Wild Women's Weekend - Beginner backpacking overnight
Capability - Connection - Confidence
Capability = Confidence
Women have always belonged in wild places—we've just been told we need someone else to take us there. That ends here.
Backpacking isn't rocket science, but it does require real skills: navigation, shelter systems, water management, and risk management. Skills that are 100% learnable. Understand the systems and the 'why' behind them, and moving through the wild will feel natural.
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This isn't about proving you're tough enough. It's about becoming genuinely capable— so confident in your abilities that the wilderness stops feeling like hostile territory and starts feeling like a place you're excited to explore.
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By the end, you won't need to follow someone else's trip reports or wonder if you're "ready." You'll know you are.
South Mountain State Park $250 April 24-25 2027
Are you dreaming of wild places but unsure if you have the skills to get there?
The wilderness isn't gatekept by gear or grit—it's opened by knowledge. Real, practical skills that turn "I hope I can do this" into "I know what I'm doing."
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Before doubt crept in, before someone said "its too dangerous," you imagined yourself capable of anything—crossing ridgelines with everything you needed on your back, navigating by map and instinct, building fire and shelter under your own power.
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The only thing standing between you and the backcountry isn't toughness or expensive gear. It's skills. And skills can be learned.
If you ever wondered what you're truly capable of, it's time to find out.
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This is a trip to gain the skills, build the confidence in a supportive, empowering community.​​
Skills that Set You Free
While exploring one of the most ancient mountain ranges in America, you'll master the fundamental skills that will keep you comfortable, oriented and confident in the wilderness. No more anxiety over getting lost, gear breaking or dealing with wildlife- you'll move through the wild like you belong there- because you do.
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Knots and hitches - The foundation of weather proof tarp rigging
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Tarp craft - Rigging tarps for happy backcountry living
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Backcountry Cooking- Master tasty meals on tiny stoves
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Water procurement - Finding and purifying life's most essential element
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Backcountry Navigation - No more wrong turns
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Bear bags - The art of hanging a bear bag
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Campsite Selection - what to look for and way, and then how to set it up
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Leave No Trace - skills + techniques to leave our wild places as beautiful as we found them
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When nature calls- the art (and techniques) to relieve yourself without making a mess of yourself or the environment
The Journey
For two days, you'll traverse the foothills. These ancient, rolling hills become your classroom as you navigate ridge lines, ford creeks, and cover miles with everything you need on your back.
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Each day brings new terrain and new skills: map and compass work on winding trails, water sourcing and filtration at backcountry streams, shelter systems that actually keep you dry. You'll practice as you go—learning isn't theoretical when you're living it.
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By evening, you'll have earned your rest. Camp means hot food, warm drinks, and swapping stories with women who understand exactly what you accomplished that day—because they did it too.
Gear You'll Need
You'll need to bring a pack (around 60 liter volume) with a frame that distributes weight to your hips and fits you properly. We do have a couple of packs, sleeping bags and sleeping pads for rent, you can add them to the registration when you check out. Each person should bring their own sleeping bag, sleeping pad and clothes. You can bring your own tent (less than 4lbs) or sleep beneath one of the tarps we bring. We ask that your gear weigh less than 15 lbs so that you can help carry group gear and food. Other items you'll need to bring are things like a bowl and spoon, headlamp, bug spray, etc. You will receive a complete gear list once you sign up, and we'll have a zoom call to answer any questions one month before the trip. If you have never backpacked before don't worry, we'll help you figure out what to bring and wear.
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We will provide the tarps to cook and hang out under, food, cooking systems, water purification, maps, a first aid kit, and GPS signaling device. We'll get your dietary restrictions and allergies when you sign up.
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We trust you to know your body and your gear, so our packing list is less specific than many outdoor companies you may have explored with. For example, most companies require ankle high, backpacking style boots, but Ali hikes in sandals, because that's what works best for her. You'll find our gear list much more relaxed. Our zoom call will help you choose what to bring if you feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. ​
You won't do this alone—but you will do it yourself. That's the magic of learning with other women: the support to try, the space to fail, the celebration when it clicks.
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Two days. Ancient mountains. New skills. The kind of confidence that doesn't fade when you get home.
The wilderness isn't boys-only. It never was. Come remember that.
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About your Instructor
