound integrity, the ability to stand our ground in the ground of our own lives and this moment on our planet. No one ends up on these trips by accident…

These trips are a space of immersive refuge for anyone who identifies a woman, femme or a non-binary individual who feels called to the wild, inside and out, and to explore the depth of the feminine soul. These trips strive to be inclusive of a broad spectrum of human beings who wish to explore a reclamation of the feminine soul through a more feminine approach to nature, self and process. 

** We will note be hiking for all 6 days. We will spend multiple days without packs on our backs, day hiking, resting, soaking up slow-time and sinking into the earth’s rhythm.

 

This trip is a dive into the brave and bountiful work of soul, of cycles, and of wildness – yours and that of the natural world. 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 a deep coherence, intelligence and source,  so that we can show up with that greater coherence and soul-fire in our lives. We dive into the rich soil of an underground forest so that we can return to better live in the topside world.

 We will dive deep, slow down…way down… and become the breathing body that the wild wants to be near. We will remember and sense that we are part of wise living- system, an intelligent web of life. We will relish in the play of light on water and rock 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. 

No matter our ancestry or heritage, across cultures we share a nativity that knows in our cells that Nature is Teacher, Elder, Mother. We are Nature. But we forget. It’s 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 machinations of our linear-thinking, progress-obsessed minds and ego. These trips are not that. We will go into the wild with 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 clearly . And reservoir of medicine to fill our cups back up until they run over.

We come to be near the wild and the soulful. To ask questions, to receive questions, to consult the soul and the land for guidance, advice and memory of an older knowing. We come for adventure, for solitude, for sovereignty and challenge. For refuge, connection and inspiration. To feel our animal bodies. To laugh the biggest of belly laughs. To stop giving a shit about what doesn’t matter.  To start giving a better shit about what does. To celebrate. To play. To rest. To wash our minds 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. No one ends up here by accident- these trips draw the most powerful, fire-filled humans with the deepest of intentions- a convergence that is a miracle in its own right, and becomes the axis around which the most astonishing beauty, nourishment and tending takes shape.

This trip will be framed and held by a story from the oracular book Women Who Run with the Wolves,  archetypal qigong,  primal gesture and movement on the earth, quiet mornings with coffee/tea and your journal, evening circles for voice and listening,  land-art, play-time, solo time, and re-learning the pleasure and art of simply being.

There is no set itinerary or schedule, which sets these trips apart. They move from an organic listening and flow in response to the needs of the group and the moment.  There is a container and arc to the entire week, and a basic shape and flow to each day, but room enough to listen to what is wanted.  Because of this, they are deeply nourishing and replenishing, a reminder of a more true rhythm. We do not hike with our backpacks every day.-maybe 3-4 days of 6 days.

Please read the FAQ’s below for specific more information and reach out to Sarah directly if you want to chat.

This trip is a dive into the brave and bountiful work of soul, of cycles, and of wildness – yours and that of the natural world. 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 a deep coherence, intelligence and source,  so that we can show up with that greater coherence and soul-fire in our lives. We dive into the rich soil of an underground forest so that we can return to better live in the topside world.

 We will dive deep, slow down…way down… and become the breathing body that the wild wants to be near. We will remember and sense that we are part of wise living- system, an intelligent web of life. We will relish in the play of light on water and rock 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. 

No matter our ancestry or heritage, across cultures we share a nativity that knows in our cells that Nature is Teacher, Elder, Mother. We are Nature. But we forget. It’s 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 machinations of our linear-thinking, progress-obsessed minds and ego. These trips are not that. We will go into the wild with 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 clearly . And reservoir of medicine to fill our cups back up until they run over.

