You know you’re going to hike your own hike – but you don’t have to be alone while you plan it!

You’re a woman getting ready to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2014 or 2015.  You’re capable, excited and you’ve been doing your research.  You’re serious and committed to having an amazing hike.

You wish you had someone to talk with about your plans.  It’s hard to find people who “get it” and want to listen to all your detailed explanations.  You watch their eyes glaze over when you start to talk about gear or maps or food or fears.

You go to online forums but there’s just so much information out there and it’s hard to tell who has really successfully completed a thru hike and who just likes to spout off.  Some of the forums get a little snarky and you’re not comfortable asking that one question for fear of being considered silly or stupid.  Most of the forums seem male-dominated, and half the time their issues seem so different from your own.

You‘d love to have a thru-hiking “fairy godmother” at your service, ready to listen when you’re just feeling overwhelmed, and ready with whatever you need-  ideas, advice and gentle wisdom.

You’d also love to meet a group of other women planning just what you’re planning – a thru hike!  So you can gather together and think and commiserate.

Well, here it is! Wild and White Blazing – a  tele-course for women planning an AT thru hike!  Next session of live calls begins October 2013, but you can get access to last season’s amazing informational calls now! Just keep reading!

I’m Carla (trail name Zipper) and I hiked the whole Appalachian trail in 2009, almost entirely by myself. And it was such an incredible journey! When I was planning my thru hike, I wanted to talk to everyone about the Appalachian Trail.  I searched on forums, read every book,  and really tried to picture what it was going to be like.

But what was missing for me was a community of fellow women hikers – ones who had already been there. I wished for a “virtual campfire” where I could gather a group of expert women hikers and pick their brains, hear their wisdom, and also receive their support and encouragement.

Now that I’ve successfully completed my hike, I’ve made my own wish come true – for you!  I’ve created this course for women who:

• are planning a thru hike and would like some mentoring
• would like to learn more about gear and hiking techniques specific to women
• want to join a community of other women getting ready to hike
• want to hear wisdom from a diverse group of women thru hikers
• want a safe space, not a snarky forum, to ask questions, even the silly ones, and get reasonable answers.
• want to learn how to feel safe and capable in the woods on their own.
• want to learn the best-kept secrets of thru hikers
• want to know more about food, mail drops, animals, relationships on and off the trail, and any and everything else that’s confusing or overwhelming
• want to learn what thru hikers wish they’d done differently
• want to know what to do to stay healthy, motivated and happy on the trail.

Wild and White Blazing is a tele-course which means you can participate from anywhere in the world!  You’ll call in to a conference phone line and be able to speak live with me and other expert women thru hikers.  You’ll be able to hear their stories and ask questions.  And if you can’t make the call, all calls will be recorded so you can listen later.  You’ll also enjoy access to a private forum to get more support and share with experts and fellow participants.

Here’s a sampling of the fabulous women hikers who’ll share their expertise with you:

Gangsta and Wags – their Trail Journals are famous with thousands and thousands of hits.  They met in Georgia and stuck together the whole rest of the journey.  Gangsta was featured most recently on the cover of AT Journeys with a cover photo shot by Wags.

Storm and Rocket, members of the “Pack-a-Divas” – they created quite a stir  on their northbound thru hike and wherever they were, fun was sure to follow! And Storm has recently cycled across the country too!

Regina Ridge Runner  is A PCT and AT thru hiker and a Ridge Runner in Virginia. She’ll share a wealth of information with you.  Regina is also developer of a beautiful program called Forgiveness Walks.

Nutmeg and Lil Dipper – of the “Georgia Girls”  took “hike your own hike” to a whole new level, covering miles the old-fashioned way on foot and also incorporating bicycling, canoeing and taking plenty of blue blazes as they hiked the trail in 2009.

Joker hiked with a “band of merry men” for much of her hike.  She’s a gear expert, a lover of all things beautiful, and an incredible writer.  She graces the cover of the spring 2010 issue of AT Journeys and she has much wisdom to share!

Mud Butt – president and founder of Trail Dames, Mud Butt has covered miles and miles of the AT. She has a ton of stories plus she’s a fabulous, funny, compassionate, lovely human being!

