A lake with clear water reflecting a forested mountain under a bright blue sky.

Wild Women

Duffy Lake - Mt. Jefferson, OR

Aug 13 - 16, 2026

Step onto the trail, reconnect with your truth, and let the forest, the lake, and the wild places hold what you're ready to let go of.

This is a Gentle & Soulful Women's Backpacking Retreat — four days in the Oregon wilderness designed for women who are tired of being tired. Women who feel the call of something wilder. Women who are ready to set down what they've been carrying and remember who they are beneath it all.

No backpacking experience required. No fitness test to pass. Just you, a small circle of women, and four days of walking, resting, and healing in one of Oregon's most beautiful wilderness areas.

Before the trailhead, we gather twice on Zoom. One call to prepare your body and your pack, one to meet the women you'll walk with. You won't arrive as a stranger — to the group or to yourself. And at basecamp, you'll be invited to offer something of your own to the circle — a meditation, a movement practice, an art experience, a piece of your inner life shared beside the water.

Everything included:

  • Transportation from Silverton to trailhead and back

  • All group gear

  • Wilderness permits

  • Pre-retreat Zoom prep call

  • An 8-week gentle backpacking training guide

  • Detailed gear and food packing list

  • Food planning support zoom meeting

  • Community offering circle

  • Elemental healing ceremonies & guided meditations

  • Expert guide with 15+ years backpacking experience

This retreat is for you if:

  • You're burned out and your soul is craving something wilder

  • You want to experience the wilderness but don't know where to start

  • You're ready to slow down, go inward, and come home to yourself

  • You want to be held by nature and a community of women who get it

Register Now
Schedule a Informational Call

Overview of our Journey

  • Person holding a compass outdoors in front of a forested area with mountains in the background.

    Where

    Duffy Lake:

    Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR

  • A wall decorated with multiple clocks of various sizes and designs, including analog clocks with different times.

    Duration

    4 Days & 3 Nights

    Aug 13-16th

  • Multiple hands stacked together in a show of unity, diversity, and teamwork, with people wearing colorful sweaters.

    Group Size

    6 Women

    1 Lead Guide

  • Close-up of a person's foot in a gray and black athletic shoe, stepping on a reddish-brown rocky surface while wearing gray pants and a dark green sock.

    Activity Level

    7 miles total

    ~800 elevation gain

  • A dirt trail winding through a dense forest with tall trees on either side, leading to a lake in the distance.

    Outdoor Skill

    Novice Welcome!

    Carry 30-40lb Pack

    Hike 3-4 miles

  • Sun setting through an arched stone ruin with rainbow lens flare, grassy foreground, and blue sky.

    Rituals

    Guided Mediations /Movement

    Cacao/Fire/Water Ceremonies

    Reflection/Sharing Circles

Investment

Sliding Scale: choose the tier that honestly reflects what you can afford.

$600 · $700 · $800

Payment Plans Available!

Optional gear rental:

Tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad package available for $100

Sign up now!

Need a little Support getting here?

One scholarship spot is available for this retreat at $500.

Offered on a first-come, first-served basis to women for whom financial need is a real barrier. If that's you, we want you here.

Apply Now

Your Bonus Gift — Come Home to the Wild

When you sign up for the Gentle & Soulful Backpacking Retreat, you'll receive a free copy of my 8-week gentle backpacking training guide — designed to have you feeling ready, resourced and confident before you ever set foot on the trail.

Inside you'll find:

  • Gentle strength training built for the trail

  • Progressive walks and hikes that build real endurance

  • Pack training that eases you into the load

  • Weekly trail tips and spiritual teachings

  • Mindset tools for when the trail gets hard

No gym. No equipment. No pushing past your limits.

Just 8 weeks of intentional, gentle preparation — so you can arrive at the trailhead as your fullest self.

I am Ready!

Healing Activities

  • Bright orange flames against a black background.

    Fire Ceremony

    What would you like to release and/or call into your life? Fire is a cleansing tool. It clears the old to make way for the new. It connects us to the cycle of life.

  • Close-up view of rippling water on the sea surface, reflecting light.

    Water Prayer

    Water holds intentions, what are you speaking into the waters inside and outside of your body? We will practice gratitude and healing the waters of life.

  • A close-up view of a young green plant sprouting from dark soil in a garden or field.

    Earthing

    How to ground into the magnetic energy of the earth and stabilize our bodies; reducing inflammation, pain, and stress, improving blood flow, energy, and sleep.

  • A woman with short dark hair resting her head against a tree in a lush green forest, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

    Breathing Meditation

    How to focus our attention on our breath. One of the easiest ways to reduce stress and notice an immediate sense of relaxation.

  • Several pieces of milk chocolate bars topped with cocoa beans and surrounded by cocoa nibs on a white surface.

    Cacao Circle

    Learn about the plant medicine Cacao and how she can open and strengthen our hearts while connecting and embracing our emotions.