We come to be near the wild and the soulful. To ask questions, to receive questions, to consult the soul and the land for guidance, advice and memory of an older knowing. We come for adventure, for solitude, for sovereignty and challenge. For refuge, connection and inspiration. To feel our animal bodies. To laugh the biggest of belly laughs. To stop giving a shit about what doesn’t matter.  To start giving a better shit about what does. To celebrate. To play. To rest. To wash our minds 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. No one ends up here by accident- these trips draw the most powerful, fire-filled humans with the deepest of intentions- a convergence that is a miracle in its own right, and becomes the axis around which the most astonishing beauty, nourishment and tending takes shape.

This trip will be framed and held by a story from the oracular book Women Who Run with the Wolves,  archetypal qigong,  primal gesture and movement on the earth, quiet mornings with coffee/tea and your journal, evening circles for voice and listening,  land-art, play-time, solo time, and re-learning the pleasure and art of simply being.

There is no set itinerary or schedule, which sets these trips apart. They move from an organic listening and flow in response to the needs of the group and the moment.  There is a container and arc to the entire week, and a basic shape and flow to each day, but room enough to listen to what is wanted.  Because of this, they are deeply nourishing and replenishing, a reminder of a more true rhythm. We do not hike with our backpacks every day.-maybe 3-4 days of 6 days.

Please read the FAQ’s below for specific more information and reach out to Sarah directly if you want to chat.

“Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin.”

— Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes


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 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.

What’s the Plan? Trip Details:

Location: This trip will take place in the stunning Gila Wilderness of Southern, NM. We will begin our trip soaking in the natural and healing waters of the Gila Hot Springs, with the option of soaking in this bone-quenching hot water on the night we hike out of the wilderness as well.

Meeting Time and Place: We will meet at 12 pm on September 1 at Doc Campbell’s Post in Mimbres NM. We will then caravan to the Gila Hotsprings Campground (3 minutes away) where we will stay for the night- we will have lunch (please bring your own lunch for this day – you can pick up chips, sodas at  Doc Campbell’s Outpost as well), organize gear, settle in together and have ample time to soak in exquisite hot spring waters under a canopy of stars. We will wake early on September 2, have more time to soak in these divine waters, drive to our trailhead begin hiking from there. Bathing suits are required during daylight hours at the hot springs. 

Coming out of the “field” on September 6:  We will emerge from the wilderness in the afternoon of September 6, arrive back to our cars, unpack and caravan as a group to Doc Campbell’s outpost (who will be staying open late and waiting just for us) for an early dinner together before everyone heads in whatever direction they’re going. (Doc’s will have hot pizza, salads, brownies and ice cream ready for us, gluten-free options included. This dinner is not covered in the cost of the program and will run about $10-15/per person) From here, it is a personal option if you’d like to return to the Gila Hot Springs Campground for a night of soaking, camping and integration before making your way home on the 7th  (reservations are required and Sarah has made a handful for us in advance).  These hot springs are only a 15 minute drive from Doc’s and make for a delicious night of integration and body-care.  Or you may wish to depart from our dinner at Doc’s and head to your airport departure city/a hotel/various creature comforts. 

Travel: Please plan to arrive near (within a 5-6 hour drive) of our field area no later than August 31 and DO NOT BOOK any travel or make any plans prior to September 7. We will not make it back in time for travel plans on September 6. You can drive to a hotel or your departure city on the night of the 6th, but do not plan to catch a flight or meet anyone on this day.  Requested time off from family and work should be no shorter than August 31-September 7. If you can give yourself an extra day on either end of the trip, especially upon landing back into your life, this is a very kind idea if it’s logistically possible. And if not, you can trust that flow too. 

Closest Airports: 

NOTE: These approximate drive times are to Doc Campbell’s Outpost in Mimbres, NM 

El Paso TX- 4 hours hour drive .
Tucson AZ – 4.5 hours  hour drive
Albuquerque, NM:  5.5 hour drive
Santa Fe, NM- 6.5 hours
Silver City, NM: 1.5 hours
Truth or Consequences, NM: 3.5 hours

** PLEASE NOTE: Silver City is a 1.5 hours SOUTH of the Gila, and is the closest large town (population 10,000) with amenities (accommodation, rental cars, hotels etc.). There is a very tiny airport here, and flights available from ABQ.

