Explorer Chicks of San Diego

PTO hanging on by a thread like your favorite ugly bra? We blow the roof off of what’s possible to do and see in 4 days with this women-only hiking and hot springs adventure weekend in Yellowstone National Park!

You’ll meet up with the group girlies in Jackson, WY for a caffeinated drive to Old Faithful, which erupts every 90 minutes like the bad bitch she is! Gawk as you walk amongst ONE-QUARTER of the world’s geysers in Yellowstone’s stunning Upper Geyser Basin. Get all the braggy photos of Grand Prismatic’s steaming rainbow that’s way more dramatic than a Beyonce Met Gala look. Hike past giant Hoodoo rock formations and stunning basalt columns that might turn you into a giant geology nerd.

We’ve got sneaky waterfall stops. Choose-your-own adventure hikes. Secret trails… along with Yellowstone classics––like a Hoodoo hike into Mammoth Hot Springs, a friggin wildlife safari in the Lamar Valley, and a canyon walk into Artist’s Point at sunrise. And to top it all off, we’ll slip into a hot spring as the sun sets, letting those adventure muscles soak while you bask in some serious golden-hour goddess vibes.

We could see grey wolves, grizzlies, bison, eagles, and more. We’ll enjoy hearty meals and our own private shuttle that blasts Stevie Nicks. Plus daily free time for introvert recharging and comfy lodge beds to rest our happy bones.

Give us your overworked bodies for one long weekend, and we’ll give you back your feral souls.

Hit your bucket list with all the feels on this women’s guided hiking and backpacking weekend! During your Yosemite Half Dome Hike adventure, tour Yosemite National Park as you climb the famous cables of Half Dome with ladies who do their own stunts. Live out every last one of those John Muir nature quotes in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. Mountains calling? Check. Between two pines? Check. Walk with nature? Double-check.

GUIDED BACKPACKING IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BACKCOUNTRY
Romp through the backcountry on a demanding, yet epic backpacking trip. Meet your new woman crushes in the Yosemite Valley as the landscape gives way to mountains, waterfalls, and a piney perfume that’ll make Yankee Candle totally jelly. Mother Nature swiped ALL THE WAY right. Leave the phone on airplane mode to immerse yourself in stunning national park backcountry over the course of four epic days. Climb steep, challenging trails to look down upon the Valley with a panoramic view that includes Mt. Starr King, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, Illilouette Falls, and plenty of ant-sized tourists with tiny selfie sticks.

HALF DOME: HIKING TO THE TOP
Fuel up for the real MVP—the famous cables of Half Dome! Blast that hiker booty (and bring plenty of water) while ascending 500 feet up a .5 mile of steps carved into the rock. Then, the real fun begins. It’s a 400-foot gain up the top of Half Dome with some points at 70%+ grades. Pace your footwork on wooden slabs spaced out on the climb as you get the upper body workout of a lifetime. Worth it? HELL YES!

BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
Don’t have backpacking equipment, but can Beastmaster the stairs? Perfect. Explorer Chick has you covered with:

• a backpack
• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad
• shared tent

All you need to do is show up for this Yosemite Half Dome Hike to backpack like a boss and get that National Parks bucket list checked.

Activate messy bun mode because you’re gonna be movin’ through Peru with whitewater rafting, cycling, and hiking followed by 2 back to back days visiting Machu freaking Picchu magic. CHILLS!

Acclimatizing isn’t code for watching Frasier reruns in the hotel. During our first couple days, we’ll explore ancient ruins, landmarks, and museums of Cusco and the Sacred Valley on private tours. We’ll feast our eyes on Cusco Cathedral, the Inca Museum, Pisac, Awanacancha, and Sacsayhuaman. And we’ll be treated to all the hot goss on Incan Culture thanks to our private guide. Along the way, we’ll have a few sneaky surprises and special moments that will leave you moved by the spirituality and kindness of the Quechua culture.

