Wild Within: A Backpacking Journey Back to Self Under the Sierra Stars
Within each of us resides a wild spirit, yet in the whirlwind of daily life, it’s all too easy to lose touch with that untamed essence. The weight of responsibility, the ache of grief and loss, societal expectations, old wounds, and the shadows of unfulfilled dreams can all conspire to quiet our inner wildness. Over time, we may find ourselves moving through life on autopilot, disconnected from our deepest selves and the vibrant core that once guided us.
Our six-day retreat in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains is an invitation to journey back to that wild, free part of yourself. Here, in the embrace of ancient granite peaks and under the vast, open sky, we step away from digital distractions and the noise of the outside world. This is a sanctuary for remembering what truly matters-who you are beneath the surface, beyond the roles and labels you’ve carried.
We’ll spend our days hiking winding mountain trails, practicing yoga, sharing restorative bodywork, and sitting quietly in the majestic presence of California’s great peaks. The landscape here is a living tapestry: granite walls cradle us, wildflowers sweep the meadows, and shimmering lakes-both hidden and grand-invite us to pause and take in the beauty. The path shifts from lush forests to open subalpine expanses, each turn revealing a new wonder.
Wisdom to Carry With You Always (even after the pack comes off!)
Through the transformative practices of eco-therapy and mindfulness meditation, you’ll gently reconnect with your inner nature. Curiosity replaces fear, presence dissolves distraction, and wholehearted engagement awakens where apathy once lingered. Living simply in the wilderness, your senses come alive and stress fades with every breath of mountain air and each step along the trail. Here, a deep sense of peace, adventure, and kinship emerges-both with the land and the community gathered around you.
To witness such beauty is to remember your own capacity for growth, clarity, and spiritual awakening. Immersed in nature’s grandeur and the warmth of community, you’re invited to reclaim your wildness, rediscover your true self, and return home renewed with wonder and possibility.
The benefits of this retreat ripple into every aspect of life. Studies show that time in nature lowers stress and anxiety, improves mood, and fosters lasting emotional balance. Living unplugged in the wild sharpens your senses, enhances creativity, and supports better sleep – making shifts that endure.
Ultimately, you’ll leave with cherished memories, new friendships, and practical tools to sustain peace, clarity, and inspiration in your daily life.
Required Skill Level
This retreat is designed for both beginners and those with some backpacking or yoga experience. If you’re new to wilderness journeys but are in good health and ready for adventure, you’ll find a welcoming, supportive environment. Those with more experience will appreciate the opportunity to slow down, savor the scenery, and weave mindfulness and embodied practices into every step of the journey. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking a deeper, more intentional connection with nature and yourself, this retreat offers space for growth, discovery, and renewal. Participants will carry their own backpacks weighing 30 to 40 pounds with distances of 6 to 10 miles daily over uneven, up-and-down terrain.
“I feel much more centered and regulated. I had been noticing myself getting more easily overstimulated lately.
I really loved the strenuous uphill climbs. I like pushing myself and feeling accomplished”.
- Will Charles
“I loved the yoga. It made a huge difference on my body and I know that if I didn’t do it I would feel completely different.”
- Sharon S.
Dates
August 8th-12th, 2025
Itinerary
Each day offers a rich tapestry of experiences: invigorating yoga sessions, hikes through pristine landscapes, refreshing swims in clear mountain waters, and nurturing bodywork to ground and restore you. As night falls, we gather beneath a canopy of stars, the Perseid meteor shower streaking across the heavens-a celestial spectacle that invites awe, reflection, and transformation.
Day 1: Get your hiking legs warmed up! In the cool, morning air Gianelli T.H., hike up to a vista of peaks. We’ll continue to the vast and beautiful Whitesides Meadow, where we can explore the meadow flora with nature-based therapeutic practices. (8.5 mi.)
Day 2: After a morning yoga class, we take Upper Relief Valley Trail to Long lake for swimming and camping. (7 mi.)