Truth or Consequences,  NM is good stop over if you are coming from the North (Santa Fe/ ABQ). The Gila Wilderness is very remote! Which makes it very special.

CARPOOLS AND COST SHARING: As soon as our circle begins to gather, we’ll connect you to coordinate carpools and sharing the cost of rental cars and accommodations, which we highly recommend. This coordination happens every trip and creates a really fantastic connection and spirit of adventure before the trip. Others make it more of a solo adventure, which is just as beautiful if needed and preferred.

Meals: We will provide all meals from dinner on September 1-lunch on September 6. 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 restrictions on your medical form. Please come with a sac lunch on September 1 and plan to pay for your own dinner at Doc’s on September 6.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE AND ON THE FINAL DAY OF OUR TRIP: We’ll be meeting at 12 pm on September 1, which will give you several hours in the morning to drive to the Gila. Please plan accordingly. Do not plan on departing from Doc’s until at least 6 pm on our last day, September 6. Please consult a map so that you make a realistic plan in terms of drive times. It will help that you’ll have a full belly for whatever you decide to do. 

Pre-Trip ZOOM call: Wednesday, Wednesday August 14 at 6:00 pm MDT

A Wild Companion: I bring my 2 year old pup, Fili, on these trips. It is very special to have a canine friend along for this journey. She is an incredibly sweet, sensitive, and lovely creature and has only ever added to these trips. If you are allergic, fear not, she will never enter your tent and she will be happy to oblige if you don’t wish to pet her.

What’s the Plan? Trip Details:

Location: This trip will take place in the stunning Gila Wilderness of Southern, NM. We will begin our trip soaking in the natural and healing waters of the Gila Hot Springs, with the option of soaking in this bone-quenching hot water on the night we hike out of the wilderness as well.

Meeting Time and Place: We will meet at 12 pm on September 30th at Doc Campbell’s Post in Mimbres NM. We will then caravan to the Gila Hotsprings Campground where we will stay for the night- we will have lunch (please bring your own lunch for this day – you can pick up chips, sodas, and sandwiches at Doc Campbell’s Outpost as well), organize gear, settle in together and have ample time to soak in exquisite hot spring waters under a canopy of stars. We will wake early on October 1st, have more time to soak in these divine waters, drive to our trailhead begin hiking from there. Bathing suits are required during daylight hours at the hot springs.

Coming out of the “field” on October 5th:  We will emerge from the wilderness in the afternoon of October 5th, arrive back to our cars, unpack and caravan as a group to Doc Campbell’s outpost (who will be staying open late and waiting just for us) for an early dinner together before everyone heads in whatever direction they’re going. (Doc’s will have hot pizza, salads, brownies and ice cream ready for us, gluten-free options included. This dinner is not covered in the cost of the program and will run about $10-15/per person) From here, it is a personal option if you’d like to return to the Gila Hot Springs Campground for a night of soaking, camping and integration before making your way home on the 6th (reservations are required and Sarah has made a handful for us in advance).  These hot springs are only a 15 minute drive from Doc’s and make for a delicious night of integration and body-care.  Or you may wish to depart from our dinner at Doc’s and head to your airport departure city/a hotel/various creature comforts.

Travel: Please plan to arrive near (within a 5-6 hour drive) of our field area no later than September 29th and DO NOT BOOK any travel or make any plans prior to October 6. We will not make it back in time for travel plans on October 5th. You can drive to a hotel or your departure city on the night of the 5th, but do not plan to catch a flight or meet anyone on this day.  Requested time off from family and work should be no shorter than September 29-October 6. If you can give yourself an extra day on either end of the trip, especially upon landing back into your life, this is a very kind idea if it’s logistically possible. And if not, you can trust that flow too.

