Backpacking + Wayfinding Adventure
April 7-9, 2023
Only FOUR spots left!
ONLY TWO SPOTS REMAINING!!!
**** Investment: $597 per person
Join Angie Stegall, Executive Wayfinder, and Jayne Fought, Lead Outdoor Guide with Island Ford Adventures, for a weekend of being WILDER!
April 7 – 9, 2023
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
Rachel Carson
WHO: You, plus up to seven other women, will enjoy backpacking, Forest Bathing, and campfires out in the clean, crisp air of Pisgah National Forest in the company of other like-minded women.
Wasn’t the pace of 2022 just…exhausting? If you are feeling desperate for some time to unplug, slow down, and just BE, Jayne and I invite you to bring your whole self to the wilderness to experience a new kind of presence there.
COVID-19 NOTE: If you are not fully vaccinated + boosted, please feel free to practice safe social distancing and/or wear your mask as you deem necessary. We will all, always practice regular hand washing/sanitizing, even in the forest.
WHAT: Rather than a hardcore backpacking trip focused on miles, this will be a gentler trip focused on rediscovering the wild places inside you. Honor the deep silences of the forest, learn new skills related to backpacking + cooking outdoors, and experience the magic of Wayfinding + Forest Bathing. Notice, allow, be curious, surrender. Go deeper into the wild places inside you. Nourish yourself after a day’s hike. Sleep under a blanket of stars. Rest your nervous system like never before.
WHEN: Friday, April 7th (arrive between 9:30 – 10am for a 10am Orientation start time) until Sunday, April 9th, 2023 (ending no later than 3pm).
WHERE: In preparation, we’ll gather ONLINE for two introductory calls. The first will be about a month before the trip as a “get to know you” intro call and the second will be two weeks before we gather in person to answer questions about clothing, gear, food, weather, etc. THEN, we gather in person in Brevard, NC at the headquarters for Island Ford Adventures for orientation and packing. Loading up, we’ll drive to the trailhead together for no more than 2-3 miles of hiking per day, plus guided Forest Bathing, sit spot practices, Wayfinding + coaching conversations, campfires, and more. Please note you should be in reasonably good shape for this event: able to hike 2-3 miles per day carrying 25 pounds along uneven terrain in any weather.
WHY: Well, because the last three years have been pretty stressful and uncertain. And because your brain, body, and Soul are feeling the fatigue of being constantly on alert, responding constantly to change, and maybe fighting the dragons of dread that our thoughts are pretty good at conjuring up.
**** Investment: $597 per person****
Please feel free to bring your own gear (Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cook gear, etc.). If you don’t have some or all of those things, never fear! Island Ford Adventures can supply you with a backpack, sleeping bag and/or pad, cook gear and a tent (or potentially a sleeping tarp). You will absolutely need to bring your own personal gear (clothing, toiletries, etc).
Total Trip Pricing covers: insurance, permits, gear, safety, certifications, and experience for both guides.
Food allergies and restrictions being what they are, it is generally easier for you to supply your own food. We will send out suggestions to help you to plan, shop, and assemble your meals for the weekend. Island Ford Adventures will have pre-packaged meals available for a small additional fee.
Angie and Jayne are excellent co-facilitators. I recommend this particular event to anyone who is looking to get outdoors or experience hiking/nature for the first time or who has not gotten outdoors in a while. It is an excellent, safe way to experience the outdoors, make new friends and get a chance to reconnect with nature and yourself!
Learn About Your Guides
Jayne Fought, a born adventurer, has 30 years of diverse experiences in the outdoors. She loves sharing her passion for nature and education with the people she instructs and guides. Jayne’s certifications include: NOLS Wilderness First Responder, Trainer for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, American Canoe Association Level III River Canoe Instructor. Jayne also has ACA level IV training in Swiftwater Rescue. Learn more at Island Ford Adventures.
Angie Stegall is a born Wayfinder, helping clients explore their wild insides while finding their way back to who they are at their core. She is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides, and has extensive experience taking groups and individual clients out for forest bathing, powerful nature-based coaching sessions, and retreats. Angie’s other certifications include: Martha Beck Certified Wayfinder Life Coach, Certified Sparketype Advisor, IFS-informed Coach, and American Red Cross Wilderness & First Aid/CPR Certification. Learn more at https://AngieStegall.com
To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.”
Terry Tempest Williams
May we suggestion THREE powerful reasons for you to attend this Be Wilder Adventure?
- You want to challenge yourself backpacking. Maybe you’ve never been before or it’s been (ahem) quite awhile. Jayne Fought, owner of Island Ford Adventures, is an amazing instructor, teaching you solid skills around prepping, packing, cooking, setting up camp, and more. She’s all about empowering women to get outdoors.
- You’re mentally tired. You know time on the trail does a body, mind, and Soul good. Combined with Forest Bathing activities (which are gentle, relaxing, and incredibly restorative), this is your chance to unplug, unwind, and meander. Forest Bathing benefits include: lowering your respiratory rate, inhaling immune boosting phytoncides, and stimulating an increase of your NK (Natural Killer) cells (the ones who sweep the body’s cells clean while, eliminating or reducing tumor cells, viruses, and bacteria). Plus, time gazing out into the landscape of trees and green relaxes your brain, which in this time of constant screen staring, plus the stress and anxiety of 2023, is a rare but much-need activity.
- You’re feeling…something. A question. A quandary. A disconnection from yourself. This “Wayfinding” aspect is intriguing. You feel like you have questions that don’t have a easy or obvious answers. You know those questions tickle your inner Voice and that she LOVES the silence that allows her to come forward with answers. You want those answers, which come from accessing your inner wisdom.
“This retreat was a life-changing experience for me. I’ve been holding myself back because of fear in a few areas of my life. In 2020, I decided to challenge and overcome those fears and expand my growth and comfort zone. My take-aways from this experience are: I can do “hard things.” I can feel empowered in uncomfortable situations with the right guide/mentor and the right tools. I can face my fears and weaknesses and create momentum as I move forward towards my dreams and goals. Jayne and Angie created a safe space for me to ease into and sit with fear. I was surprised that my “fear of being outside in the dark,” wasn’t as scary as my mind imagined it would be. I met many beautiful women and made great connections. I have recommended this retreat and would do it again.”
2020 Participant
PARTICIPATION is limited to EIGHT women.
It’s worth noting that we’ve sold out this trip quickly in the last two years. If you’re interested, don’t delay!
A Note On Refunds: We ONLY give refunds if there’s a Waitlist and we are able to fill your spot before March 31, 2023. Otherwise, no refunds are offered.
My takeaways from the trip are centered around being able to bring myself back to a calm and peaceful state when work and life get a bit stressful or just too ‘loud’. To be able to redirect my thoughts and to intentionally slow down down my pace. To seek out opportunities to slow down and find peace.
2022 participant
I completely trusted Angie and Jayne’s wise guidance and leadership during our weekend backpacking adventure. They were supportive, kind, knowledgeable, thoughtful, wise and gave us the space/time to deeply connect with nature and ourselves. I felt privileged and blessed to be able to journey with them and can’t wait until next time!