Day 3: Rest Day! Enjoy solo self-care time followed by giving ad receiving healing bodywork. Afternoon swimming highly recommended! Finish the day with an evening insight meditation and community support counsel.
Day 4: After morning yoga our trek leads us to Piute Lake, where we set up camp, and have our Closing Circle during a breaktaking sunset after a short butte ascent. (7 mi.)
Day 5: Morning yoga practice is followed by our final hike from Piute Lake to Crabtree Trailhead (8 mi). We’ll pick up vehicles left at Gianelli T.H. and should be sharing hugs goodbye by around 4pm.
Note: This is generally the planned itinerary of the trip, but as all things wild ~ may change due to circumstances: weather, fitness of the group, unexpected changes in trail conditions. Activities and workshops are not set in stone and will be finalized as the trip approaches.
Not included
Food: Bring your favorite food to make your own meals!
Gear: Gear list provided
Transportation to the trailhead
Personal Insurance
Optional guide gratuities
Personal navigation device
Personal maps
What’s included in the retreat
Packing and Technical Gear Suggestions and Support
Navigational Guidance
Backcountry Skills
All associated fees and permits
Daily Wellness Practices:
Morning All-Levles Yoga Classes
Thai massage workshop
Guidance in Nature Tratak, Mindfulness and Mandala Meditation
First Aid kit + Wilderness trained guides
Emergency Satellite Communication
Pre- and Post Trip Group Calls
Food Preparation Coaching
Optional add-ons
All-inclusive Meals and Gear: $600 per person
Gear Provided: $300 per person
Food Provided: $250 per person
Private Yoga Therapy Session: $99 per person
Investment
Super Early Bird Price: $599 thru June 1st
Early Bird $649 through June 24th
Regular Price: $699
Discounts
Book with a Buddy and get $50 off each
Work trade for assistance with marketing and media
Demonstrated financial need
Registration Details
Deadline to register July 24th
Deposit of $100 due upon application and registration. Remainder of funds will be due within 14 days of application approval or by July 24th whichever comes first. Payment for bookings made after July 24th will be due in full.
Please inquire if you need help with a payment plan and we can work with you.
Your Retreat Leader
Sierra Wagner
Sierra (E-RYT 200, WFA, CMT) is an experienced yoga teacher, body-worker and back-county enthusiast who seeks out inspiring natural locations around the world. After becoming certified as a Yoga Therapist in 2016, she has developed a private Yoga Therapy practice, Sierra Laurel Yoga, where she customizes her teachings to integrate the healing essence of yoga with the needs and abilities of her students in a practical way. Her styles range from deeply restorative, meditative practices to invigorating and mindful flowing sequences. Spiritual themes, building to a peak pose and in-depth explorations of anatomy are hallmarks of her teaching. Sierra loves leading groups into deeper experiences using partner yoga, self massage, and shared Thai massage to awaken our innate ability to love ourselves and each other more fully and become better caretakers of our world.
& Massage INstructor Joe Macias
Humboldt Co. native, Joe has been exploring the California wiilderness all his life. He is a licensed massage therapist, who enjoys bringing wellness and rejuvenation to his clients and students. His camping and backpacking experience is extensive with many years of backpacking trips undertaken. His passions include birding, holistic agriculture, wildlife study and the art of Hayao Miyazaki.
“I’ve been on two of Sierra’s Yoga Backpacking Retreats, and they were absolutely incredible! I went into both trips not knowing anyone, but Sierra made me feel so comfortable right from the start. She creates such a safe and welcoming environment that I never once felt out of place. Her yoga classes during the trips were such a highlight—they felt amazing after a long day of hiking and were the perfect way to unwind and reconnect with myself. The journaling and reflection exercises she guided us through were also so meaningful and added a deeper layer to the whole experience. Beyond all of that, these retreats were just so much fun! Sierra has a way of balancing adventure, connection, and personal grow, all while keeping things light and enjoyable. I can’t recommend her retreats and yoga classes enough—she’s an amazing leader, and I can’t wait to join her again!” - Susan Webb