Closest Airports: 

NOTE: These approximate drive times are to Doc Campbell’s Outpost in Mimbres, NM 

El Paso TX- 4 hours hour drive .
Tucson AZ – 4.5 hours  hour drive
Albuquerque, NM:  5.5 hour drive
Santa Fe, NM- 6.5 hours
Silver City, NM: 1.5 hours
Truth or Consequences, NM: 3.5 hours

** PLEASE NOTE: Silver City is a 1.5 hours SOUTH of the Gila, and is the closest large town (population 10,000) with amenities (accommodation, rental cars, hotels etc.). There is a very tiny airport here, and flights available from ABQ.

Truth or Consequences,  NM is good stop over if you are coming from the North (Santa Fe/ ABQ). The Gila Wilderness is very remote! Which makes it very special.

CARPOOLS AND COST SHARING: As soon as our circle begins to gather, we’ll connect you to coordinate carpools and sharing the cost of rental cars and accommodations, which we highly recommend. This coordination happens every trip and creates a really fantastic connection and spirit of adventure before the trip. Others make it more of a solo adventure, which is just as beautiful if needed and preferred.

Meals: We will provide all meals from dinner on September 30-lunch on October 5th. 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 restrictions on your medical form. Please come with a sac lunch on September 30th and plan to pay for your own dinner at Doc’s on October 5th.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE AND ON THGE FINAL DAY OF OUR TRIP: We’ll be meeting at 12 pm on September 30, which will give you several hours in the morning to drive to the Gila. Please plan accordingly. Do not plan on departing from Doc’s until at least 6 pm on our last day, October 5th. Please consult a map so that you make a realistic plan in terms of drive times. It will help that you’ll have a full belly for whatever you decide to do.

Pre-Trip ZOOM call: Wednesday, Wednesday September 13 at 6:00 pm MDT

A Wild Companion: I bring my 2 year old pup, Fili, on these trips. It is very special to have a canine friend along for this journey. She is an incredibly sweet, sensitive, and lovely creature and has only ever added to these trips. If you are allergic, fear not, she will never enter your tent and she will be happy to oblige if you don’t wish to pet her.

FAQ’s

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. Please let me know if there is something you just can’t find, borrow or afford.

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, even in warm weather. 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, we will dump out our packs and go through gear, so we can help you decide between jackets, how many pairs of long underwear etc. So, if you have a question about it, bring it and we can check it out with you.

