It was steep and hard but we made it!!!
an early start to a long and challenging hike up the highest peak. 12 hours later - we did it!!!!
The Why
It was steep and hard but we made it!!!
A 3-night, 4-day camping & hiking adventure for women ready to connect with nature, strength, and themselves.
Join me in the wild, breathtaking beauty of the Adirondack Mountains for my 5th consecutive Adirondack Adventures Women’s Retreat - a deeply empowering weekend of hiking, camping, meditation, laughter, challenge, and rest.
This is not a luxury retreat.
This is a real one.
The kind where you earn your awe, sleep under the stars, and come home stronger - inside and out.
Why the Adirondacks?
I grew up hiking and camping in the High Peaks Region with my father, learning early the sacredness of mountain air, silence, and steady forward steps. Places like Lake Placid and Keene Valley are woven into my bones.
Each summer, I return to guide a small circle of women (maximum 5 participants) into these mountains—not to conquer them, but to meet themselves within them.
The Adventure
Over the weekend, we summit (or partially climb - always with choice and respect) one of the Adirondack High Peaks.
Past retreats have included:
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Mount Marcy – 5,344 ft (highest peak in New York)
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Algonquin Peak – 5,114 ft
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Phelps Mountain – 4,161 ft
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Sunrise hikes up Mount Jo – 2,876 ft
Each climb is challenging. Each one is transformative.
And every woman meets the mountain exactly where she is.
There is no pressure to summit. Many women return for a second year - stronger, wiser, more confident - and complete what they began.
The mountains are extraordinary teachers of patience, humility, trust, and belief.
What's Included
Beyond the full-day mountain hike, our weekend unfolds slowly and richly:
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🌲 Sleeping under the stars
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🔥 Campfire suppers, conversations, and guided meditations
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🏞 Swimming in Heart Lake
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🧺 Visiting a mountain valley farmers’ market
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💦 Picnic lunch and swimming at a breathtaking waterfall
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🍽 Dinner out in Lake Placid or Keene Valley
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🌄 Sunrise hike to greet the day atop Mount Jo
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💆♀️ A celebratory foot & scalp massage at the Adirondack Foot Sanctuary before heading home
You will leave tired - in the best way - and deeply restored.
Friday
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Morning departure from Ottawa (carpooling provided), 10am
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2.5–3 hour drive to the Adirondacks
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Arrive, set up camp
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Campfire supper
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Evening meditation under the stars
Saturday
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Early breakfast
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Full-day High Peaks hike
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Breakfast at Marcy Dam
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Packed summit lunch
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Return to camp
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Campfire supper
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Guided relaxation meditation
Sunday
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Drive to Keene Valley
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Farmers’ market + local shops
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Afternoon at a mountain waterfall
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Dinner out in Lake Placid or Keene Valley
Monday
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Pre-sunrise wake-up
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45-minute hike up Mount Jo to greet the sunrise
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Camp breakfast + pack up
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Stop in Lake Placid for foot & scalp massage
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Lunch on your own
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Drive back to Ottawa (arrive around 6pm)
Food & Fuel
Sample Menu Highlights
Friday – Camp Setup
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Veggies, cheese, crackers, hummus
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Chicken burritos
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Campfire s’mores
Saturday – Hike Day
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On-the-go breakfast: coffee, bars, fruit
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Trail mix (nut & nut-free options)
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Summit lunch: burritos, veggies, apples
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Post-hike charcuterie
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Beef chili & cornbread
Sunday – Explore Day
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Turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes
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Waterfall picnic lunch
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Dinner at Baxter Mountain Tavern or Lake Placid restaurant
Monday – Final Morning
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Overnight oats with yogurt & fruit
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Coffee/tea
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Lunch on the road or in Lake Placid (not included)
Dietary needs gladly accommodated with advance notice.
All Meals provided unless otherwise noted.
Important Notes
Hiking in the High Peaks Region is a serious physical and mental undertaking. These are steep, rugged climbs that require preparation and a baseline level of fitness.
That said:
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There is no expectation of how far you go
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Every pace is respected
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The group adapts to weather, energy, and ability
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The experience is valuable no matter how high you climb
I am Emergency CPR & First Aid trained, and safety is always our top priority.
Investment
Total Cost: $899 + HST
Includes:
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Round-trip transportation from Ottawa
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All camping & hiking equipment
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All camping & hiking food and drinks
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Accommodations
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Dinner out Saturday evening
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Foot & scalp massage
Not included:
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Travel insurance
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Personal purchases in Keene Valley & Lake Placid
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Lunch in Lake Placid on Monday
Participants traveling from outside Ottawa - please contact me directly to arrange logistics.
Is This Retreat for You?
This retreat is for women who:
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Feel called to the mountains
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Want challenge and compassion
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Are ready to reconnect with their inner strength
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Value real experiences over polished ones
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Long for meaningful connection—with nature and with others
If that stirs something in you…
The mountains are already calling.
Ready to Join Us?
Spots are extremely limited (5 women only).
To reserve your place or ask questions, contact Beth directly.
Come walk with us.
The mountains will meet you where you are. 🏔️
About Beth
From a young age, Beth grew up hiking and backwoods camping with her father in the Adirondack Mountains, specifically in the rugged and revered High Peaks Region. Those early experiences—long trails, quiet mornings, mountain air, and shared perseverance—shaped not only her love of adventure, but her deep respect for the natural world.
Over the years, Beth has continued to answer the call of wild places, including hiking several of Collegiate Peaks in Colorado, reaching elevations over 14,000 feet. Each climb reinforced what she has always known: that mountains are not something we conquer—they are places we meet ourselves.
An adventurer by heart and a spiritual leader by soul, Beth understands the profound impact nature has on our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. She believes time in wild landscapes reconnects us to our strength, our humility, and our inner knowing. Through her retreats, she creates space for women to step away from daily demands, challenge themselves gently and honestly, and return home grounded, empowered, and deeply restored.
Beth leads with experience, presence, and care—guiding others not just across mountains, but inward, toward clarity, confidence, and connection.
