Welcome To The Pictured Rocks
Base Camp Backpacking Retreat
We can’t wait to be
in community with you at Pictured Rocks
Location: Pictured Rocks Munising, Michigan
Temp: Historically Highs in the 60’s and Lows in the 40’s
Trip Dates: September 20th - 26th, 2026
Below you will find
Important dates & deadlines
Questionnaire. This is one of the most important things. Please allow around 10 minutes to fill this out and make sure to send it in by Saturday, August 8th.
A packing list with important information about gear and what to bring
Details about the trip, including itinerary and travel information
Retreat life: communication, safety, and other considerations to help you get the most out of your retreat experience
Waiver
Quick Access
DATES & DEADLINES
Leading up to the retreat there will be important dates and deadlines to pay attention to. We will be sending out reminders through email as we go.
Reach out anytime with questions
Zoe’s phone number: (818) 661-8164
Caitlin’s phone number: (906) 450 - 5431
DATES & DEADLINES
Group Calls: ZOOM LINK
Calls will be on Zoom and last between 1-1.5 hours
Call #1 - Tues, September 1st at 4pm PT | 7pm ET
ZOOM RECORDING HERECall #2 - Tues, September 8th at 4pm PT | 7pm ET
Call #3 - Mon, September 14th at 4pm PT | 7pm ET
Aug. 8th: Questionnaire Due
Aug. 8th: Gear requests (you will add what you need to the questionnaire)
Sept. 20th - 26th: Our wonderful backpacking adventure!
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help every step of the way leading up to the retreat and always happy to hop on a call with you.
ALL the links in one place
Group call ZOOM link
Questionnaire
Logistics Document
Communication & Letter For Loved Ones
Waiver
Retreat Questionnaire
The Questionnaire is very important, it provides us with medical information, gear necessities, and food preferences. In addition, we incorporate a lot of your answers into our planning so please take the time to fill this out, it makes the trip all that much better. Thank you!
Please complete ASAP but no later than August 8th!
Gear Overview
We will be checking the weather the week leading up to the trip.
Water Temps: The water temps range from high 60’s to low 50’s.
ALL requests for gear must be made no later than August 8th!
What we provide:
All meals
Expert Guides: Co-led by a licensed therapist with wilderness guide experience and healing arts practitioner
Transportation: Once you arrive to Twelvemile Beach Campground in Grand Marais, Michigan we will take care of the rest, including a shuttle to the start of our hike.
Group Calls
Private Community
1 or 2 person tents (upon request)
Sleeping bag (upon request)
Sleeping pad (upon request)
Backpack (upon request)
Camping Gear: (All Items Available Upon Request)
Tents (1 or 2 person)
Sleeping bags: We recommend a lightweight, compact bag with a stuff-sack. If you tend to sleep cold, please bring a bag rated to approximately 32°F.
Backpacking sleeping pads
Backpacks (Packs suitable for carrying all necessary gear)
Packing Overview
We will be checking the weather the week leading up to the trip.
Air Temps: Munising, Michigan has an average of low 60’s (could get hotter) and nights can get cold with lows in the 40’s F (could get colder).
Please read through carefully, all items are included to make your trip as comfortable as possible. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions about gear and packing during our group calls and can post questions to our group text thread.
Overview
When we head out into nature we are in the elements. Lake Superior can have a wide range of weather from sunny to rainy, all within a single day. But with the right gear and mindset, it can make for a great adventure.
We recommend using a layering system so you can add clothing to stay warm, or delayer as needed.
Important Items
Insurance card, traveler insurance info
Flight itinerary, confirmation number, tickets
Zoe + Caitlin’s phone number somewhere other than your phone
Cell phone & charger
Logistics
Flying to Munising, Michigan
Transportation:
For those who will need to fly in, here are some airports to consider with the respective distance from our meet-up point. We are happy to help arrange transportation whether it be a shuttle or carpool, although this is not included in the cost of the trip.
77 miles to Sawyer International Airport (MQT / KSAW / SAW)
100 miles to Delta County Airport (ESC / KESC)
119 miles to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU / KCIU)
123 miles to Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM / CYAM)
143 miles to Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN / KPLN)
Please add your flight info to the logistics doc below in addition to filling it out in the questionnaire.
Logistics Document - Add your flight info here
Trip Details:
Sunday 9/20: Arrival Day
The retreat begins in the afternoon of Sunday, September 20th at Twelvemile Beach Campground.
We’ll enjoy connecting with one other, organizing food and gear, and spend a casual night at the campground before heading into the wilderness the following morning.
