Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop
Overview
Learn how to backpack with our small group, women only backpacking workshop in the Red River Gorge. It’s a hands-on, overnight experience taking place on the weekend!
Have you ever dreamed of hiking to a faraway, remote land to spend a few days camping and living in the wild surrounded by mountains? We have! And, we want you to be able to live freely in the wild at your every whim armed with the skills and experience to do so!
We’ll meet you in the Red River Gorge to spend 2 days teaching you the fundamentals of backpacking with plenty of hands-on experience. You’ll learn everything from filtering water, hanging a bear bag, setting up camp, packing a backpack, Leave No Trace, and even pooping in the woods! 💩(Hey, we all do it!)
With the Red’s abundance of natural bridges, sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, and arches, we couldn’t think of a more beautiful location to teach you how to backpack in the wilderness.
The best part? We’ll lend you the essential Gear to get started! Every Explorer Chick will be provided with a Backpack, a Sleeping Bag, a Sleeping Pad, and a shared 2 person tent. We’ll provide all of the meals beginning with Saturday lunch through our Sunday closing lunch at a Red River Gorge local eatery. As for the rest of the gear, you’ll be provided with a packing list.
Adventure Highlights
- Explore the many Arches, Sandstone cliffs, Natural Bridges, and Rock Shelters in the Red River Gorge.
- Receive a hands-on experience with a small group of women guided by the Explorer Chick experts. You’ll be able to ask all of your questions, practice your skills as often as necessary, and get personal attention without feeling awkward or embarrassed!
- Borrow the expensive gear giving you the opportunity to learn all about Backpacking and the required gear before investing in your own!
- Spend two days meeting and becoming friends with a fabulous group of outdoor adventure lovin’ women!
- Optional day hike to Iconic Landmarks in the Red River Gorge on Sunday
- Eat Picnic lunches surrounded by the natural beauty of Red River Gorge
- End your Outdoor Adventure with our closing lunch at a local Red River Gorge eatery. Go home with a full belly and a happy heart!
- Private Explorer Chick, small group, women only tour. Embark on your adventure with an encouraging and supportive group of bold women!
- Explorer Chick lends you the Essential Gear:
- Shared 2 person tent (Everyone will share a tent with one other person)
- Backpack
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Camp Meals:
- Saturday ~ Lunch, Dinner
- Sunday ~ Breakfast, Lunch
- Workshop Closing Lunch on Sunday at a Red River Gorge Local Eatery
- Hands-on, guided experience from an Explorer Chick expert. You’ll learn everything from correctly packing your backpack, hanging a bear bag, setting up camp, backcountry cooking, Leave No Trace, and much more.
- Explorer Chick Backpacking Field Guide: A complete text will all of the material covered in the workshop plus room for taking notes
- Commercial permits and 1 Day Pass fees for Daniel Boone National Forest
- Shared Items: Tents, Camp Stove, First Aid Kit, etc
- A detailed Travel Guide upon booking with everything you need to know for your trip
- A commemorative Explorer Chick shirt
- Small Group experience! Your Explorer Chick Adventure is exclusive and limited to 10 women
*You will receive a mandatory packing list when you book your workshop which will include personal clothing, trail shoes, a headlamp, rain gear, and more.
*Packages do NOT include your airfare, airport transportation, transportation to the Red River Gorge, alcoholic beverages, Explorer Chick Leader tips, or costs for additional activities.
*Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.
Located on the Daniel Boone National Forest under the special use permit from the Forest Service, USDA.
We require a minimum of 3 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed.
Explorer Chicks are responsible for their own transportation to/from the Red River Gorge. Plan to arrive at the designated Trail Head early Saturday morning and depart the Red River Gorge late afternoon Sunday. You will receive the trail head location and directions in your Travel Guide upon booking.
You will be responsible for traveling from the Trail Head to the Optional day hike and closing lunch on Sunday. Both are located in the Red River Gorge vicinity.
There are several hotels in the area for an overnight stay in Red River Gorge. If you are flying, Lexington is the closest airport with an approximate 1 hour drive to the Red River Gorge.
You will receive a travel guide attached to your booking confirmation with all the information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip!
Backpacking differs greatly from casual day hiking and trail running in local parks. We want all Explorer Chicks to enjoy their backpacking experience which is why we find it crucial to set realistic expectations for this workshop.
We will hike a loop that is just over 6 miles round trip with our backpacks setting up camp approximately 4 miles into our hike. What makes the Red River Gorge absolutely breathtaking also makes it’s trails steep and strenuous at times. It is a gorge after all! You will be hiking some steep sections with a backpack.
Expect to carry approximately 25 pounds on your back. You will be responsible for carrying your own pack, assigned gear, and necessities.
When planning the route, we take into consideration the variety of skill and abilities of the women joining us on the adventure allowing ample time to reach camp and to instruct. Keep in mind we will hike together as a group. The pace of the trip will vary based on the group’s overall abilities.
Train your tootsies! Do not show up with brand new hiking boots or trail shoes. You should be spending hours upon hours in your boots leading up to your adventure to break them in. Better to suffer blisters at home than to miss out on a hike due to painful hot spots on your feet. This is our number one injury. Do not let it happen to you!
All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking.
To protect your travel investment and your hide, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. World Nomads is our trusted travel insurance provider. Receive an no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes.
Trip Price:
From $349
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See our Discount page for Codes and Expirations!
Non-Refundable Deposit: $100 due at booking to secure your spot
4 Reviews
Bailey U.
February 24th, 2018I’ve traveled with Explorer Chick and attended local ‘mini’ adventures! I’ve gone rock climbing, backpacking, zip lining, and done aerial silks. Every experience has been an awesome, positive adventure! Nicki does an awesome job organizing the trips and is personable and knowledgeable! She had all the details worked out, especially on the backpacking workshop where we borrowed gear, and she provided all the food (except snacks). All the women I’ve met have been very cool and I highly recommend EC to any woman looking to try new things!
Erin S.
February 24th, 2018Explorer Chick Adventure put together a wonderful backpack trip at Red River Gorge. We had an awesome time, Nicki and Lynsey did such a great job organizing everything and teaching us the backpack basics. I can’t wait for the next trip!!!
Julie Zinser
October 10th, 2018Hannah did an amazing job leading our Backpacking Basics trip in Red River Gorge. You want challenge? You want to learn? You want to have fun doing it? You’ll find it here! Our group was diverse in age, experience, occupation and city of origin, but were all so positive, funny and supportive. Because of that support, we persevered and overcame all the trail could throw our way, and we had an amazing time. Go beyond what you ever thought you could- be an Explorer Chick!
Kristen
October 24th, 2018As soon as the Kentucky highway turned into Mountain Parkway, I knew this was going to be amazing. The ride up into the mountains eventually turns to a winding gravel road and a wooden state park sign welcomes you to Backcountry Camping~pure magic. Our guide, Hannah, greeted us warmly with Explorer Chick swag , showed us how to minimize our pack, pack it properly and ensure a comfortable fit. She was knowledgeable, patient, and supportive every step of the way and taught us So many valuable gear and trail tips. I can’t say enough about what a great opportunity this was, if you have Any interest in backpacking, take this workshop, there isn’t a better way to start out.