Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass® Student Stories
Over 700 women like YOU are transforming their adventure lives and confidence outdoors with the Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass® Program. Listen to their stories below!
"My number one goal is to be self-sufficient and to be fully reliant on myself...which was the main reason I jumped all in on this course."
Meet Melani...
Growing up in the Reno/Tahoe area, Melani spent a lot of time outside in the mountains, especially camping and snowboarding. For the past 18 years, she’s been living in San Diego, but she recently hit the road indefinitely, traveling with her husband and dog in a camper.
Melani joined the Outdoor Backpacking Badass program with the goal to become self-sufficient in the outdoors – and to get over her fear of sleeping alone at night in a tent! Throughout the course, she focused on the skills she really needed to build, especially navigation and using a compass. Melani also had the opportunity to camp overnight by herself on a section of the PCT.
Her big backpacking goal is to hike the John Muir Trail with her husband, which they have planned for August 2020.
"I decided I wanted to do more and I was tired of watching everyone else have the adventures and being too scared to do them myself...”
Meet Heather...
Heather is a mother and wife and lives in West Virginia near the iconic Appalachian Trail. She joined Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass as a way to push herself outside of her comfort zone when it comes to hiking and backpacking and go on her very first backpacking trip outdoors.
Throughout the course, Heather shared many of her training and family hikes with the Backpacking Badass community. She trudged through muddy wilderness and took her children on the Appalachian Trail as she got more confident on the trail.
Through the program, Heather set the goal to hike the Dolly Sods in West Virginia with her entire family, and completed it months after breaking her foot. Together, her family backpacked almost 20 miles with more than 2,500 feet in elevation gain. Thanks to the classes and homework she had done on the trip, she couldn’t have been more prepared for this adventure.
As Heather continues to document her excursions with the other backpacking badasses, she keeps her goals to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and hike all of the national parks in mind.
"It has been so great to learn everything in one place instead of figuring out what classes I needed to take and where, and I could do it in my spare time, and I have kids, and I have zero extra time. But I could do this class whenever I wanted.”
Meet Bonnie...
Bonnie is a 42-year old hard working mom (and breadwinner of her family) AND one of our Backpacking Badass Alumni.
She joined the Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass program back in February of 2020 with the goal of learning all the skills she needed to explore nature and sleep under the stars by herself, and (I quote), “to show my kiddos the wonders of nature and bugs and dirt and discomfort and awesomeness before they get sucked into modern indoor comfort and boredom.”
For Bonnie’s first backpacking trip she took her 8-year old daughter, and in the video above she describes how her daughters favorite part of the trip was learning how to poop in the woods (so cute right? 😂) and afterwards her daughter yelled, “WE’RE OFFICIAL BACKPACKERS!”
Bonnie continued to go on more trips with her family in the outdoors after this first experience, including lots of fun camping trips in the backyard (because her kids love it)!
And then less than one year later, Bonnie went on her first SOLO backpacking trip #likeaboss
Heather shared many of her training and
"My real motivation to join the group was to learn more and learn how to do things by myself and not having to depend on anyone else and I achieved what I planned to do!"
Meet Gleici...
Gleici grew up in Brazil, embracing the city life, but now lives in the Bay Area of California where she now has a chance to explore everything California has to offer outdoors. Gleici joined Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass because she wanted to become a more self-sufficient backpacker, sharpen her navigation skills, and confidently lead her friends on backpacking trips in California.
While Gleici enjoyed hiking and car camping around California, she wanted to get comfortable with planning and embarking on solo backpacking trips. Gleici came into the course with a three day backpacking trip planned for Havasu Falls in Arizona.
Throughout and beyond the course, Gleici pushed herself to train and did a short backpacking trip right off the bat. Her first solo backpacking trip clocked in at seven miles round trip in Portola State Park, and tested her with bad weather. Yet, Gleici didn’t back down and completed the trip with the knowledge she had gained from the course.
Since finishing the program, Gleici completed her Havasu backpacking trip and also hiked and backpacked Half Dome and Yosemite National Park. Gleici continues to share stunning photos with her fellow backpacking community, and plans to backpack the Sierras in Northern California.
Meet Cindy...
"The program helped me feel confident to backpack on my own, especially in the area of navigation"
Join me and one badass group of women on transformational adventure!
"I really had this great dream to go out and do great backpacking things"
Meet Danielle...
Straight from the midwest, Danielle embraces her love of hiking in Ohio. Danielle came to Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass to further her knowledge of backpacking, and meet new friends who enjoy the outdoors.
Danielle’s biggest fears when it came to backpacking were navigation and predators. However, she dove right into the modules, purchased the essential navigational gear, and learned how to use bear spray. Danielle was incredibly active with the Backpacking Badass community; often helping other women find good deals on gear. During the course, Danielle set out on a four day backpacking trip in Hocking Hills where she explored gorges and waterfalls.
