Eastern Sierras

meditation + Backpacking + Community

A 5-Day All Gender Backpacking Adventure Framed by 5 Weeks of Mindfulness Practice

June 24th - June 28th, 2025 | Mammoth Lakes, CA

Breathe Deep. Embrace the Climb.

You’ve spent years getting really good at handling what’s hard. Adapting, problem-solving, showing up, over and over again.

But when’s the last time you felt light, not just strong?

Feeling the goodness of life isn’t always easy, especially in a world that moves fast and has a lot of problems. Letting in joy—really letting it land—takes intention, space, and practice.

And that’s exactly what this program is about. Together, we will practice:

>> Noticing what’s abundant, not just what’s missing
>> Holding joy alongside challenge
>> Making space for the small, extraordinary moments already here

Because resilience isn’t just about surviving the hard stuff—it’s about remembering what makes life feel good, right smack in the middle of it all.

Person on top of a mountain

CULTIVATE JOY AND KINDNESS

individual and collective healing happens

when time is spent with intention in nature and with community

DEVELOP MINDFULNESS

Learn what meditation is all about (hint, it’s not just about clearing your head).

CONNECT WITH NATURE

Cultivate a deeper relationship with nature with multi day immersive wilderness retreat.

RECEIVE SUPPORT

Get feedback and guidance from a licensed therapist and your fellow adventurers.

Guided by Experts, Grounded in Community

Co-led by a Licensed Therapist and Meditation Teacher, this retreat goes beyond the trail, offering spaces to share stories, forge deep connections, and rediscover the rhythm of your untamed Self.

North Face tent by a river

Structured Support for a Meaningful Adventure

This journey doesn’t start when your boots hit the trail—it begins weeks before and continues long after, ensuring you feel prepared, connected, and supported every step of the way.

  • 3 group calls before the retreat to set intentions, connect with your fellow adventurers, and make sure you feel ready for the trail

  • 2 group calls post retreat to integrate and connect

  • Videos and lessons covering what (and how) to pack so you can step onto the trail with confidence

  • 1:1 check-ins on the trail to offer personal guidance

This is more than a trip—it’s a built-in support system. A space where shared experiences turn into lasting bonds, and where the journey continues long after the final mile.

“Wild Minds guided us through a letting go process that dropped my anxiety levels lower than they've been in a long time and left me with a deep, profound sense of trust myself and the universe.” -Jake Y.

The WILDERNESS Retreat

4-Day Backpacking Adventure in the Eastern Sierras

June 24th - June 28th | Mammoth Lakes, CA

The Mountains Are Calling

The Eastern Sierras are a wild, untamed masterpiece—where jagged granite peaks rise sharply against the sky, alpine lakes shimmer in impossible shades of blue, and ancient bristlecone pines whisper stories of resilience.

Four people backpacking together on a trail

COST

$2,200 or 4 monthly payments of $525

*cost goes up by $300 May 1st

SIGN UP

PAY IN FULL

$2,200

OR

4 MONTHLY PAYMENTS

$525

WHAT’S
INCLUDED

  • Expert backpacking guides trained in Wilderness First Response and master group facilitators (see bio below).

  • Show up feeling connected and prepared.

  • Watch videos on what and how to pack and prepare for a week backpacking in the mountains.

NOT INCLUDED:
Food (can be added for an additional $450)
Gear (we can help you get gear, just ask)
Trip Insurance
Flights
Any unexpected expenses or trip interruptions

Sitting by the fire under the stars

Embark On A Journey, Discover Yourself Along the Way

TRIP ITINERARY

  • Meet at a campground in Mammoth Lakes, CA

    • Wake up around 7am. Sip your coffee or tea and enjoy breakfast.

    • Morning meditation and movement before we head to the trailhead

    • Hike 5 miles to our first backcountry campsite. Wahooo!

    • Set up camp, community circle around the fire, rest into the dreamtime.

  • Morning Programing:

    • Morning meditation & movement

    • Short journal & discussion

    Mid Day Free Time:

    • Go for a hike, swim in the lake, read a book, settle into the rhythm of the mountains

    Evening Programing:

    • Evening meditation

    • Dinner

    • Council

  • Wake up with the sun & begin your solo, often one of peoples favorite days.

    Although still together, we will spend the day meditating, hiking, and relaxing together in noble silence.

    No need to make conversation or entertain, simple drop in and commune with the animals, nature, and yourself.

    As the sun sets and we head into council, you will be invited to share your experience of solo before resting into the dreamtime.

  • We embark on our journey home.

What We Practice

Council

The practice of gathering in circle is ancient.

Council is a time to explore questions you are turning over in your head, not necessarily to come to an answer, but to offer them up to the expansive landscape of the earth, and practice the art of listening for the reply.

Solo

One of the truly magical elements of retreat is the intentional time spent in noble silence — dropping in and listening as you immerse yourself in nature. You will be invited to let go of conversation with others and enter into a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you. 

Mindfulness

Spend time each morning deepening your mindfulness practice with guided meditation and journaling. Learn tools to quiet your mind and enhance your daily life with intentionality and presence. Cultivate a sense of calm that you can carry with you long after the retreat.

Hi, I’m Zoe!

I bring together my 15 years of experience as a group therapist, 20 years as a wilderness educator, and 5 years as a certified meditation teacher to create unique communities and experiences where you get to show up as your most authentic self and learn, grow, and be challenged in the best way possible.

What others are saying

  • Alexandra Cinazan

    “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!”

  • Jimmi Williamson

    “I would recommend this experience to anyone looking to reconnect with the natural world but also reconnect with themselves. Zoe and Stephanie created a safe and supportive environment for us to learn the ins and outs of backpacking basics. But most importantly they provided an uplifting and meaningful experience I will forever treasure.”

  • Jillian Lydell

    “If you're thinking about this trip - just do it. It is tough in some ways but the beauty and support and your own inner strength and growth make it worth it in every way. Zoe and Jennifer are incredible guides that have experience, tenderness, humor, wisdom, and the ability to teach you all along the way.“

  • Angie D.

    “I can’t wait to go on more trips. Each time I feel like I get a little braver, a little more sure of myself, and a lot more confident that I can keep pushing my boundaries further and further out.”

  • Nina W.

    “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.”

  • Maya M.

    “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.”

  • Deb D.

    “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.”

  • Shira G.

    “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”