Women’s Backpacking

Take a break from the everyday rush and step into a weekend of guided backpacking through breathtaking alpine scenery with other women! Your spirit will be refreshed as you learn from God’s word experientially, laugh and adventure in community, and get to spend uninterrupted time alone with God. This year our groups will be focused on hearing God’s voice around what it looks like to steward our lives for God’s kingdom purposes.

These trips are designed for women of all ages from Calvary as well as any girlfriends you would like to invite along! We aim for our trips to be accessible and enjoyable for women whether they are first time backpackers or seasoned backcountry enthusiasts. No matter your experience level along the way your guides will help equip you with basic backcountry skills!

On these trips, your group will hike into a basecamp where you will camp for both nights, freeing up the middle day of your trip for an adventure without full packs!

Dates

July 25-27, 2025

We have two trips options available for women over one weekend. The first is an adult women’s backpacking trip and the second is a might school mother-daughter backpacking trip.

Where

The women’s trip will be heading to the Zirkel Wilderness. You group will aim to hike up to Gold Creek Lake on Friday and camp near there for 2 nights. Saturday you will have the opportunity to go on a day hike without heavy packs to another lake or peak in the area. Then Sunday you will hike back out. Here is a link to check out your main basecamp hike as well as the surrounding area on the map.

The mother-daughter trip location is TBA.

All trip locations are subject to change based on a variety of factors including weather, trail conditions, fire bans, etc. If the guides make a last minute change to your adventure location we will let you know!

Trip Kickoff
Meet at 7:30am at the Erie Campus.

Upon arrival your trip guides will spend time checking your personal gear, divvying up group gear and coaching you on how to pack up your backpack!

Trip Return
We will aim to return by 6pm to the Erie Campus.

Registration

WOMENS BACKPACKING

HIGH SCHOOL MOTHER-DAUGHTER

Cost

$180

Payment
Payment in full is due at the time of registration for this trip.

Cancellations & Refund Policy
No refunds will be be issued for cancellations within 2 weeks of the trip.

If you need to cancel your registration prior to that point, a partial refund of $130 will be available.

Activity Level

These backpacking trips are beginner friendly, but will likely require some physical preparation in order to maximize your enjoyment of your time in the wilderness. You must be prepared to do the following:

Carry a 35-40 lb pack for 2-4 miles in to your basecamp for the weekend
Hike 4-5 miles with a 5-10 lb day pack
Complete around 2,000 ft of elevation gain
Hike and camp at elevations of 9,000 ft. and up
Complete up to 12 miles of total hiking

We understand the physical requirements may be a bit intimidating, but we find most people can train and do great! If you aren’t sure what it looks like to prepare physically, we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips to physically prepare for your adventure.

Sample Itinerary

On Calvary Wilderness trips our hope is to challenge you to simply be present and not to worry too much about managing time or what is coming next on the schedule–you guide team is on it and has a great trip planned for you and will also adjust their plans to the changing needs of your group! That said, here is a glimpse into what your 3-day trip could look like, though times may vary greatly depending on your group:

Meeting Place and Time

Trip Kickoff
Meet at 7:30am at the Erie Campus.

Upon arrival your trip guides will spend time checking your personal gear, divvying up group gear and coaching you on how to pack up your backpack!

Trip Return
We will aim to return by 6pm to the Erie Campus.

What's Included

WHAT’S INCLUDED

2-3 trained volunteer backpacking guides from Calvary who will facilitate your group’s trip. These guides have training in the following areas:

Wilderness First Aid
Backcountry Navigation
Leave No Trace Priciples
Backpacking Basics
Wilderness Ministry

Transportation to and from the trailhead

Backpacking gear including:

55-70L Backpack
Pack Cover
Shared Tents
20-30 Degree Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag Liner
Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Camp Chair
Stoves
Cooking Gear
First Aid Supplies
Safety Whistle
Emergency Communication Device
2 Nalgene Water bottles
Water Purification
Rain Fly
Rope
Meals & snacks for your 3-day trip

Note: If you have your own backpacking gear like a pack, sleeping bag or sleeping pad that you would prefer to use, bring it to the trip kickoff and your guides will make sure it looks sufficient for your trip!

What to Bring

Clothing:

Please bring the following non-cotton items:

Long underwear/baselayer (top & bottom)
Short Sleeved Shirt
1-2 Pairs of Hiking Shorts and/or Pants
Fleece Pants
2-3 Fleece and/or Down Jacket Layers
Rain Jacket
Lightweight Gloves
Fleece Hat
Baseball Cap or Sun Hat
2 Pairs of Underwear
2-3 Pairs of Wool Socks
Hiking Boots
Sandals or Camp Shoes

Other Items:

Pen & Small Notebook
Small Bible
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Sunglasses
Lip Balm
Toothbrush & Travel-sized Toothpaste
Headlamp
Personal Medications
Travel-sized Hand Sanitizer

Optional Items:

Wet Wipes
Camera
Hammock
Hiking Poles
Please do not bring many additional items–every little bit of weight adds up! For more details regarding the items on the packing list please see our gear page!

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be carrying?

Each person will carry a 35-40 lb pack that contains their own clothing and other personal items, backpacking gear (like a sleeping bag, pad, and camp chair), group gear (like tents or cooking gear) & some food for the trip.

Where do we sleep?
Your group will sleep in a combination of 2, 4 or 6 person tents. Weather permitting there will also be nights when you will have the opportunity to sleep out under the stars.

What do we eat?
Each participant will carry some food for the group. The trip guides will prepare delicious meals for the group. A sample menu for the day might look like protein pancakes and dried fruit for breakfast, chicken salad wraps for lunch and chicken gnocchi soup for dinner!

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Our goal is to accommodate any dietary restrictions that you might have. Simply note any restrictions or allergies when you register for the trip and we will connect with you before the trip to ensure that we are prepared to accommodate your needs. We will let you know if you need to bring any additional items!

What training do the trip guides have?
All trip guides have a Wilderness First Aid certification. In addition they have gone through training in wilderness navigation, cooking, camping and have been equipped to facilitate Christ-centered experiences and conversations in the back-country.

What communication can my family expect while the trip is out?
Trip guides will have a GPS device that they will use to check in with a predetermined member of our guide team back in the front-country. They will send their location daily as well as some basics about how the trip is going. The front country team will communicate with families in the event of any emergency or change of plans. Otherwise, no news is good news.

What does transportation look like?
Calvary Wilderness trips will use 15 passenger vans to transport groups to and from the trailhead. All drivers will have passed Calvary’s driver check.

Your Question Not Listed?

Reach out to Lindsay at wilderness@calvarybible.com with any questions or to learn more!

Stay in the Loop!

Questions? Connect with Lindsay to learn more!

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