  • Backpack (55-70 liter size). Internal Frame. Please go to REI or another outdoor store to fit your pack if you are borrowing it and have never worn it 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 55-70 liters 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- rain cover is much easier. Make sure it fits the pack
  • Tent: you can sleep in a solo tent or bring something larger to share. Be sure that a 1-person tent is 3 lbs or less, and a 2 person tent is 6lbs or less to be carried between 2 people (and so on and so forth for more capacity. We don’t want anyone carrying more than 3 lbs in tent weight. REI rents solo tents, as well as 2 and 3 person tents.
  • Sleeping pad- Inflatable recommended. (like this one)  **Make sure this is insulated and full length. Your sleeping bag won’t keep you warm if you are losing heat through the ground. Inflatable pads should have an R value of 3 or higher. (that’s the insulation rating). If it has a lower R value or no insulation, bringing a thin closed-cell foam pad in addition (like this). Be sure both pads are small enough that they will roll up and fit inside or affix easily on the side of your pack. (appropriate for backpacking rather than car camping)
  • Repair/patch kit for your inflatable sleeping pad- your trip will suck if you can’t fix a hole in your pad and are sleeping straight on the ground
  • Sleeping bag (15 degree or lower rating). This can be synthetic or down, whichever you prefer, but be sure that it packs down to a backpacking size. Please note that sleeping bag temperature ratings are rated for the temperature at which they will keep you safe. Add 15-20 degrees to the rating to understand how much it will keep you warm. For example, a 0 degree bag will keep most people warm in 20 degree weather, but it will keep them alive in 0 degree weather.
  • Sleeping bag 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. If you tend to run cold, it’s better to plan to be too hot at night rather than cold. Sleeping cold can ruin a trip.
  • If you have it- 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). If you don’t, don’t but this. I have extras.
  • Headlamp **with extra batteries
  • Metal or plastic Bowl, mug, spoon/fork (this mug will be for hot drinks).
  • Water bottles or camelback (or similar) bladder. Big enough to carry at least 3 liters (do not bring insulated hydroflasks- these are too heavy)
  • If you get cold at night, you can bring a hard-sided colored or clear Nalgene brand water bottle (like this) and this can be filled with hot water at night for you to take with you to bed to create a nice cozy sleeping bag. (not this -the white soft plastic will melt if filled with boiling water)
  • 3-4 Underwear (or more if you feel you need that)
  • 1 pair shorts
  • 2 pair hiking pants or synthetic leggings for hiking (no jeans)
  • 1 pair fleece pants or “expedition” weight long underwear or down pants if you run cold (depending on season and location)
  • 1-2 mid-weight/base-layer long underwear- top and bottom. Bring 2 of these layers if you run cold.
  • 1 Warm outer layer (like a puffy/down jacket). If you run cold, bring 2 of these style jacks or add in a down vest
  • 1 Rain Jacket
  • 1 Rain Pants
  • 1 Beanie (warm hat)
  • bathing suit for hot springs (Gila Trips) or swimming in rivers or lakes- can also wear bra and underwear
  • 1 pair warm gloves
  • 1 Sun hat
  • 3-4 Pairs of hiking socks (not cotton)
  • 1-2 pairs sock liners (will help prevent blisters!) toe socks” make great liners (there are also such things as “toe-sock: style liners)
  • 1 pair thick sleep socks- these are socks that will live in the 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/Crocs for camp- these shoes will double as river shoes if we need to do river crossings as they will be fast drying
  • 1 Sunglasses with UV protection. Don’t bring gas station sunglasses. You can fry your eyes without UV protection
  • 1 Bandana
  • 1 Small package of wet wipes for feminine hygeine after going to the bathroom or facial wipes- we will pack out all waste
  • Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, facial moisturizer, hand lotion is nice, comb/brush if needed)
  • Chapstick with SPF
  • 2 rapid COVID tests- one to take on the morning of your arrival to the group, and one to bring on the trip in the event you start developing symptoms
  • Personal Medication
  • Camp Chair – like this one or this one- these are 2 different styles
  • Camera or phone for pics (optional- you are free to leave your phone in the car)
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug repellent- usually only needed for Summer trips, but depending on the weather (warmth) it is nice to have
  • Hiking poles (optional but highly recommended- more so if the terrain is steep, and/or if you have knee trouble)
  • Journal and 2 pens
  • A small 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. Can be homemade, found, or bought. Don’t over think it. It can be funny, have a story, have some kind of meaning…
    change of clean clothes for your flight/drive home
  • **just a note…Things that can ruin a trip: boots that don’t fit or give you blisters, sleeping cold (aim for much warmer than you think you need), forgetting comfy shoes to change into at camp, forgetting a headlamp or xtra batteries, not having enough water carrying capacity, forgetting sun hat and sunglasses, not bringing hiking poles if you have knee trouble, not bringing a camp-chair.

    ITEMS FOR MOVEMENT/SOMATIC EXERCISES 

  • sarong or light cloth to lay on
  • larger Franklin-style ball (smooth) like this one or this one

    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- though we try, not all GF items provided are celiac-safe
  • Menstrual supplies if you’ll be bleeding (2 -3 two quart ziplock freezer bags, small package of wipes for your hands, pads/tampons/cup/sponge or whatever you use, we will have TP and soap for you)
  • 2 Epipens if you use these for anaphylaxis or allergies
  • Medication if you are prone to UTIs or yeast infections- an untreated UTI can be cause for an evacuation
  • Medication if you currently have a dental issue that could flare- untreated dental issues can be cause for evacuation
  • Diabetes medication if applicable
  • Coffee set up if needed- there will be ample instant coffee, but if you need something fancier, plan to bring it and carry it

    THE ELEMENTAL SELF PROVIDES 

  • FOOD- All Meals from dinner 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
What is different about these backpacking trips?

