BACKPACKING, MEDITATION & YOGA
September 17th - 23rd 2023
EMBARK ON A JOURNEY & DISCOVER YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY
A 5 night, no experience needed, backpacking & mindfulness retreat.
Swim in alpine lakes, sleep under the stars, and howl at the moon.
This is a journey into setting your intention, developing mindfulness and self-love, and of course… learning how to prepare for a weeklong backpacking trip.
Whether you are making a big shift in your career, mustering the courage to end a relationship, or redefining who you are after the kids have left home, this is an opportunity to put down responsibilities and distractions and prioritize you.
Trip Overview
Just pack your bag and show up, everything else is taken care of.
Backpacking Videos - What & How To Pack
Mindfulness & Mindset Videos - Using Nature To Grow
Group Calls Before & After - Show up already feeling connected to the group
Private Online Community - Ask Questions & Deepen Relationships
Two 30 min 1:1 Calls - For That Extra Support
Together we will set the vision of where you want to go and get there one step at a time.
“Backpacking was something I’ve always wanted to do, but I knew I didn’t have all the info and resources to do it on my own. Zoe’s retreat was a great opportunity to learn the basics of a backpacking trip. Besides the amazing opportunity to meet some lovely women that I can now easily call sisters. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life!”
— Alex
Much More Than Just A Backpacking Trip
Led by a licensed therapist and wilderness guide
Wild Minds retreats offer an opportunity to immerse yourself in deep reflection and the chance to realign with the way you want to show up in the world. Here is what we practice on retreat…
Self Love
If you could just find that sweet spot between motivating yourself with kindness while staying disciplined, you know you would be on fire.
But too often you find yourself slipping back into old habits of avoidance or self-criticism.
On this journey you will cultivate love through heart centered meditation practices and create a mantra that you can rely on during difficult times.
Community
After the last couple of years, and what we have all been through, spending time in community is invaluable.
But I get it, it can be scary too. Scary because of covid, because of being social, because it’s unfamiliar.
That is why this trip was created with an abundance of care. We are making sure that the trip feels safe, keeping the group small, and facilitating the group dynamic so you can just show up and be your beautiful self.
Solo
One of the truly magical elements of retreat is the guided solo experience.
During solo you will be guided into stillness and deep listening.
You will spend 24 hours in noble silence, letting go of conversation with others and dropping into deeper connection to yourself and the world around you.
Receive guidance in setting your intentions and processing your experience, so you can engage with nature in solitude, knowing the group is there to support you along the way.
I’m interested!
“I would recommend this experience to anyone looking to reconnect with the natural world but also reconnect with themselves. Zoe created a safe and supportive environment for us to learn the ins and outs of backpacking. But most importantly the retreat provided an uplifting and meaningful experience I will forever treasure.
— Jimmi W.
Retreat Gallery
Wild Women
Soak Sore Muscles
Make New Friends
Daily Yoga
Learn Backpacking Skills
Know Your Strength
Easy Tent Set Up
Find Your Rhythm On The Trail
Take A Load Off
Be wild
Connect Around The Fire
Relax
Journal & Reflect
Find Peace
Lunch On A Rock
Soak It Up
Kick back
The Trip Of A Lifetime
All Inclusive Backpacking Retreat
With all that you do & everyone you take care of, let us take care of you
All backpacking gear included.
Need a backpack, tent, or big item gear? …no sweat. We got you.
All food included
Have food restrictions? ... not a problem. Personal attention around any food or dietary needs.
1:1 Support
Here to answer your questions and help you get ready for the trip every step of the way.
Support every step of the way from a licensed therapist & expert wilderness guide.
Zoe has 15 years experience as a wilderness guide, is certified as a wilderness first responder, is a licensed therapist and has over 20+ years facilitating groups and immersive experiences in nature.