Chunky and Tutu were intrepid southbounders, experiencing the extreme weather of Maine in June and the Smokies in November.  They have plenty of tips and anecdotes for those considering a southbound hike.

Crescent City raised thousands of dollars on her thru-hike for a nonprofit charity she created, Hike for Katreena, to replant trees lost during Hurricane Katrina. She has an amazing story to tell!

Our “virtual campfires” include thru hikers in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.  They include newlyweds, single women, women in relationships, and everything in between.  They include Northbounders, Southbounders and a flip-flopper (me!). They include women from all over the country and from all walks of life.  Our time together won’t be about telling war stories and scaring you; it will be a time for women to support women as they embark on a life-changing journey.

When you sign up for Wild and White Blazing you’ll receive:

Fifteen recorded 75 minute “virtual campfire” sessions with me and fabulous “celebrity guest faculty” woman thru hikers! We covered tons of different topics, from fear to gear to food and so much more.

Ten live Q&A calls beginning in October 2013 about topics you most want to discuss held on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Central (5:30 Pacific, 6:30 Mountain, 8:30 Eastern), with me and more “celebrity hikers”, many who’ve completed a thru hike in the past year or two.

A private online group where you can get your questions answered by expert women thru hikers and share and plan with other wild and white blazing women planning a hike.

Documents, videos, and other resources on everything from food to gear to best shelters and views on the trail!

Permanent membership in Wild and White Blazing – once you’re in, you’re in for life, so if you have to postpone your hike you can join in again next year!

Your investment to join Wild and White Blazing is $177, less than $7 per call, plus all the other resources and the 24/7 access to women on the forum who want to help you with your hike.  Our group is very open, inclusive, supportive and wonderful.  You will have a safe home with Wild and White Blazing to have any question answered.

Click here to sign up for Wild and White Blazing!

Yes, please! Wild and White Blazing!

 

I know when you’re planning a thru hike that you have to pay attention to your $$.  I can pretty much guarantee that participating in Wild and White Blazing will save you money in the long run.  If I’d had access to this kind of group when I was planning my trip, I know I would have saved a bundle.  Also, if you need financial assistance, I offer a limited number of half-price scholarships each year.  See below to receive scholarship information.

A group of amazing women completed Wild and White Blazing in February 2013, and this is what they’re saying about it!

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to that many weeks, but then I thought about how much I was interested in the AT and knew it would be worth it… and it was! I gained a wealth of information and considerable confidence that I, too, could hike the AT. The speakers made it sound so doable. I was especially encouraged hearing that you don’t have to be in perfect shape or circumstances to hike. This course is great for any woman who expresses even the slightest interest in hiking. It is a well-directed, information-rich seminar based on real-life experience, delivered in a fun, organized, and captivating forum, shared by women who have already experienced the ups and downs (love the pun!) of trail life and are eager to share what they have learned along the way to encourage and help other women who want to hike the AT.  Carla, you did a magnificent job of planning and organizing the topics and speakers. You dealt with the nitty-gritty questions about gear and necessary functions early and then moved into the more colorful topics of special places, trail experiences, mental activities, purpose, hiking styles, and so on. You were able to humbly become the leader of this pack with your gentle spirit, confident voice of experience and authority.  Thank you for conceiving this idea and acting on it. It will be a valuable resource to many other women.” – Mer J., South Dakota

“My main hesitation about signing up was the cost. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if it would be “worth” it, especially since I’d already purchased my major pieces of gear.  The free “about” call convinced me it would be money well spent!  The fact the rest of the faculty were so enthusiastic and welcoming was a key factor– it was clear this experience would be something special.    It’s been great to be part of a supportive group where the faculty are genuinely excited for me.  I’m thrilled to think that I always have this community, and that I will hopefully return as a successful thru hiker myself, and give back to new hikers. Being able to share with my family the collective wisdom of the faculty on various issues, and knowing I was part of this group, and that other women have similarly done this and had a great and safe time, helped to somewhat alleviate their anxiety.  It’s one thing to say I read it in a book or read about it someone’s journal, but going that extra step and talking with other successful thru hikers is truly “value-added” that is priceless. I definitely recommend W&WB to other women hikers, those both actively planning a thru hike and those contemplating/dreaming – the community is fantastic and the knowledge imparted top notch.   The most important thing people should know about Wild and White Blazing is that it is definitely worth the cost!   You won’t regret spending the hard earned dollars that you otherwise may only see as part of the bottom line in your thru-hike savings account.  Loved it, loved it, loved it! ”
– Renee S. “Pathfinder”, Ohio