We aren’t just going into the backcountry to cover miles and bag peaks. Though we will cover miles and find ourselves on the top of majestic cliffs and outlooks, my trips are about giving ourselves to nature, so that we can remember ourselves as nature. It is all too common in the “outdoor industry” to head into nature for an adventure, and miss her altogether. To stay in frontcountry conversations, mindsets and ways of engaging, without ever slowing down enough and allowing the wilderness to enter our bodies, psyches and hearts. I often say that we are walking our way into these places, and once we are there, slowing down and attuning enough to let ourselves be worked by the wilderness…to allow ourselves to move into “deep time” and the rhythm of the land and water, to find an intimate mirror in nature, rather than using her as a backdrop of our experience. These trips are profoundly nourishing, deep and rich. Through doorways of fairytale and myth, primal movement, embodied meditation, creative writing, land-art, archetypal qigong, and learning how to simply “be”, these trips reach into deeper meaning, insight and healing than the average backpacking trip. Oh, and also, the most extraordinary humans are drawn to my trips, and every group ends up with just the exact right people in the circle.

Do I need prior backpacking experience?

Not at all! All of my trips include at least a few folks who have never backpacked before. This is a perfect maiden voyage if you are able to carry a 35-40lb backpack. You don’t have to think that is easy, you just need to be confident that you can do it. The trip is not a fit for folks who have more major injuries or physical limitations that would disallow them from the daily tasks of carrying a pack, setting up tents, day hiking, sitting on the ground etc. These trips are, admittedly, not available for those with certain physical disabilities. 

What about transportation to and from the trailhead?
Myself and our co-guide will meet you at the trailhead. Once everyone signs up for the trip, I will start a group thread so ya’ll can link up for carpools and ride-shares.
What if I’m having trouble getting everything on the packing list?
Please don’t think that you need to spend a bunch of extra money on gear for this trip. Much of it can be borrowed and rented. The most important thing to make sure you have of your own is a pair of well-fitting and broken-in boots. It would be no fun to head out in borrowed shoes unless they fit like a glove. As for the rest of the gear, REI rents tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. You also may be surprised how many friends and neighbors might have things you can borrow. Thrift stores are excellent places to find long underwear, jackets, and other pieces of clothing. If you are still coming up short, please email me and I will try to find specific gear items for you.
How much hiking do we do?

Covering miles is never the focus of my trips, although, most days we will spend at least a few hours, if not most of the day on the trail. We will hike anywhere from 2-6 miles/day on our hiking days. On a 6 day backpacking trip, the general flow is to hike 3-4 of the 6 days, and to take the other days as “layover days”. This is our cahnce to revel in the art of slow time, of sinking into the earth’s rhythm, of giving ourselves what we don’t get in the frontcountry- which is spaciousness and a more natural rhythm. We may day-hike on these day, but we won’t carry packs.

