Rooted in Adventure. Rooted in Appalachia.

Women’s Backpacking Trip

Women’s Backpacking Trip

Four days of backpacking, yoga, connection, and fun with women who want to expand their wilderness skills.

Trip Overview

On this four-day backpacking trip in the Otter Creek Wilderness Area, you will engage with a small group of women who are as excited as you are to step away from it all for a few days. You’ll learn basic camping and backpacking skills in a supportive environment from experienced and fun female instructors. At the end of the trip, you’ll celebrate your accomplishments and feel a sense of ease from spending time practicing yoga, talking, and laughing together in nature.

Travel Information

  • Friday, July 28- Meet us at the Pendleton Point Picnic Shelter at Blackwater Falls State Park at 9am (If you are from out of town, consider staying in the area on Thursday night. Check out the Billy Motel, Bright Morning Inn, or Spruce House Air BnB in Thomas). 
  • Monday, July 31- We will wrap things up around 2 or 3pm so you can be on your way.  

What to expect while we’re on the trail…

We will hike around 3-5 miles per day, which doesn’t sound far, but feels longer with a backpack and on challenging terrain. We will be crossing creeks and hiking on trails that are rooty, rocky, muddy, and wet, so plan on your hiking shoes being wet throughout the trip. When we get to camp, we will have time to take a dip in a swimming hole, lounge in a hammock, or just relax. We will teach you how to prepare delicious meals over backcountry stoves and how to camp leaving minimal impact. Plan to sleep in a tent with one or two other people; bring a hammock if you’re into it! While out, the forest will be our bathroom and the creeks our showers (in other words, there will be no facilities on the trail).  

Wondering what to bring? 

Check out our equipment list and let us know if you need to borrow anything. 

Intended Outcomes

  Get outside, have fun, and laugh out loud!

  Connect with other women who want to be outdoors

  Challenge yourself in a safe and nurturing environment

  Develop the confidence to go out for a day or two on your own

What is the total cost of the trip?

$725

Why do we Charge This?

Safety, fun and learning are our main priorities. Tuition from these programs goes towards our highly developed risk management systems and top of the line gear that will keep participants warm, dry, and safe. Our instructors are the face of our programs, we seek to employ and retain highly qualified instructors and pay them a livable wage so that we can create the best possible experiences for our students. Lastly, as an education program, we are committed to teaching our intentional curriculum to create better leaders and more engaged citizens of this planet. Education is an investment in ourselves and our communities. If you are excited about our programs, but unable to afford the full tuition, consider applying for a scholarship or contacting us directly.

Participants will be responsible for hiking boots, personal items, and transportation to and from Davis, WV.  APEX will provide group gear (e.g. tents, stoves, water systems, etc.) and has limited rental items (e.g. backpacks, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads). Please contact us for more information. 

For more information on needs based scholarships visit our scholarship application.

Trip Details

July 28 – July 31 

This trip is full. Contact us to join the waitlist. Thanks!

Ages: Adult

Activities: backpacking, camping, hiking, cooking, yoga, meditation, laughing

Location: Otter Creek Wilderness Area

Difficulty: 5/10

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