- Trip Details -
Backpacking, meditation & Yoga
Sept 17th - 23rd 2023 | california Moutnains
No Backpacking Experience Needed (Must be able to hike 6-8 miles)
Trip Terrain
Level: Moderate - Challenging
Approx. 18 miles total
4-6 miles a day carrying the weight of your backpack (approx. 35-45 pounds)
Elevation gain - most likely we will be starting at an elevation of 8,000 ft. We will then be climbing 1,000 - 2,000 ft.
Terrain: The exact location is still being finalized. That being said we will be somewhere in the Sierra Nevada Mt. Range. Jagged peaks and alpine lakes.
This trip is challenging but totally doable if you are able to normally hike about 8 miles.
What’s Included
All you have to do is pack your bags and show up!
Big Gear Items like backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and tent
Group gear like stoves, kitchen cook wear, and water filtration
All Meals & Snacks throughout our time together (Have restrictions? No problem)
What & How To Pack Videos and packing lists so you can feel confident and prepared for any weeklong backpacking trip
Mindfulness & Mindset Videos to help make this experience truly transformational
2 Pre Trip Group Calls so you can show up connected to the group and feeling prepared
Private Online Community where you can ask questions and build deeper relationships with each other
Two 30 min 1:1 call with Zoe pre & post trip for that extra support
Sample Schedule:
6:15 - Wake Up
6:30 - Morning Meditation
7:00 - Breakfast & Pack
8:30 - Yoga
9:30 - Hit The Trail
12:30 - Mindful Lunch & Journal
4:30 - Settle Into Camp
5:30 - Dinner & Hang
7:00 - Campfire Council
- Cost -
4 payments of $875
or
$3,400
Coming with a friend or willing to share a tent? Save $400 per person
- 1 -
BOOK A CALL
You can schedule an interest phone call to discuss hopes, fears, and ask any questions.
Sign up is as easy as…
- 2 -
Sign Up
After out phone call I will send over an email with a PDF including additional information and a link to sign up.
- 3 -
Get Excited
After you are signed up you will get a welcome email with instructions for how to access the private online Wild Minds Platform.
Interested but have questions?
book a zero pressure interest call
Meet your guides
ZOE GILLIS, LMFT
Favorite Gear: It used to be a scarf, in this moment it’s a fanny pack!
Go To Mantra: “I got this”
Experience: 15 years as a professional wilderness guide, Licenced Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Mindfulness & Meditation Teacher, Certified Wilderness First Responder
Kiki Williams
Favorite Gear: Nemo sit pad! It comes in handy for so many things!
Go To Mantra: “I’m a lady of leisure”
Experience: 500hr registered yoga teacher, meditation practitioner, and deep lover of nature! Currently getting MA in Depth Psychology with a focus in communication, liberation, indigenous, and ecopsychologies from Pacifica University.
DON’T LET FEAR GET IN THE WAY
One of the biggest concerns people have when considering signing up for a retreat is holding the group back, or being intimidated by the difficulty level.
If you are able to do a challenging hike, you can totally do this trip!
We go at a pace that is slow and steady so everyone is taken care of.
This is the perfect opportunity to show yourself that you CAN do hard things!
People love Wild Minds Retreats.
The writing, meditation, and evening circle were a lovely shift from my daily routine. I am so glad I listened to my friend and took a retreat from normal life.
- Maya M.
I often crave the outdoors, a chance to escape LA, and experience a little adventure. But I don’t do it on my own because, you know, life, and a thousand other excuses. Wild Mind Retreats eliminated all my excuses and made it super easy for me to have the exact escape from the city and reconnection to myself and nature that I was craving.
- Nina W.
The fire chats were the highlight for me. Everyone came with such an open vulnerability. I didn’t realize how much I was craving the clarity and simplicity I found on retreat. I also just wanted to see if I could do it... if I could survive camping in the desert. It was an amazing, truly magical time.
- Shira G.
I went on a backpacking retreat with my wife, my daughter, and four other women I didn’t know before signing up. It was challenging yet fantastic. I used to backpack years ago and thought I’d never be able to do it again. I worried about being able to keep up with all of these younger people. But from the get-go, I felt supported and encouraged by the group. Zoe did a truly amazing job of connecting us to the reverence of where we were.
