Intro to Backpacking for Women
This trip is for those longing for a deeper relationship with nature and themselves. If you’ve ever longed to go deeper into the mountains than a day’s travel can take you, if you’ve wanted to feel the freedom of having everything you need on your back, if sipping tea and watching the sunset after a long and satisfying day of moving through the rivers, trees, rocks and breezes sounds exhilarating to you- this trip was designed with you in mind.
While backpacking opens up a world inaccessible to anyone unwilling to brave it, the learning curve associated with choosing gear, organizing permits, planning food and routes, in addition to confronting fears, is intimidating enough to prevent many people, women in particular, from learning the ropes. This trip is designed to empower women with simple skills and practices so that they can plan and execute their own trips safely and confidently.
From the Instructor:
“As a young woman living in cities most of my life, backpacking has been really important to me. Knowing how to take myself deep into the wilderness without another’s support, approval, or advice gave me a indescribable sense of freedom and strength. It also enabled me to build relationships with trees, rivers, trails, silence, sunrises and sunsets, stars, and the best morning cups of tea ever. 
Those relationships, with nature and with myself, have over time become the strongest and best relationships in my life. Through heartbreak, loss, and all kinds of confusion- I come back to rely on that ground I’ve walked. Through everything it’s been the succor of my soul and it’s taught me the depths and strength of my self. It may sound trite, but backpacking has been a foundation to everything that I do and really to who I am.
In this year of so much change, and it feels like so much risk, I wanted to offer a special trip for women who want to learn how to do this for themselves… I picked my absolute favorite place in the sierras where each day reveals unbelievable sights. In this week long journey of moderate difficulty we’ll learn both technical skills as well as the heart and soul of connecting yourself with these beautiful places and with your own hungry wild soul.”
In this course designed specifically for women we will learn from start to finish:
- Route planning
- Meal planning
- Map and Compass
- Basic first aid
- Choosing your gear
- Back-country safety
- How to make backpacking your own
- Cultivating relationships with place
- Tips and tricks for moving beyond “roughing it” and into the joy and freedom of the back-country
With Dashielle Vawter, $725. Scholarships and work-trades are available for this trip, please inquire with dashielle@backtoearth.com.
What is included in the price of a trip?
Back to Earth Outdoors provides delicious, organic, local, and lovingly prepared meals both at retreats and in the back-country; Back to Earth Organic Catering and Gather Restaurant both emerged out of the meals prepared on Back to Earth Outdoors trips. We also provide all group gear including water purification, first aid supplies and trained responders, instruction of the highest caliber, guides with experience and passion, and tents to clients who request them.
What’s not included in the price of a trip?
Because people fly from all over the world and travel from all over the country to join Back to Earth Outdoors we do not generally provide transportation to and from the starting points of our trips. We do however offer our time and energy to help organize carpools for those who are interested in reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions. Clients are also asked to bring their own backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and other minor personal effects such as a bowl and spoon for meals. With prior arrangement we can however loan backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, water bottles, bowls, spoons, and mugs. These supplies are limited and loaned on a first come basis.
What are the accommodations?
Our accommodations for this trip are the soft earth and the company of plants, animals and the night time sky, be it filled with stars or the light of the moon.
Where does my trip start?
Specific directions to our starting point will be sent in an email prior to your trip.
For more question please check out our FAQ or email us here.