Since the end of the program, Danielle has continued to encourage and help the other backpacking badass alumni. This fall, she plans to embark on a backpacking trip at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan with her son.
"I think it's is going to be a good year. And I hope the other women out there just face their fears and do it!"
Meet Dawn...
Joining in all the way from the UK, Dawn was inspired by the book & movie Wild to get outside and try hiking and backpacking. However, she found herself struggling to find a community to support her dreams and goals until she found the Outdoor Backpacking Badass program.
Dawn’s biggest fear is getting lost, but as she dove deep into the course, she learned navigation skills and bought a GPS, making her feel much more confident and ready to head out on her own. In the fall, she attempted a solo backpacking trip of the Ridgeway in England/Wales, and although she was stymied by some transportation logistics, she hopes to try again in the spring. Her future dream backpacking goal is to hike the PCT in 2021.
"I needed the reassurance to push myself out of my comfort zone and start backpacking."
Meet Kristi...
Hailing from Texas, Kristi wasn’t always an outdoor backpacking badass. It wasn’t until she moved to California that she began camping and hiking. She started Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass with only one short backpacking trip under her belt.
Kristi began the program with a lofty goal in mind—to backpack the Grand Canyon from rim to rim with her wife. She hoped that this course would give her the tools and confidence to take on such a big trip, and spent her time focused on safety skills and navigation during her time with the course.
Kristi was able to conquer her fears of bear encounters and outdoor navigation through the various modules within the course, and with the help of the Outdoor Backpacking Badass community. Kristi plans to put her lessons to the test by section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and exploring the John Muir Trail—both in California.
"I feel more confident now to be a leader outside!"
Meet Naomi...
A Canadian from Edmonton, Alberta, Naomi has spent a lot of time in the outdoors, but primarily on horseback, and she found her skills didn’t always translate to hiking and backpacking. She joined the Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass program to focus on honing her skills to take on a 4-day backpacking trip of the Jasper Skyline trail, which she completed in August.
Naomi has been focused on building a life where she gets outside regularly, but she has usually been in the passive role of a follower and wanted to gain the confidence and strength to take charge as a leader. As she says, “I want to live life and stop watching it.” .
During the Outdoor Backpacking Badass program, Naomi gained the ability to plan a trip, train with intention, and select and pack proper gear. Now she is committed to making the Annapurna Basecamp Trek in 2020.
"While glancing over a local guidebook, I stumbled upon pictures of a place called Havasu Falls. I was absolutely awestruck. I researched the permit process, and I stood ready for opening day, February 1. After securing a coveted permit, I began the preparation. I needed a tent, sleeping bag, clothing, etc. I read and researched everything online. But as the date approached, I realized I wasn’t at all prepared; I had virtually no experience or training. Maybe this wasn’t my best idea after all… That evening, there in my inbox was Allison’s invite to hear about her Backpacking Badass course. My interest piqued. The day of the event arrived, and I tuned in. Allison laid out an organized and detailed curriculum; it was concise, comprehensive, and sounded exactly like what I needed. She made the concept of hiking into the backcountry actually sound possible for the average Joe (or Jane) like me. She was genuine, professional and, above all, experienced. I checked out her website, posts on Pinterest and Instagram, and it quickly became apparent; she knew her stuff. But…my husband voiced his skepticism. “Why don’t you just sign up for an REI class?” I’ve been down that road before; the hodgepodge of REI classes spread out over several months (always at inconvenient times) was not working for me. My goal was to gather the knowledge necessary to safely and successfully take a 3-5 day backpacking trip. I wanted to have all the information available in one place, to be expertly guided through the process and to have fun while doing it. Ultimately, I decided to enroll in Allison’s course. That decision set me on the path to my first solo backpacking trip to Havasu Falls…it was a success! The program was spaced out over a 6-week period, and I looked forward to each week’s module being released. Most modules included worksheets or additional info which I printed and compiled into a notebook. Additionally, there was a live group session held each week where we had the opportunity to ask questions or discuss concerns. If I had a scheduling conflict, I simply watched the recorded session on Facebook at my convenience. All of this provided the structure to build the skillsets I needed and filled in the knowledge gaps. Information that made all the difference between having an amazing, fun, and safe trip to one that could have been downright unsafe (nevermind pleasant) had I not taken this course. Now, I have a solid foundation to build upon and safely gain experience over time. I loved all of it. Seriously. I didn’t have a favorite or least favorite part! I am so, so glad that I stumbled upon Allison’s initial email. Otherwise I think I would have quickly given up or, worse, I might have become one of those people who put the first responders at risk while they rescue you."
Laurie
Become an Outdoor Backpacking Badass Student
Meet Liz...
"I joined the program because I have always been a ‘follower’ when it comes to hiking and backpacking, and I wanted to learn how to do it myself."