Monday 9/21: Hike In
Morning:
Morning will bring anticipation and excitement for everyone as sounds of meditation bells signal our time to rise. Sip your coffee or tea with breakfast followed by meditation and movement. Then we hop in the van and shuttle 45 minutes to the trailhead that will take us on a slow, 4-mile hike to our group campsite.
Midday:
Set up camp, take in the beauty of the surroundings and go for a swim in Lake Superior.
Evening:
We'll cook a shared meal and gather around the fire for community circle.
Let yourself exhale. Settle in. Rest into the dreamtime.
Tuesday 9/22: Move Camp
Morning:
We’ll gather for guided meditation and gentle movement. Pack up camp and hike 3-5 miles with breaks for snacks, lunch and community check-ins along the way.
This will be our first full day in the backcountry. Soak in the relative slowness and quietude of life on the trail. Deep listening practices will be woven in throughout the day.
Midday:
Set up camp knowing it will be home for 2 nights.
Evening
As the evening approaches, we will prepare for solo (24-hours of noble silence) and gather around the fire for council.
Wednesday 9/23: Solo + Rest Day
Morning:
Wake up at your leisure and begin your solo, often one of peoples favorite days.
Afternoon:
Practice listening deeply to what calls to you during our rest day. Maybe you feel pulled to go for a wander, or take a nap, or just lay by the shore listening to the sound of water.
Evening:
Supported by your wild sisters, you will be invited to share your experience of solo around the fire before resting into the dreamtime.
Thursday 9/24: Move Camp
Morning:
Morning meditation and yoga before packing up camp to hop on the trail.
Midday:
Hike 3-5 miles to our last cap site of the trip, with breaks for snacks, lunch and maybe a dip in the lake along the way.
Evening:
We’ll plan on council around the fire, star-gazing and deep sleep for our last night together in the backcountry.
You may not leave with all the answers. But you’ll leave with a deeper trust in yourself and a sense that you’re not walking alone.
Friday 9/25: Hike Out
Morning:
We’ll wake slowly, share a final cup of something warm, and begin the gentle process of preparing to transition back.
After packing up camp, we’ll hike out, taking our time, honoring the shift, and noticing what feels different now.
Late Morning / Early Afternoon:
Back at the trailhead, we’ll sort gear, share any final reflections, and say our goodbyes.
Our goal will be to arrive back at the trailhead around 1pm, but we will prioritize moving at a safe pace and know that when we are out in nature things can always shift.
Evening:
Hotel accommodations have been secured at the Comfort Inn & Suites Munising-Lakefront in Munising, MI. A place to indulge in a shower and amenities of the “front country”.
Retreat Life
Time Away
This retreat is an opportunity to get to know yourself better and to develop a calmer and more alert mind. Through slowing down and minimizing distractions we will spend time cultivating a sense of peace and stillness. We will also bring mindful attention into group discussions, creative activities, and free time.
By taking time to know yourself and others in a more authentic way you can develop skills to move between inner and outer worlds with flexibility and ease, free from distracting thoughts, feelings, and habits.
Safety & Hazards
When we go out into the wilderness, we leave some of the comforts of modernity behind as well as immediate access to medical care. This is the risk we take to go out and find solitude and connection with nature. Taking necessary precautions and paying attention to the health and well-being of the whole group helps mitigate the risk.
Although it is unlikely that an illness or injury will occur on retreat, these accidents can happen. We have trip leaders trained in Wilderness First Response and CPR. Please keep in mind that it is all of our responsibility to be mindful of ourselves and to care for the group as a whole.
Hazards include animals and insects, weather (including the sun), improper hygiene, and terrain, such as loose rocks.
We will review how to stay safe, sanitary, and aware of these hazards once we are all together in person.
Communications/Cell Phone
Click Below to Download Your Letter to Loved Ones:
You may not be able to access cell service on this trip so please plan accordingly.
We suggest putting an away message on your email with an extra day to give yourself time to settle back in and transition back after the retreat.
If you have a job or personal life where people may be calling and expecting a response you can also leave an away message on your voicemail letting people know you are away on retreat.
If you have family who might worry if they do not hear back from you, it is nice to give them a heads up that you will be away on a wilderness retreat and won’t have cell service.
In Case of an Emergency
We will have a Garmin in-reach with us on the trip which has limited texting capabilities for use in the case of an emergency. We will provide you with a document and instructions that you can give to your loved ones so they can reach us in case of an emergency.
All of our guides are trained in Wilderness First Response and have been guiding people on hiking and wilderness expeditions for decades.
Please sign and submit the waiver below
Waiver
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