Wild Womens Wilderness Retreat 2024
The clouds began to pile up in the west. They were building on the treacherous deep waters of the Bering Sea. With them came winds and heavy rain but the dark looming weather could not dampen the spirits of the women who were soaking up their last few hours on the tundra, for they had spirits free from the burdens of everyday life. They had dropped their worries at the door of the airport when they had boarded their flights for the adventure of a lifetime. They were here in wild Alaska and nothing could tame them now. They spent their final hour roasting fresh caught fish on sticks over an open fire. Laughter filled the open air and mingled with the smoke from the damp burning alder. Their faces were relaxed as they peeled the flaky fish from the bones and tasted the hard earned treat worked for by relentless fishing women in the group. This moment was the culmination of days spent learning, working and playing together. The bonds between them were deep now.
The storm that was upon them was supposed to have hit them days before. Mother nature had smiled upon them and gifted them with sunnier skies and mild weather for the majority of the trip. They had started their adventure back in King Salmon where they shot rifles, pistols and bows, went fishing for salmon, spent some time in Tana’s cedar sauna heated by a wood stove and enjoyed fantastic meals made by Adam Grenda. They flew to Brooks Camp and walked with the brown bears, watching them expertly catch salmon as they tried to jump the falls on their long journey back to their birthplace. They saw momma bears napping with their cubs and cooled themselves off on the shore of Brooks Lake.
It was finally time to head out to the bush. As they loaded their gear into the float planes you could feel the excitement in the hearts of these women. They knew that this would be the adventure they had traveled all this way for. Here they would be tested, they would grow stronger, they would bond in a way you cannot fabricate in the comforts of everyday life. Here they would make memories that would last a lifetime and here they would reconnect with themselves. The floats lifted from the river abandoning their wake as if they had never touched the surface and with them lifted the spirits of the women on board, ready to experience the heart of Alaska. As the world peeled away beneath them they were left with only themselves. Nothing follows you into that space, it is only you. Not your experiences, not your job, not your family, not your fears. Up there it is simply you, the soul of who you are. Your thoughts there are clear, crisp and accurate. Suddenly, everything is stripped away just as the ground is and you can truly connect with the heart of yourself.
As they hear the engine slow and feel the shift of energy downward they can see the shores of their new home for the next few days. The planes land and taxi to the beach where the clear and untouched waters lap against the floats. Like ants, the women jump into action. They step into the cold waters of the lake and begin to unload the planes. The beach becomes covered with packs and gear and finally they wave goodbye to their pilots. As the sound of the engines fades into silence the feeling hits. You are in the wilderness. Miles and miles from anyone or any road, these women are your only companions and together you will make this place your home and learn how to become one with the landscape.
The journey begins as each piece of essential gear is carried to a sheltered place. The ground here is foreign, like walking on a giant sponge. The smells of the tundra, kinnikinnick, and Labrador tea tantalize the senses. They work together as a team to build tents, gather firewood and filter water. The bare tundra that was moments ago wild becomes a small community. The bear fence is placed and they each take a moment to look around. The beauty in Alaska is unmatched. Simultaneously rugged, wild and unyielding while offering calm, beauty and wonder. Each day at camp offers the women opportunities to bond, recreate and learn. They participate in classes on Wilderness First Aid, Fire Building, Survival and Fly Fishing. One day they load up their packs and head out on a hike through the tunda. They spend the day crossing creeks, climbing ridges, battling alder and finally cresting the top of an overlook to survey the beauty of miles and miles of wilderness.
Throughout the trip conversations wander into the souls of each woman who left her comfort zone, boarded a plane and gathered here with strangers. Each one finds wisdom and solace in another and they laugh, cry and wonder at life together. They bond over their shared love of wild places and experiences. The final day found them wondering if the storm might keep them here for longer than they planned. A part of them hoped it would. The pilots were struggling to find a window to pick them up between the fog that led the storm onto land. They enjoyed each moment as if it may be their last one in this wild and incredible place. At the last possible hour, the planes found a window. It was time to go. Tears were shed on the flight out of the wilderness. Tears that proved the power that these experiences offer. They change you. The tundra claims a piece of your heart forever but it offers you something in return. As you lift off, the tundra gives you life to take home with you. Energy, clarity, passion, confidence and peace are all yours to keep. The Wild Womens Alaska Retreat ends in a lodge where a hot shower and gourmet meal reward you for your hard work. A good night’s sleep on a soft bed reminds you what comfort feels like but you don’t look at it the same. You recognize the value of being uncomfortable and you don’t take these things for granted.
Each woman on this trip came as a stranger and left as a friend. Their bonds are unique and only they can truly understand what this trip meant and what it was. They are all home, back in their lives that felt so distant out on the tundra but that distance helped them to connect more deeply and authentically when they returned home. That tundra is the same today as it was 100 years ago but these women are forever changed.
Written by: Lindsay Persico