Inside each of us is a wild woman, a wild man, or a wild child. Sometimes we can lose track of the wild inside… it can be tamed by the heaviness of responsibility, grief and loss, outside pressure to live life a certain way, by trauma, or fear, or unmanifested dreams. We can forget who we truly are at our core and before we know it, we move through life robotically going through the motions and out of alignment with the core of our being. In our 6 day retreat into the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains we create a space for you to return to and reclaim your wild and free essence. 

Surrounded by pristine mountain landscapes and in digital detox, we remember what is important about who we truly are, beyond any self-imposed labels. Through immersive guided eco-therapy and mindfulness meditation practices you will reconnect to your inner nature: a mindset characterized by curiosity instead of fear, awareness instead of distraction, and engagement instead of apathy. 

Living in the wilderness, we experience a connection to nature on a deeper level. As our senses expand and our stress falls further away with each step, we discover a resounding peace, sense of adventure, and companionship - with the wild, and with each other. Our days are filled with yoga, hiking, swimming, and body-work. Our nights are filled with epic dark skies that enhance our view of the stars, the waxing moon (supportive energy for envisioning and creating change in our lives) and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower! Witnessing this awe-inspiring event can inspire personal growth, clarity, and spiritual awakening.

Through our pre-trip class, An Ayurvedic Approach to Backcountry Nutrition, you’ll discover how to plan and prepare your backcountry meal kit, using nourishing and medicinal spices, herbs, and plant-based foods. You’ll also learn tips and tricks from an ayurvedic lens to support your lifestyle that are applicable in the backcountry, and in your daily life, too!

We will hike, practice yoga, enjoy shared bodywork and sit quietly in the presence of the great California mountains.

Encased in granite and painted in wildflowers, pierced by inviting lakes small and large, and varying between forested and subalpine landscapes, each turn of the sinuous trail brings a new and delightful surprise. 

This will be a beginner to moderately rated backpacking and yoga retreat, so don’t be shy. Beginners who have the appropriate health and fitness necessary for safe travels are welcome. This trip is also perfect for seasoned excursionists who would like to slow down and integrate a mindfulness practice into their wilderness adventure. 

Participants will carry their own backpacks weighing 30 to 40 pounds with distances of 6 to 10 miles daily over uneven, up-and-down terrain.

Day 1: Get your hiking legs warmed up! We’ll meet at 9am and day-hike (no overnight gear!) Pinecrest Lake Trail in Stanislaus National Forest to the amazing swimming holes at Cleo’s Baths for a Welcome Circle and Swimming (4 miles each way).

After returning to the trailhead, we’ll caravan to Gianelli trailhead, dropping some vehicles at Crabtree trailhead where we will exit. 

At Gianelli Trailhead, we don our backpacks with all of our overnight gear and hike 2.5 miles into the Emigrant Wilderness to Powell Lake.

Day 2: After morning yoga, we hike a spur trail to Chewing Gum Lake for lunch and a guided meditation. In the afternoon we’ll complete our hike for the day to the vast and beautiful Whitesides Meadow, where we can explore all of the meadow flora and some eco-therapy practices. (6.5 mi)

Day 3: Hike to Buck lake for camping (7 mi)

Day 4: Rest Day! Enjoy morning yoga, and an afternoon bodywork workshop. Optional activities include day hikes or simply taking some time to relax and rejuvenate.

Day 5: Morning yoga, then hike to Piute Lake for swimming, partner yoga practice, and summiting a nearby viewpoint. (5 mi)

Day 6: After a short morning yoga practice, we hike out from Piute Lake to Crabtree Trailhead (8 mi). We’ll pick up vehicles left at Gianelli TH and should be sharing hugs goodbye by around 2pm.

Note: This is generally the planned itinerary of the trip, but as all things wild ~ may change due to circumstances: weather, fitness of the group, unexpected changes in trail conditions. Activities and workshops are not set in stone and will be finalized as the trip approaches.