Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Spend a weekend learning the skills you need to set out on your own overnight backpacking trip.
Our experienced instructors will guide you through each step of the process, help you feel safe in nature and teach you important skills for having a good time outside! Our goal is for you to walk away from the weekend feeling proud of yourself and confident in your outdoor skills.
For our retreat, we'll kick things off in Seattle, WA for a day of exploring the city, getting acquainted with our gear and visiting REI for any last minute needs! Together we'll pack up our bags and head out to the beautiful Washington backcountry for two nights of camping!
Over the weekend you will learn:
This retreat is a blend of city and nature, and our accommodations and food reflect just that. When you arrive to Seattle on Wednesday you'll arrive at our hotel in downtown where you'll be conveniently located to enjoy some of Seattle's best offerings, or simply just rest and recover from your travels. We'll meet as a group Thursday morning and enjoy breakfast together at the hotel, as well as lunch and dinner at some of our favorite restaurants in town.
Friday morning we'll get a breakfast to go as we leave the city and head out to nature. Once at we make it to camp, you'll have the chance to practice setting up your tent and making your home for the weekend. You will also learn how to filter and boil water to make our dehydrated meals and food for the weekend.
Accommodation are booked until Sunday. If you plan to stay in Seattle past Sunday, please reach out for more information.
Our team of experienced instructors brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the outdoors, ensuring a safe and enriching journey.
Gear can be the most intimidating part of backpacking, which is why our guides will spend a full day going over gear essentials and will be on hand to assist with fitting and familiarizing you with the equipment. If you don't have gear available to you, you can rent gear through our program or purchase any necessary gear during our visit to REI and have the perspective and guidance of our experiences instructors helping you select the best gear for you.
Whether you plan to bring your own gear, rent with us, or shop in Seattle, our personalized approached ensures you understand and have everything you need for our weekend of camping.
Our rental gear is sponsored by Cascade Designs, makers of Therm-a-Rest, Mountain Safety Research and Platypus products.
The terrain of the trails we use varies from gentle to moderately challenging, suitable for beginners with a reasonable level of fitness. The trail primarily consists of well-maintained dirt paths, occasionally featuring rocky sections and exposed tree roots. There is minimal elevation gain, making it accessible for those new to backpacking.
While the trail is generally manageable, some sections may require navigating over small obstacles or crossing streams on footbridges. Additionally, weather conditions, such as rain or mud, can add an extra element of challenge to the hike.
We plan to hike 5 miles a day with our full packs and up to 10 miles/day with our day packs.
2024 DATES
June 5 - June 9 | June 26 - June 30 | July 17 - July 21
PAYMENT INFORMATION
$1,800
Here is a link to our cancellation policy. We strongly suggest purchasing trip insurance to protect your investment.
CLINIC DETAILS:
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION:
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
GEAR RENTAL
NOTE:
We reserve the right to relocate the event within the state. We will host this retreat rain or shine. If the weather is poor we will propose alternative location. If poor weather or an alternate location would make you want to cancel we recommend looking into Cancel For Any Reason.
Whether your flying or driving in, make your way to our hotel in downtown Seattle
Arrive in Seattle and make your way to our hotel. Check in at our hotel begins at 4:00pm. We'll give you space to settle in and unwind from your day of travels.
We'll meet in the morning with a group breakgast and a team debrief to discuss what the next two days are going to look like. We'll talk about trail safety, LNT principles and take time to discuss gear for the weekend.
After our debriefing, we'll head out for a half-day tour of Seattle and visit Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. When we're done with our tour and lunch, we'll head over to REI and nearby grocery store in case anyone needs any last minute goodies.
We'll celebrate our first day together with a group dinner in Seattle, before packing up for the weekend and putting the final touches on our packs.
It's go time! We'll be up and out early in the morning with our boxed breakfast in hand as we make our way out of the city and into nature.
We'll hike about 5 miles from the trailhead to our campsite where we'll put our new skills to practice like pitching our tents, filtering water, working our backcountry stove and so many details in between! Our instructors will be by your side every step of the way to answer your questions and make sure you're feeling comfortable during your first night in your tent.
