If you cancel with 45 days of the retreat (by August 7th, 2025), you may receive a full refund minus the $500 deposit.

After August 7th, Wild Minds is unable to re-sell your reserved space. Therefore, we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies.

For this reason, we strongly recommend you consider purchasing a travel insurance plan.

Please see next question about travel insurance.

We strongly recommend you protect your adventure retreat by purchasing a short-term traveler's insurance policy which covers baggage loss, accidents, and trip cancellation. Wild Minds accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged or delayed property.

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for any nonrefundable air and land expenses should you have to cancel your space due to family illness. It may also cover any emergency evacuation expenses should you become ill during the trip. Although every effort is made to ensure a safe trip, you should realize that in the event of illness or injury evacuation can be expensive. Please check your medical coverage to ensure it is adequate.

There are many travel insurance companies to choose from.

We recommend purchasing travel insurance when you purchase your air fair, but no later than a week before the trip. Purchasing early enough will provide you with a waiver of pre-existing conditions. Insurance acquired typically does not provide protection for pre-existing conditions.

This is one of our mild to moderately challenging trips.

What does this mean?

This trip is challenging but totally doable if you are able to normally hike about 8 miles.

Four of our five days on the trail we will pack up camp and hike between 3-5 miles a day, with weight and minimal elevation change. We will have one rest day.

Leading up to the trip it is a good idea to go on some longer hikes (5-10 miles) with a weighted backpack to get your body ready for the trail. We will offer suggestions for how to train if you don’t live somewhere you can easily access hiking.

If you have any questions or concerns, book an interest call here, and we can talk it through together.

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.

Have restrictions? No worries. We can work with you to accommodate gluten free , vegan, or any other adjustments you might need to feel good on the trail.

The following 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. We will share a packing list that will include things like hiking clothing, a hydration pack, and warm jacket. The most important thing will be making sure you have footwear that is broken in.

Hiking Shoes/Boots

• One of the biggest medical issues that shows up while backpacking is blisters.
  

• This can be reduced by breaking your shoes/boots in early and going for hikes with weight before the trip.
  

The great outdoors! Don’t worry though, we will teach you everything you need to know in order to have a 5-star bathroom experience.

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 we will have a gps tracking device which we will send and receive messages on in case of an emergency. Included in your welcome packet is information about safety and communication.

The group calls are a really important part of this experience.

In your welcome e-mail will be a link to fill out your availability so we can try and find a time that works best for everyone.

On these calls you will get a chance to

• Connect with your fellow participants

• Practice mindfulness and self-compassion techniques that you will use during our trip

• Plan how you would like to prepare mentally and physically

• Ask questions about packing and gear

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 expand your capacity to be with the ups and downs without turning to substances.

Our starting location is Twelvemile Beach Campground in Grand Marais, Michigan.

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)
  

We have a BNB booked for the evening after our time in the wilderness where each person will have their own bed.

We take transitions seriously and want to make sure you have time to settle and feel supported before heading out on our adventure.

Accommodation pre-and post our backpacking adventure are included in the cost.

This trip is for those over the age of 18. There is no age limit on who can come on this trip.

In September, the average daily high temp is 65 degrees and low is 49 with rain as a possibility.

By risking cooler temperatures and potential rain, we will likely be rewarded by fewer bugs and humans.

As we know, weather is subject to change so we will ensure we are prepared for all conditions!