REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CLOSED

Please explore other upcoming events or email bewilderpgh@gmail.com for a customized trip for your group.

PRE-TRIP ORIENTATION: JULY 2, 7PM @GARFIELD COMMUNITY FARM - required for anyone who is interested or registered!

Megan and Johanna will lead this trip in Allegheny National Forest for beginners or those who are looking for a more gentle weekend. Shorter miles and easier terrain make this trip perfect for all experience levels.

Dates: Friday, August 16 to Sunday, August 18, 2024
Location: North Country Trail, Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania
Cost: $320/person 
Payment plans or limited reduced rates are available by inquiry based on need. Please ask! 

Details: 
Johanna and Megan will lead this contemplative beginner backpacking trip on the North Country Trail in Allegheny Forest.  We will be carrying all our gear, camping in tents, filtering water, and practicing Leave No Trace ethics for all waste and physical impact.  (You to NOT have to be a beginner to attend! All are welcome.)

Are you looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Dreaming of exploring pristine wilderness, waking up to breathtaking sunrises, and falling asleep under a canopy of stars? A beginner backpacking trip is your perfect gateway to the natural world!

Backpacking offers a unique blend of adventure and serenity. It's more than just a hike—it's about carrying your essentials on your back and embracing the simplicity of life on the trail. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Unplug and Reconnect: Leave behind your screens and rediscover the beauty of the natural world.

• Physical Challenge: Push your limits and experience the satisfaction of conquering new terrain.

• Mental Clarity: Enjoy the peace and quiet that only nature can provide.

• Self-Sufficiency: Learn to rely on yourself and your gear, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

This trip is open to any experience level, but it will be tailored to beginners with fewer miles each day and moderate terrain. We will teach you all you need to know to feel confident to go backpacking again!  You will learn how to complete all the camp chores, such as water collection, hanging a bear bag, and even the dos and don'ts of digging a cathole! We will walk you through all the gear you need, how to prepare physically, and how to pack your backpack efficiently.  The wonders of backpacking await!! Join us!

We never want cost to be prohibitive to your participation. Limited reduced rates are available by inquiry to those who need it.

REGISTRAION IS CLOSED. Please check out our other upcoming events!!

Megan and John are excited to offer a "basecamp" trip in the North Fork Mountain region of West Virginia! This three day trip departs early from Pittsburgh on Friday morning and returns Sunday evening. Please plan accordingly, before registering. Each day includes opportunities for hiking and exploring the region, as well as opportunities for solitude and guided contemplative practice. 

We will set up our basecamp at the Spruce Knob Lake campground in the Monongahela National Forest. On Friday we will explore Spruce Knob, the highest point in WV, and surrounding area.  Saturday we will provide guided opportunities to hike the ridge of North Fork Mountain, including Chimney Top. We are still working out the exact route and milage options, but expect a longer more challenging hike (8-10 miles) and a shorter option. Sunday we will pack up early and drive Blackwater Falls State Park for one more excursion, before returning home.

DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE!

Cost $320

Discounts available for families with children.

Breakfasts and dinners are included. Transportation and personal gear are not included, but we will provide a list and help you find what you need! We partner with 3 Rivers Outdoor Company to provide virtual and in-person gear consultations. We recommend that you visit the shop (1130 S Braddock Ave, 15218) for any purchases or gear rentals. They have a fantastic and knowledgeable staff and will be stocked up for our trip! We typically help coordinate carpooling with other participants to and from the trailhead.

We never want cost to be prohibitive to your participation. Limited reduced rates are available by inquiry to those who need it.

Retreat Leaders: Megan Shelly and Katie Robb Sewall

Whatever the context of your loss, whether a loved-one, a dream, a life-expectation, a global crisis, whether recent or long-passed, you are invited to explore the complex landscape of grief on this weekend retreat. Together we honor our losses and seek a path forward towards wholeness and connection. We find solace in the wilderness of grief through the support, compassion, and wisdom of community. There will be opportunities to tell your unique story, give shape to your grief through creative expression, ponder the beauty and mercy embedded in your grief, spend time in solitude, rest, play, and the outdoors. A full itinerary will be provided prior to the retreat.

 BOOK NOW CLICK HERE

Cost $360 plus taxes & fees

Meals are included. Limited reduced rates are available by inquiry to those who need it. Transportation not included. Email Megan to inquire: bewilderpgh@gmail.com

Optional preparation for the weekend includes:

• 4-week book group (free), Wednesdays at 7:30-8:30pm (NOTE time change - formerly 7pm)

  Google Meet (Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14)

  • A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing, by Amanda Held Opelt

  • RSVP to bewilderpgh@gmail.com

• Spiritual Direction Sessions

  • Suggest 1 prior to and 1-3 following the retreat

  • Schedule HERE

Retreat Accommodations: River Mountain Modern Mountain Resort 

(~2hrs from Pittsburgh, 2.5hrs from Baltimore/DC, 3.5hrs from Philly)

Friday arrival after 3pm. Happy hour 5pm. Dinner 6pm. Session 1 begins at 7pm.

River Mountain is a modern resort in the great outdoors, just a few hours from Washington D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Philly. Each retreatant will have a private sleeping pod* in the cabin, with two shared bathrooms per cabin -- a luxurious outdoor glamping experience!  A variety of group meeting spaces and lounge areas are available for guests, including the hot springs soaking tubs. 

All-inclusive:  meals, nightly bonfire + s'mores, evening happy hours, group space, cabin accommodations, housekeeping, and 150 acres of nature!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

*Please note that each cabin includes glamping “pods" with privacy curtains in a mixed-gender cabin with two shared bathrooms. We think the cabins are truly unique and beautify accommodations, providing an intimate connection to nature! We're very excited to experience this place with you!  You are invited to take a look at the cabin details on the website. There will be time to spend time outdoors, as well as, indoors in beautiful (heated) group spaces and lounge areas.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Megan directly at bewilderpgh@gmail.com.