The camp we set up will be our site for two nights.
We'll leave most of our gear at camp and only bring the essentials as we set off for a day hike to explore deeper into nature. We'll spend our days out on the trail for about 6-8 hours hiking. After breakfast we will hike about 5-6 miles to our destination for the day. We'll take a break for lunch and soak in our accomplishments before returning back to camp.
When we're back at camp, we'll enjoy dinner and our last night together under the stars.
We'll wake up to the birds chirping as we savor our last hours at camp. Making our way the same direction we came, we'll return to the trailhead and stop for a quick lunch before heading back to to SEATAC airport/Seattle around 7pm.
Accommodation Sunday night is not included, please reach out for more information if you need to book an additional night at our hotel.
"I loved that I was able to learn the skills I need to backpack either on my own or with others. As a beginner it can be daunting to try and figure out what to do or what you need and maybe a little embarrassing with a group of well seasoned backpackers. I never felt this way during this venture and I came out on the other side feeling stronger and more confident and having made some really meaningful connections with great people.
Do it! Life is short, it’s absolutely worth taking the time to go and have a new adventure!
Jeni A. (Intro to Backpacking 2022)
"My favorite part was meeting others who are passionate about learning and being outdoors, feeling safe to be outdoors with new people.
If you're thinking about it- Do it! I have done two programs with SMM and both were incredible. I left feeling strong, confident and proud of myself. I was uplifted by the instructors/leaders and the attendees. Doing new interesting stuff, in beautiful places with cool people, what more can you ask for??"
Lindsay H. (Intro to Backpacking 2021)
My favorite part was meeting meeting all of the incredible and inspirational women! I left this trip with so many new connections. I recommend She Moves Mountains to all my friends!
The connections made and experience as a whole was incredible, I am saving for my next trip with this organization as we speak. I am hoping to go to Everest next!
Cheyenne F. (Intro to Backpacking 2022)
The trail takes you through a lush and enchanting rainforest, with moss-covered trees, babbling streams, and cascading waterfalls. Once we arrive at Five Mile Island campground, we'll be surrounded by serene beauty, with the sounds of the river and rustling of the leaves. On our second day hike to Lewis Meadows for lunch.
10.6 miles roundtrip, 300 feet of elevation
The hike to Lake Ann offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests, and the peacefulness of the wilderness is truly rejuvenating. The beauty of the lake itself is awe-inspiring, with crystal-clear waters reflecting the surrounding landscape. Four our second day on trail we'll continue up the trail with views of Mount Baker for Lunch.
10.8 miles roundtrip, 2,600 feet of elevation
The majority of women come to our retreats alone - somewhere around 90%. If you are hesitating to join because you would be coming solo, please know that we expect a majority of our participants to be joining by themselves, seeking community.
We generally have a wide range of ages at our retreats. The average tends to fall anywhere between the ages of 26 to 45. But we have had quite a few women in their 60's join as well. It really is up to the attitude and physical ability of the participant.
ABSOLUTELY. We will teach everything from how to pack a backpack to cooking gourmet meals in the back country. However to maintain a positive experience for everyone hikers need to be able to hike four miles with a backpack that weighs 35 pounds over varied terrain.
People with food allergies are absolutely welcome to join us at our program! We have food options that are vegan, gluten free, lactose free. Of course, if it would make you more comfortable, you are also welcome to pack your own meals.
Yes we have 2 types of payment options:
Please visit our PAYMENT PLAN page for more information.
We know you love your fur babies but unfortunately, we cannot allow pets on any of our group trips or clinics.
We are permitted to operate for three different trails in Washington - Lake Ann, Hoh River and Lake Valhalla. Depending on the time of year and how the seasons are going we will make a decision on which trail will best accommodate our group. All trails are located in Washington and transportation is provided from our hotel.
After you register for the program you will receive a separate email where you'll have the opportunity to reserve any gear that you'd like to rent for the weekend.
If you are traveling from out of town, we recommend flying into SEATAC Airport and taking public transportation or a ride share app to our hotel. More information on transportation will be provided when you register.
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.