- Deb D.
Loved every day of this trip, it’s definitely what I needed to clear my mind. Zoe is a great guide and she had every detail planned out, so there was nothing to worry about! Highly recommend this trip.
- Roxy B.
The views and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of every night outweighed any negative self doubt or challenges.
- Jackie B.
interested but want more info?
Book a zero pressure interest call
Relationship with the land
Dear fellow wild women,
As we embark on retreat, we will be entering into the Los Padres National Forest which was originally Chumash land. Understanding the history of the land we are walking on is something I am working to incorporate more of into the retreats I offer.
In addition, my intention for this trip is to be in relationship with the land. For me that means thinking of ways I can give back to the land for all that I receive. Part of this involves traveling on the land in a way that minimizes impact and donating to organizations that protect and look over the land.
I am open to any thoughts or suggestions around this topic.
With love,
Zoe
FAQ
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If you book and cancel the trip within the sign up period you can receive a full refund minus $100 processing fee.
If you cancel after the deadline to sign up, March 8th, there are no refunds.
This is because the trips are very small in size and arrangements are made based on group size on the final day of sign ups.
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We will be hiking between 4-8 miles a day, with weight.
If you have never backpacked before, it’s challenging, but that’s part of the fun! You get to work with your mind as it resists hiking uphill, and know what it’s like to push through.
Leading up to the trip it is a good idea to go on some longer hikes with a weighted backpack to get your body ready for the trail. I will offer suggestions for how to train if you don’t live somewhere you can easily access hiking.
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We provide backpacking meals that are lightweight and easy to cook in a group.
Once the group is formed we will work together to pick meals that are within different peoples food requirements.
Don’t worry if you have restrictions, we can work with you to figure out what you need to feel good on the trail.
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The follow backpacking gear is included upon request. Make sure to have your requests in by the deadline.
Backpacking Gear
backpack
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
The rest will be your personal gear which you will be responsible for. I will share a packing list that will include things like water wicking hiking clothing, a hydration pack, and warm jacket. The most important thing will be making sure you have good hiking boots that are broken in.
Hiking Boots
One of the biggest medical issues that shows up while backpacking is blisters.
This can be reduced by breaking your boots in early and going for hikes with weight before the trip.
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The great outdoors! Don’t worry though, I will teach you everything you need to know in order to have a 5 star bathroom experience while backpacking.
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There will not be service where we are going.
Part of this experience is going completely offline. During our group calls we will talk about the value in going offline and ways to prepare for the trip and integrate back to cell service and email after the trip.
For safety I will have a gps tracking device which I can send and receive messages on in case of an emergency. Included in the videos is information about safety and communication.
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The group calls are a really important part of this experience. For this reason, I will send out a survey to find days & times that everyone can commit to.
On these calls you will get a chance to
connect with the other wild women
practice mindfulness and self-compassion techniques that you will use on the trail
plan how you would like to prepare mentally and physically
ask questions about packing and gear
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This is a substance free trip. There is a focus and emphasis on deepening your relationship with yourself and the land. It is also an opportunity to expanding your capacity to be with the ups and downs without turning to substances.
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ACCOMIDATIONS
If you are traveling from out of town I suggest flying into LAX and booking flights for the day before the trip and after the trip.
The evening before the trip…
I have reserved a few double bed rooms at a local inn for the evening before the trip. This will allow you to arrive and settle in so you can be at the trail early the day the retreat starts.
The evening after the trip…
I rented an Airbnb close to Ojai so you can come off the trail, shower, do laundry, and relax before heading home.
TRANSPORTATION
We will help coordinate transportation and connect you with other participants who are traveling from out of town.
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The group is small and intimate so I want to make sure this is the right trip for whoever signs up.
On the interest call we will talk about what you want to get out of retreat, the challenges that might arise, and if this is the right trip for you.
It is also a time for me to answer any questions you might have.
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This trip is for those over the age of 18. There is no age limit on who can come on this trip.