Your multisport journey begins on Day 3 of your trip. You’ll bike that booty to Maras and Moray. Oh, AND whitewater raft down one of the most scenic portions of the Urubamba River. Um, AND hike up to a lesser-known archeological site. After, you’ll wander down to Ollantaytambo where you’ll fill your belly with a traditional Quechan lunch. Same old weekday, right?

And then MACHU PICCHU – Not once, But TWICE! It’s just too spectacular for one short bus tour. You and your fellow Explorer Chicks are going to Machu Picchu twice AND in style via the Vistadome Train. During your first visit, you’ll get to know the history of the citadel with a 2-hour guided tour that’s light on hiking. The next day, you’ll hike Huayna Picchu, the mountain that sits right behind the citadel. You’ll have extra time to explore the ancient site and soak up all the juicy history thanks to our local guides. Yes, there will be Machu Picchu Glamour Shots.

Optional Rainbow Mountain Extension: Hike deep into the spectacular painted hills, known as Vinicunca. The Red Valley will blow you away with striking collisions of green and red. Press on through the altitude and muster every ounce of grit you’ve got to reach Rainbow Mountain (think: Little Foot when he reaches the Sun Valley). You’ll be rewarded with an insane summit surrounded by glaciated peaks, wild desert landscapes, herds of alpaca, and WILD WOMEN!

Join us on a Banff Canada Hiking + Hut-to-Hut Backpacking Adventure for women only! During your 6-day trip, backpack hut-to-hut in the remote backcountry of Banff National Park. Enjoy day hikes through the towering mountains and glacier fed lakes of the Canadian Rockies. This is not the maple syrup harvest your aunt went to that one time. This is Wild Canada, sister!

GUIDED HIKING IN BANFF, CANADA NATIONAL PARKS

First, spend three days hiking in and exploring nearby national and provincial parks. The town of Banff is surrounded on all sides by them, boasting some of the most beautiful landscapes that Canada offers. Experience the iconic hiking trails in the surrounding parks, the atmosphere of the quaint mountain town, and the quiet backcountry bliss amongst flanneled femmes.

Day-hike to turquoise glacier fed lakes, past waterfalls, along pointed mountain ridge lines, and through luscious green valleys. Snap an iconic photo by Moraine Lake to add to your Instagram feed. You’ll feel as if you’re in a fairy tale admiring the chateau from Lake Louise.

Also enjoy exploring lesser known trails as our local guides share their favorites hikes. You could be hiking to glacier fed lakes in Banff National Park, past stunning waterfalls in Yoho National Park, up and over a mountain pass in Kananaskis Country and more.

EXPLORING DOWNTOWN BANFF

Each evening, we’ll return to our downtown Banff hotel, roll on some deodorant, and head out on the town to dine as a group. In your free time, soak your beautiful bones in one of the outdoor hot tubs or curl up cat-like beside the outdoor fireplace. Buzzed storytelling is encouraged.

CANADIAN ROCKIES HUT-TO-HUT GUIDED BACKPACKING AND GLACIER CROSSING

On the final three days of your adventure, we leave behind the hustle and noise of Banff and its tourists. Load up a 70L backpack with glacier crossing gear and all of the essentials for a hut-to-hut trek across the Wapta Icefields of the Canadian Rockies.

The Icefields are rolling, gentle glaciers that you will trek up and over during the course of three days. Experience first hand a rapidly disappearing mountain landscape while immersing yourself in a truly remote and unique, backcountry environment. Your destination each evening is rustic, remote alpine huts high up in mountains. There aren’t many backcountry treks that you can get the alpine trifecta—glaciers, mountains, and cozy alpine huts!

ALL MAJOR BACKPACKING AND GLACIER CROSSING GEAR PROVIDED

• 70L backpack
• sleeping bag
• mountaineering boots
• climbing harness
• climbing helmet
• crampons
• ice axe
• ropes