Women's Backpacking Full-Day Workshop + Guided Overnight Trip
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Trip Overview:
Women's Backpacking Full-Day Workshop & Overnight Adventure
Be empowered outdoors. Join us for an empowering journey designed for women of all fitness levels who want to connect with nature, build confidence, and master essential backpacking skills. Whether you're a beginner or seeking to deepen your outdoor knowledge, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn and explore in a supportive, all-women environment.
What You'll Learn:
Trip planning and gear essentials
Backcountry safety
Water filtration and outdoor cooking
Shelter setup and site selection
Map reading and navigation
Wilderness ethics and Leave No Trace principles
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Friday): Full-day workshop at Island Ford Adventures basecamp where you'll get hands-on experience with the basics of backpacking from experienced instructors. Dive into practical knowledge that will prepare you for your overnight adventure.
Days 2 & 3 (Saturday-Sunday): Set out on a 2-mile backpacking trip into the beautiful Pisgah National Forest. You'll put your new skills in to practice, from setting up camp and gathering water to hanging a bear bag. The adventure ends with a sunset hike before spending the night under the stars. We’ll hike back out together on Sunday and plan to be back at basecamp by 1:00 PM.
Join Us!
Be. Empowered. Outdoors.
Our mission is to give each guest a chance to just “Be”, the skills to be “Empowered”, and all the magic happens “Outdoors”. We designed this backpacking course so you can easily connect with a group of like-minded women as you challenge yourself, grow your outdoor skills, and experience the beauty of the wilderness.
After this course, you will return home refreshed and empowered with the confidence to plan your own backpacking adventures.
Meet Your Guides:
Jayne Fought
Jayne is the owner and founder of Island Ford Adventures. A born adventurer, has 30 years of diverse experiences in the outdoors. She loves sharing her combined passions for nature and education with the people she instructs and guides.
Growing up on an Indiana dairy farm and backpacking in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming in the late 1980s solidified a love to roam in the outdoors. Jayne has since backpacked all over the United States including the entire Appalachian Trail. She feels incredibly lucky to call Pisgah National Forest her "backyard". She is also an avid paddler, with thousands of miles of experience, from the swamps of the Everglades, to the remote wild rivers of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, including the entire 220 miles of the French Broad River. Jayne is a member of the Transylvania County Rescue Squad.
Jayne combines her love of the outdoors with a passion for education, sense of humor, and flexibility to bring her clients a unique and unforgettable experience.
Jayne’s certifications include: WMA Wilderness First Responder, North Carolina Environmental Educator, Trainer for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, American Canoe Association Level III River Canoe Instructor, and Land Search Field Team Member. Jayne also has ACA level IV training in Swiftwater Rescue.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Goshen College, and a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University.
Katlyn Mobley
Katlyn is the newest member of the Island Ford Adventures team. She is also the founder of Nero Coffee Hikes, a unique outdoor guiding company focused on creating moments for guests to slow down and enjoy great coffee and conversation outdoors. She has guided group day hikes to the area's many waterfalls since 2019 and has 400+ five star reviews and counting. Island Ford Adventures is excited to partner with her for our classes and upcoming backpacking trips.
In addition to hiking the many trails around WNC, she has completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, trekked volcanoes in Guatemala, hiked long-distance trails in Patagonia, and loves keeping an outdoor adventure on the calendar, so ask her what she has planned next. :)
When asked about why she loves guiding, Katlyn says,
“I know what backpacking has done for my own self-confidence, and I want more people to try taking on an overnight or multi-night trip. But I also understand how intimidating it can be to try, so that’s why my goal is to help you have a great first backpacking trip and learn the skills and gain the confidence you need so that when we finish our trip together you are ready to start planning your next trip.”
☕ 🥾 ⛰️💜✨
What's Included in your Trip
Expert instruction with two experienced backpacking guides and all necessary backpacking gear including backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad is provided by Island Ford Adventures. You will be provided with a packing list for what gear/clothing you will need to bring. We let our guests choose their own meals, so food is not provided but we can make recommendations for camping meals.
Gear We Provide
You are also welcome to use your own gear if you have your own backpacking gear.
Backpack
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping Bag
All Group Cooking Gear
Group First Aid Kit
Stoves and Fuel
Tent
Water Filter
Morning coffee each day provided by Nero Coffee
Gear You Provide:
Comfortable hiking shoes/boots
Base Layer Tops and Bottoms (Midweight, Synthetic)
Fleece/Wool Gloves
Fleece/Wool Hat
Fleece/Wool Jacket or Sweater
Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
Hiking Pants (Convertible, Quick-Dry, Lightweight)
Hiking Socks (Synthetic or Wool)
Insulated Jacket and/or Vest
All backapcking meals( 1 breakfast, one lunch, one dinner)
Prescription Medications
Rain Jacket (Hooded, Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)
Sunblock and Lip Balm
Sunglasses
Comfy sleeping clothes for overnight
One Nalgene Water Bottle
“Knowledgeable, professional and with reasonable prices. I highly recommend Island Ford Adventures!”
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Trip Reviews:
This was an AMAZING adventure weekend as Jayne lead us into the wilderness!!
“Due to my lack of experience in the great outdoors this ladies backpacking overnight trip was WAY out of my comfort zone. After taking the class and learning all the essentials needed to be successful and confident I discovered I loved being in the wilderness. Yes it was hard… but Island Ford Adventures empowered me to do things I never dreamed possible. Thank You!!!”
What a gem! Jayne is a empowering leader and teacher.
“I just completed a backpacking course that culminated in an overnight hike in the Pisgah Forest. We hung bear bags, filtered water and packed our gear all under Jayne’s guidance. She has a gift - teaching. And her classroom - the forest - is breathtaking.”
If you have any questions or would like to request a different trip date, please contact us.