Schedule & Itinerary

  • Arrive & Settle In: Meet at my place just outside of Silverton, OR at 10am. Go through gear and pack our packs together. Drive to Duffy Lake Trailhead— about 1.45 hours — with one stop along the way. We hike approximately 3.5 miles to basecamp, set up home for the next three nights, and ease into the wilderness together. In the evening we gather around the fire for our opening ceremony — setting intentions and welcoming what wants to come through.

  • Explore: A gentle morning of meditation and movement, then a small group day hike to a nearby lake. The distance is decided together based on how everyone is feeling — this is not a race. Afternoons are yours — solo time by the lake, journaling, resting, wandering. In the evening we come together for a sharing circle.

  • Rest & Go Deep: This is your full rest day. Nowhere to be, nothing to achieve. The morning opens with a half-day of silence — space to be fully with yourself and the wilderness. In the afternoon silence lifts and we gather for our cacao ceremony, elemental healing work, and guided meditation. This is often the day women describe as the turning point.

  • Close & Carry It Home: A gentle closing ceremony to honor what shifted over these four days. We pack up basecamp, hike 3.5 miles out together, and drive back to Portland — expected arrival by 6pm. You leave lighter than you arrived.

Trip Terrain

Description: This easy family-friendly hike accesses a pretty lake in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. The trail is very popular with both hikers and equestrians. The path gently ascends through a mixed conifer forest dominated by Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock trees.

Trail Difficulty: The trail is approximately 13.6 miles round trip, making it suitable for hikers of all skill levels. With only 800’ elevation gain overall makes this trail perfect for beginners and the trail is generally well-maintained and easy to navigate.

Trail Access: The trailhead is located off Hwy 22 and is accessible via a gravel road. Parking is available at the trailhead, but it can fill up quickly on weekends and holidays, so it's best to arrive early to secure a spot.

Logistics

Questions? Let's Chat

We will begin our adventure with meeting at the farm I live on at 10am just outside of Silverton, OR (address will be emailed upon registration).

We will pack our backpacks together.

We will have one stop for any last minute purchases before we head to the trailhead .

Trailhead: Duffy Lake Trailhead

Expected arrival time home: Latest by 6pm on Sunday

Questions about travel arrangements? Open to making the best possible experiences for everyone. Make sure to email any questions or concerns.

Registration and Deposit

I am ready, let’s go! Register Here

Meet your Guide

  • A smiling woman with short curly hair takes a selfie outdoors with a scenic view of a lake, mountains, and forest in the background.

    Neo Luz

    FOUNDER/TRAIL GUIDE

    Neo boasts over 15 years of both solo and group backpacking experience, starting with her journey through the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail. She later conquered the entire 2,650-mile trail solo. Alongside this feat, she has climbed 10 alpine mountains and dedicated 12 years to rock climbing, all while nurturing her passion for supporting others. Holding a degree in Counseling and Social Work, Neo has expanded her horizons into facilitating plant medicine ceremonies and community building, enriching her connection with nature. Through Trail Based Healing, she pioneers transformative experiences, guiding individuals to discover their true selves in nature's tranquil embrace.

Read Bio

FAQs

  • We understand life is full of unexpected twists. Here's how we handle cancellations:

    6 or more weeks before the retreat: Full refund minus your non-refundable deposit ($200 for early bird registrations / $250 for regular price registrations).

    3–6 weeks before the retreat: 50% refund of the total amount paid.

    Less than 3 weeks before the retreat: No refund. We recommend trip insurance for added peace of mind — it typically runs about $100 and can cover cancellations due to illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances.

    If Trail Based Healing cancels: You will receive a full refund, no questions asked.

    If you test positive for Covid-19 or another communicable disease close to the retreat date, please do not attend. Reach out directly and we will do our best to find a solution, including credit toward a future retreat.

    If forest fire, extreme weather, or other environmental conditions make the retreat unsafe or impossible, the location may be changed or the retreat cancelled with a full refund issued.

  • Upon registration, we will send you a full gear packing list with links to suggestions of what types of gear to choose. There is a ton of information on REI website and many people have detailed blogs about gear.

  • This retreat is open for any self-identifed women over the age of 18. Any person who is willing and able to carry the own weight is welcome to join!

  • We'll meet together on the Monday before our retreat from 6:00–7:30pm on Zoom. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the women you'll be sharing the trail with, ask any questions, set intentions for our time together, and make sure you feel fully prepared before we head out.

    If you're unable to make it, a recording will be available. And as always, if you have personal questions or concerns, feel free to reach out by email or we can set up a one-on-one call — I'm always happy to connect.

  • We want to create a safe and sacred space for all women to feel comfortable so we ask NO alcohol or drugs be taken with us on this retreat. This includes smoking, vapes, or other forms of tobacco. Thank you for respecting and honoring this agreement.

  • There is limited parking at all trailheads and to unsure we all get there at the right times and the same location, we ask to al carpool. There will be 2 cars with 3-4 people traveling together. We are open and willing to discuss special accomidations so please email or set up a phone call.

  • As much as we love our four-legged companions, this retreat is a dog-free space. To allow every woman to fully rest and settle into the wilderness — and to honor the animals already calling that land home — we ask that pets stay behind.