Will I be able to call my family?
In short, no. And I invite you to enjoy and savor this fact! It is all too uncommon for us to be unreachable these days, and to let go of our constant need to stay in touch. We will carry a satellite texting device for emergencies so that we can reach help if we need it. This device won’t be available to be used for incoming or outgoing check ins. On a case by case basis, we can discuss whether it seems appropriate for someone at home to have this number in case of an emergency. However, very few (almost none) emergencies would cause us to evacuate you from the trip before the trip’s end. That situation would most likely necessitate bringing the trip to an end for everyone. Basically, even if someone can get ahold of you, the chances of that speeding up your ability to be home are slim. So again, enjoy the prospect of being unreachable! Arrange all details for your loved ones at home before you come on the trip.
Will this be hard?
Yes. In all the right ways. These trips are be physically challenging for sure and that is so much of what is unique, rewarding and empowering about them. You will experience the strength and resilience of your body, carrying everything you need to live on your back, for days on end. Living outside and being so consistently physically engaged is a rare medicine in our world and this way of life is in our blood. The physical challenges will be real, and so will the celebrations. These trips will also ask of you mentally, emotionally and in terms of your presence. I create trips that bring us into the Self and our inner world. That said, for all of the challenge, there is an incredible amount of support coming from nature and the shared group-field and human-connection fostered here.
Who should not come on this trip?

These trips are not a fit for anyone who isn’t currently physically able (you don’t have to have ever done this before, just feel that you could) to carry a 35-45 lb pack while walking 2-6 miles per day, or for folks who are feeling particularly and currently unstable emotionally or psychologically or in the acute phase of processing trauma. If you have a question about whether this applies to you, please reach out to me directly and we can chat.

A note about my pricing

These trips are an investment toward a literally life-changing experience… more or less significant for some than others based on the resources one has access to.  Those of you able to pay the full and fair price for these trips allow me to offer several spots at a Justice/Equity discount to those with less class/access/ privilege in our economic systems, which is an essential component of making wild places and wild experiences more accessible to all…something I hold as a fundamental birthright for every living person.

I’ve incrementally raised my prices over the years, to reflect that I’ve shifted these trips from 5 days to 6 days, as well as the rising costs of all things that make a trip go (food, gas, insurance etc).

As a professional wilderness guide of 23 years, I price these trips at what I believe is fair for the substance of what they offer and for right exchange for what I put into them.

I continue to choose to price these trips below industry standard (which is between $330-$375/day) for this  level of wilderness immersion, in order to keep them more accessible to more kinds of people. I pay my co-guides above highest-tier industry standard per-day rates (at NOLS and Outward Bound), which is well and what they are worth. Trips run with notable overhead costs for things such as food/meals for our time on trail, gear, permitting, liability insurance, transportation, medical-training, emergency communication devices/satellite communication access.

These trips are a ton of work and worth every breath and second. I don’t have a pre/post trip team helping me or the ability to divide costs between a large number of programs.

What goes into a trip, aside from the trip itself?  Countless hours of  paperwork, research and conversations to ensure proper permitting with the BLM and Forest Service, proper liability coverage, map study, route-planning and finding, research and monitoring of road, water and weather conditions, group-gear purchase, upkeep, cleaning and storage, planning of trip logistics, communication coordination, website copy-creation and digital marketing, keeping my wilderness-medical training current and certified, meal planning and shopping for the trip, pouring over math equations and spreadsheets determining food quantities, packing and dividing food in millions of little bags, many wonderful conversations with each of you prior to your arrival, (insert actual trip here:)) …post-trip gear unpacking/inventory/cleaning/storage, post-use trip reports to field offices…and more. Phew! it’s a lot, and so satisfying to pull together year after year.

The trips themselves are shepherded with an extremely high level of personal facilitation, far above and beyond the wilderness /backcountry basics. I facilitate a full-blown and original curriculum in the field, one that is entirely crafted toward our work of the return to soul, to earth, to righter rhythm, to integrity, to wildness. Decades of study and teaching are the foundation of this nuanced guidance and listening.

 

 

What kind of foods do we eat?
Food has never tasted so good as it does in the backcountry! We eat well and we carry all that we eat! Granola and oats with yummy toppings, coffee, tea, energy bars, trail mix, string cheese, nut-butter and jam, pasta, rice and beans, Thai curry, soup, meats, veggies, chocolate! These are some things we eat. But I assure you we eat well and that hunger is the best sauce. Trips can accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. Any food needs beyond that, we will ask that you bring and carry your own supplemental foods.