“So many questions I had about the trail and what lay ahead were answered.   I feel much more confident about handling whatever comes up in my journey. The “campfires” were wonderful and informative.  I felt like I could ask anything and get a clear answer and no one ever made me feel like I was asking a dumb question. I would say that any woman planning to hike the AT or another long trail, either as a thru hike or section hike, would benefit.  There is a sense of friendship when you actually meet a WWBer! It is not a replacement for doing your research but WWB is another component in helping you be prepared for your hike.  I also like knowing that I now have a “support team” while I am on the trail.  I love the confidence I feel out on the trail now.”
– Debbie W., Florida

“WWB was money well spent! I gained new trail friends that are kindred spirits and women I hope to cross paths with some day. I gained lots of little tips that will make a BIG difference in my hiking experience from gear to mental health. I loved the videos – they made the experience seem really hands on. Having faculty and guest speakers was VERY good.  We could get several perspectives on how to survive versus just Carla’s. WWB is a safe environment — no question is too stupid! It’s not intimidating, it’s women only and you don’t have to be a “Springer to Katahdin all at one time” gal to benefit from it. The collective cheerleading and positive attitudes make this a “can do” endeavor.”
– Lisa W., Georgia

If I had an experience like Wild and White Blazing, I would have saved hundreds of dollars on gear.  The truth is, many local outdoor stores aren’t really equipped to outfit a thru hiker and I got a lot of “off” advice on everything from footwear to tents.  A lot of outdoor stores aren’t yet carrying the lightest weight gear.  It wasn’t until I happened to catch a woman PCT thru-hiker on a phone call to a sleeping bag company that I got some really fabulous tips that led me to a whole different stove, different poles, different storage and more.  I also ended up switching packs part way through my hike because I’d chosen a pack that worked really well for burly men but never fit me right.  Believe me, I scoured the forums.  I read a lot.  And there were opposite opinions for just about everything, so it was pretty confusing.

That’s because there really are many choices that work successfully. The trick is to know which ones are going to work for you.  And that’s what we can help you with.  You’ll meet such a variety of thru hikers through Wild and White Blazing, all women, and they’ll share their successes and what they might have done differently.  Several actually work at outfitters that cater to long distance hikers, and they’re up on all the latest gear.   Gear is one of your big expenses and if you can avoid making costly mistakes in that arena and not get stuck with a box of stuff you never use, you’ll probably save hundreds of dollars!

But this experience is about so much more than gear.  It’s about all of the other zillions of questions you’re having about how it’s done – how to make decisions about where to stop, how far to hike, what to eat, what to bring, what not to bring, what to do, what not to do.  It’s about learning from other women who did it to help you realize you can do it too. And you can do it your own way.

Oh, and did I tell you? I’m a life coach!  That means I know how to help you with your fears, scary thoughts, confusing issues around relationships, jobs, etc. as you prep for your hike.  You’ve probably already heard this, but the most difficult aspect of the trail is not the physical part, it’s the mental part.  I can help you be ready for the times you’ll feel like quitting.  I’ll be sharing all the ways I stayed positive and happy on my hike, and I’ll provide concrete ideas and tips as will my fellow fabulous guest hikers.

I’m not a gear head, I’m not especially physically talented – I never even played sports in school!  But I did have an amazing, transformative, beautiful hike.  And I’m all about helping other women do the same.

Can’t wait until the live calls begin in October?  Would you like access to the recordings from last season, the videos and all of the resources (like gear lists, food how tos and favorite places on the trail) now?  Then sign up now by clicking below!

Yes, please! Wild and White Blazing!

Not sure?  Want more information including scholarship information?  Then sign up in the little box below and you’ll receive a free recorded interview with me about my hike and information about an upcoming live free Q&A call where you can have all of your questions answered. I can’t wait to meet you and learn more about your plans to thru hike the AT!

 

Cheers and see you on the trail!
Carla (Zipper)